Hurricane Preparedness

What to do 72 hours out, the day of landfall, and after the storm passes.

72+ Hours Before

• Know your evacuation zone and route — check your county's emergency management site
• Fill prescriptions for at least 14 days
• Top off propane tanks and any fuel for generators
• Trim back tree limbs near the house and roof
• Check that flashlights, lanterns, and weather radio batteries work
• Photograph every room of the house and exterior for insurance — store in cloud
• Locate insurance policies, deeds, IDs — put copies in a waterproof bag

48 Hours Before

• Fill cars with gas — stations may lose power for days
• Get cash from ATM — card readers fail when networks go down
• Buy 1 gallon of water per person per day, minimum 7 days
• Stock non-perishable food: canned goods, peanut butter, crackers, dried fruit
• Manual can opener — verify it actually works
• Charge every phone, power bank, laptop, and tablet to 100%
• Fill bathtubs and large containers with water for flushing toilets

24 Hours Before

• Bring in or secure outdoor furniture, grills, trash cans, planters
• Board windows with plywood or close storm shutters
• Move valuables and electronics to interior rooms or higher floors
• Turn fridge and freezer to coldest setting; freeze water bottles to keep food cold longer
• If evacuating: leave now, before mandatory orders cause traffic gridlock

During the Storm

• Stay in an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows
• Do not go outside during the eye — the back wall hits within minutes
• Keep weather radio on and phone charging
• If water enters the house, move up — never into a closed attic without an escape

After the Storm

• Wait for the all-clear before going outside
• Avoid downed power lines and standing water — assume both are deadly
• Photograph all damage before moving anything — for insurance claims
• Call insurance to open a claim within 24-48 hours
• Do not run a generator inside or in a garage — carbon monoxide kills
• Check on neighbors, especially elderly and those living alone
• Save receipts for any storm-related expenses — many are reimbursable