Unlike flash floods, hurricanes give you days of warning, but that time is only useful if you have a plan ready before the storm is bearing down on you.

Know Your Evacuation Zone
Before hurricane season even begins, find out whether you live in a mandatory evacuation zone and identify at least two possible routes inland, since coastal roads often become gridlocked as a storm approaches.

Building a Hurricane Kit

1. Water and non-perishable food for at least 3-7 days per person.
2. Battery or hand-crank radio for updates if power and cell service go down.
3. Flashlights and batteries, avoid candles due to fire risk during storms.
4. First aid supplies and any needed medications, at least a two-week supply.
5. Cash, since ATMs and card readers may be unavailable for days after landfall.
6. Copies of important documents in a waterproof container: ID, insurance policies, medical records.

Protecting Your Home

1. Install storm shutters or board up windows ahead of time, plywood takes longer to cut and mount than most people expect.
2. Clear gutters and drains so rainfall doesn’t pool against your foundation.
3. Bring in or secure outdoor furniture, unsecured items become projectiles in hurricane-force wind.

Tracking the Storm as It Approaches
As a hurricane nears, checking a real-time wind map helps you understand how far out the strongest winds extend, while a rain map shows which bands are already producing heavy rainfall and potential flooding, well before the eye makes landfall.

During and After the Storm
Stay away from windows during peak winds, don’t go outside during the calm of the eye (the backside winds return suddenly), and after the storm passes, watch for downed power lines and avoid floodwater, which may be electrically charged or contaminated.

In Conclusion
Hurricane preparedness is really a race against time you’re given in advance, use it. A stocked kit, a clear evacuation route, and a habit of checking live storm data are what separate a stressful evacuation from a genuine emergency.