4 Steps To Prepare For Any Hurricane

While you can never fully prepare for what might happen when a hurricane lands in your city or town, there are certain things you can do to make sure you and your family are safe until help arrives.

Here are the four things you need to do:

1. Get your emergency supply kit ready
Please note: A travel emergency kit should NOT be too heavy where it’s a burden to carry. It should only include emergency items and should be able to be carried within a backpack accompanied by a small bag. A home emergency kit should fit in a large bin. A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:

-Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
-Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
-Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
-Flashlight and extra batteries
-First aid kit
-Whistle to signal for help
-Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
-Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
-Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
-Manual can opener for food
-Local maps
-Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

From our partner

Do you still have gout symptoms even though you're taking medication? You’re not alone. The Kadence study is a clinical research study for adults with uncontrolled gout. Learn More

MUST READ: How To Create An Emergency Plan For Your Family

2. Develop and document emergency plans for your specific risks

• Protect yourself and family with a Family Emergency Plan – [PDF]
• Be sure to plan for locations away from home
• Business owners and site locations should create Workplace Plans
• Make sure schools and daycares have School Emergency Plans
• Pet owners should have plans to care for their animals. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention offer information on animal health impacts in evacuation shelters.
• Prepare your boat and be aware of marine safety if you are on or near the water.

3. Evacuation

From our partner

People 16+ years old struggling with lupus: Find out if the PHOENYCS FLY Study may be for you. Study-related care provided at no cost.

• Review the FEMA Evacuation Guidelines to allow for enough time to pack and inform friends and family if you need to leave your home. FOLLOW instructions issued by local officials. Leave immediately if ordered!
• Consider your protection options to decide whether to stay or evacuate your home if you are not ordered to evacuate.

When waiting out a storm be careful, the danger may not be over yet…

Be alert for:

• Tornadoes – they are often spawned by hurricanes.
• The calm “eye” of the storm – it may seem like the storm is over, but after the eye passes, the winds will change direction and quickly return to hurricane force.

4. Recover

• Wait until an area is declared safe before returning home.
• Remember that recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process.