Here is a list of Hurricane tips provided by the National Hurricane Center and NOAA to help you stay aware and prepared during this important time.
Gather Information
Do you know if you live in an evacuation area?
Assess your risks and know your home's vulnerability for a storm surge, flooding, and wind resistance. Understand National Weather Service forecast products and especially the meaning of NWS watches and warnings.
Contact your local National Weather Service office and local government/emergency management office to find out what type of emergencies could occur and how you should respond.
Contacts
Keep a list of contacts for your reference. You should know all the contact information for the following:
- Local Emergency Management Office
- County Law Enforcement
- County Public Safety Fire/Rescue
- State, County and City/Town Government
- Local Hospitals
- Local Utilities
- Local American Red Cross
- Local TV Stations
- Local Radio Stations
- Your Property Insurance Agent
Plan & Take Action
Everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected. Your friends and family may not be together when disaster strikes. How will you find each other? Will you know if your children or parents are safe? You may have to evacuate or be confined to your home. What will you do if water, gas, electricity, or phone services are shut off?
Supplies Kit
Put together a basic disaster supplies kit, and consider storage locations for different situations. Help community members do the same.
Emergency Plans
Develop and document plans for your specific risks. Make sure to make the arrangements below.
- Protect yourself and family with a Family Emergency Plan
- 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.
Health & Environment
Follow guidelines to guard your community's health and protect the environment during and after the storm.
- Review the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) health considerations before, during, and after a storm.
- Remember to follow the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) food and water safety guidelines during disasters.
- Review the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggestions for health and environmental safety in disaster preparedness.
Evacuation
- 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 BECAUSE 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.
Recover
- Wait until an area is declared safe before returning home.
- Remember that recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process.