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Tips You Should Know to Prepare for Hurricane Season

Tips You Should Know to Prepare for Hurricane Season

Many of us have certain home essentials that we must always keep on hand – water, laundry detergent, shampoo, tissues, toilet paper – all basic sundries that we can’t imagine running out of. Yet, there aren’t many households that keep an emergency kit or extra supplies in the event of an actual emergency. Some households don’t think they’ll need any emergency preparations, while others might need more than just a bit of planning. It may be challenging to know exactly what to expect. Tips you should know to prepare for hurricane season should keep you prepared regardless of where you live.

Every year during hurricane season, from June 1st through November 30th, homes and cities across the Eastern seaboard are susceptible to damaging winds, rains, and everything else these storms bring. NOAA predicts that the 2024 hurricane season will be more active than usual. These predictions include a forecast of 17 to 25 total storms and a prediction that at least eight of those storms may become hurricanes. (Check out How to Tell the Difference Between a Hurricane and a Tornado.)

To create this list of tips you should know to prepare for hurricane season, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous sources including the National Weather Service, the American Red Cross, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.) We also reviewed Reddit threads and other discussion boards for some of the best preparation tips. Here are 10 hurricane preparation tips to help you prepare for the 2024 hurricane season.

Create an Evacuation Plan

Unrecognizable family looking assembly point map at home
David Pereiras / Shutterstock.com
Even if a hurricane is hitting your area, depending on the severity of the storm, you might not need to evacuate. However, you don’t want to wait until the storm hits to create an evacuation plan.

If you have family or friends in an area that won’t be affected by the storm, contact them ahead of time and make plans to stay with them if evacuation is necessary. The Department of Transportation near you will also be able to provide information on evacuation routes in your area.

Find an Emergency Shelter Near You

Hurricane warning sign
Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images News via Getty Images
In an emergency, you may not have time to evacuate. To best prepare your emergency plan, identify the closest emergency shelter near your home so you know where to go if things get tough.

If you have pets, it’s important to have a plan for them as well. Not all emergency shelters allow pets so you’ll want to have a plan for what to do with your furry friends if you have to take your family to an emergency shelter.

Prepare an Emergency Kit

Compass first aid kit are in a backpack, a navigator in the taiga, a first aid kit in emergency situations, a white cross, medicines in a red bag. High quality photo
Aleksey Matrenin / Shutterstock.com
Preparing an emergency kit is an essential part of hurricane prep. Once you have a kit in your home, you can keep it on hand for potential emergencies. If it’s your first time preparing for a hurricane, it’s time to put together your emergency kit.

What you put in your kit may depend on your location and situation. Some examples of things to include are flashlights, batteries, and first aid supplies. The National Weather Service has a full list of what to include on its website.

Stock Up On Supplies

Blurred selection of pasta, ketchup, condiment, tomato sauce and canned vegetable on shelves in store at Humble, Texas, US. Aisle, row variety products, defocused background, bokeh light supermarket.
Trong Nguyen / Shutterstock.com
While there are some emergency supplies you can keep on hand for any future storms, there are also supplies you may need to stock up on each year. Having an emergency food supply or non-perishable food items is important.

You might also want to buy bottled water and non-perishable snacks for when you’re waiting out the storm. Additionally, make sure you fill your gas tank ahead of time to avoid long lines at the gas station before a storm.

Familiarize Yourself with Your Zone

A Hurricane Evacuation Route sign leads evacuees to safety.
Darwin Brandis / Shutterstock.com
When a hurricane is on the way, the local government will announce voluntary and mandatory evacuations for certain areas. Evacuations will be listed by specific zones. Knowing what zone you live in allows you to quickly identify whether there’s an evacuation order for your area.

Also, the evacuation zones are typically based on which areas are most likely to be affected by the storm. Understanding your zone can help identify the level of risk in your area and how likely you are to get flooding and storm surges near your home.

Review Your Insurance Documents

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PreciousJ / Shutterstock.com
Insurance is the kind of thing we have just in case we need it, and when a hurricane is coming to your area, that’s one of the times you’ll be glad to have insurance. To ensure you have the coverage you need, review your insurance documents and coverage before a storm hits.

This is vital if you’re a homeowner. There are certain aspects of your insurance that you’ll want to check, such as your deductible and what your policy limit is. Even if you’re not a homeowner, you may want to check up on your renter’s and car insurance.

Document Your Assets and Property

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Before you call the insurance companies, it can be helpful to take inventory of your assets and your personal property. Not only does this help you ensure that you have the right coverage, but it can also help if your property is damaged during the storm.

If you need to apply for aid due to a natural disaster, having an inventory will expedite the process and help you get the aid you need. Take pictures of any assets you have, including your property if you’re a homeowner.

Find a Reliable News Source

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KinoMasterskaya / Shutterstock.com
During a storm, it’s essential to keep tabs on what’s happening. However, leading up to a storm, you might find that constantly watching the news might make you more anxious and fearful. It’s important to prepare but not to panic. Before you’re in the path of a hurricane, find a local news source you can trust.

If possible, find one that focuses on sharing practical information instead of spreading unnecessary fear. Then you’ll know exactly what to do and when to act if a hurricane is headed towards your area.

Set Up Emergency Alerts

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Instead of constantly checking the news during a storm, setting up emergency alerts on your phone is an easy way to stay informed. Most news stations allow you to sign up for alerts in your area either through their app or through social media.

You can also sign up for alerts directly through the National Weather Service or through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, also known as FEMA. This will allow you to stay on top of any updates while you determine what to do to keep your family safe.

Secure Your Home

Santa Cruz County, Watsonville, CA, USA on January 12, 2023. Destruction, sandbags keep out water; flooding houses in the area between the Passaro River and the Sausipuedes River, storm
Rosangela Perry / Shutterstock.com
Even if you are evacuating before a storm, it’s critical to secure your home as much as possible before you go. Strong winds and water can damage your home extensively if you don’t prepare. Some ideas for securing your home include bringing any loose or lightweight options inside, such as outdoor furniture or grills.

Preparation should also include boarding up your windows to prevent them from breaking and using sandbags to prevent any water from getting into your home if there is flooding. (To learn more about the weather, check out The Average Summer Temperature Every Decade Since 1895.)

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