Home › Hurricane preparedness
What to do before, during and after a hurricane
Most important: follow instructions from local officials. If you are told to evacuate, go without waiting.
Before
- Know your zone: look up your hurricane evacuation zone on your county or state emergency management website.
- Make a family plan: where you will meet, who you will call, who picks up children or older relatives.
- Put together your emergency kit.
- Review your insurance; flood damage usually needs a separate flood policy.
- Clear gutters and drains, trim branches that could fall on your home.
- Protect windows with shutters or plywood and bring in loose outdoor items.
During
- Stay in a safe place, in a small interior room away from windows.
- If the wind suddenly calms, it may be the eye: stay inside, the winds return from the other direction.
- Turn around, don't drown: never walk or drive through flood water. Six inches of moving water can knock you down; one foot can sweep a car away.
- Unplug appliances if flooding is possible and never touch wet electrical equipment.
- Keep your phone for emergencies and listen to official updates on the radio.
After
- Wait until officials say it is safe to go out or return home.
- Stay away from downed power lines, damaged trees and unstable buildings.
- Never run a generator, grill or camp stove indoors or in a garage: carbon monoxide kills without a smell.
- Boil or disinfect water until it is declared safe.
- Take photos of damage for insurance, and check on older or disabled neighbors.