Get ready for hurricane season

Make a plan

  • Write down emergency numbers
  • Prepare an emergency supply kit
  • Locate nearest shelter and different routes to take from your home
  • Pre-identify pet shelters, pet friendly hotels, or out-of-town friend or relative.

Know the difference between "watch" and "warning"

  • A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 miles per hour [mph] or higher) are possible in a stated area. Experts announce hurricane watches 48 hours before they expect tropical-storm-force winds (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) to start.
  • A hurricane warning is more serious. It means hurricane-force winds are expected in a stated area. Experts issue these warnings 36 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected in the area to give people enough time to prepare for the storm.
  • Visit the National Weather Service's Hurricane Center for more information.

Gather emergency supplies

Get your home ready

  • Clear your yard. Make sure there's nothing that could blow around during the storm and damage your home. Move bikes, lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks, and building material inside or under shelter.
  • Cover up windows and doors. Use storm shutters or nail pieces of plywood to the outside window frames to protect your windows. This can help keep you safe from pieces of shattered glass.
  • Be ready to turn off your power. If you see flooding, downed power lines, or you have to leave your home, switch your power off.
  • Fill clean water containers with drinking water. You can also fill up your sinks and bathtubs with water for washing.
  • Check your carbon monoxide (CO) detector's battery to prevent CO poisoning.

Get your car ready

  • Fill your automobile's gas tank.
  • Move automobiles into garage or under cover.
  • Visit Ready.gov for information on how to prepare your car and what to include in your kit.
  • If you don't own a car, consider making plans with friends or family or call authorities to get a ride if you need to evacuate.

Get your family and pets ready

  • Go over your emergency plan with your family.
  • Keep checking for updates about the storm. Watch TV, listen to the radio, or check online.
  • Call the hospital, public health department, or the police about special needs. If you or a loved one is older or disabled and won't be able to leave quickly, get advice on what to do.
  • Put pets and farm animals in a safe place.

Be ready to evacuate or stay at home

  • Always listen to authorities regarding whether you should evacuate or stay at home. 

    If a hurricane is coming, you may hear an order from authorities to evacuate (leave your home). Never ignore an order to evacuate. Even sturdy, well-built houses may not hold up against a hurricane. Staying home to protect your property is not worth risking your health and safety.

    You may hear an order to stay at home. If driving conditions are dangerous, staying at home might be safer than leaving.

  • If you need to evacuate:
    • Grab your emergency supply kit and only take what you really need with you (cell phone, chargers, medicines, identification like a passport or license, and cash).
    • Unplug your appliances. If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water.
    • Follow the roads that emergency workers recommend even if there's traffic. Other routes might be blocked or flooded. Never drive through flooded areas—cars and other vehicles can be swept away or may stall in just 6 inches of moving water.
    • Contact your local emergency management office and ask if they offer accommodations for owners and their pets. Learn more about evacuating with your pet.
  • If you need to stay home:
    • Keep your emergency supply kit in a place you can easily access.
    • Stay inside. Even if it looks calm, don't go outside. Wait until you hear or see an official message that the hurricane is over. Sometimes, weather gets calm in the middle of a storm but then quickly gets bad again.
    • Stay away from windows—you could get hurt by pieces of broken glass or flying debris during a storm. Stay in a room with no windows, or go inside a closet.
    • Be ready to leave. If emergency authorities order you to leave or if your home is damaged, you may need to go to a shelter or a neighbor's house.