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Hurricane preparedness checklist: before, during and after the storm
Key takeaways
- Know your evacuation zone and route before the season starts — it's the single most important decision you'll make.
- A watch (about 48 hours out) means get ready; a warning (about 36 hours out) means finish preparations and leave if ordered.
- Water, not wind, causes most hurricane deaths — storm surge and inland flooding. Never drive through flood water.
- Plan for days to weeks without power after landfall.
At the start of hurricane season (June 1)
- Look up your evacuation zone on your county or state emergency management website and write down two routes out
- Decide where you'll go: a friend or relative inland, a hotel (pet-friendly if needed) or a public shelter
- Build or refresh your emergency kit (emergency kit list) and a 2-week supply of water and food
- Review insurance: homeowners policies usually don't cover flooding; NFIP flood insurance generally has a 30-day waiting period, so you can't buy it when a storm is already coming
- Photograph or video every room and valuable item for insurance claims; store copies of documents in the cloud and in a waterproof bag
- Trim trees and branches near the house, and clear gutters and drains
- Get storm shutters, or pre-cut exterior plywood for windows (taping windows does not prevent breakage)
- If anyone depends on powered medical equipment, plan backup power and tell your utility and local emergency management
- Make your family emergency plan with an out-of-area contact
Watch vs. warning: what each one means
| Alert | What it means | Typical lead time | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical storm watch | Tropical-storm conditions (39–73 mph winds) possible | ~48 hours | Review plans, top off supplies |
| Hurricane watch | Hurricane conditions (74+ mph winds) possible | ~48 hours | Start the 48-hour list below |
| Hurricane warning | Hurricane conditions expected | ~36 hours | Finish preparations; evacuate if ordered |
| Storm surge warning | Life-threatening rising water from the coast expected | ~36 hours | Leave the surge zone |
When a watch is issued: the 48-hour list
- Fill vehicle gas tanks and get cash — pumps and ATMs fail when power does
- Refill prescriptions and buy any missing supplies before shelves empty
- Charge every phone, power bank and power station
- Bring in or tie down outdoor furniture, grills, trash cans and decorations — they become projectiles
- Install shutters or plywood
- Fill clean containers with water; freeze extra water jugs to keep food cold longer
- Turn the fridge and freezer to their coldest settings
- Move valuables and documents to upper floors if flooding is possible
Should you evacuate?
Always leave when officials order an evacuation for your zone. Consider leaving even without an order if you:
- Live in a mobile or manufactured home
- Live in a storm-surge or flood-prone area, or on a barrier island
- Depend on electricity for medical equipment
- Wouldn't be able to get help if roads were cut off for several days
Leave early, in daylight, and tell your out-of-area contact your route and destination. Take your go-bag, medications, documents, chargers and pets.
If you stay: during the storm
- Stay indoors in an interior room on the lowest floor that isn't at risk of flooding, away from windows
- Don't go out during the calm "eye" — the other side of the storm arrives quickly, from the opposite direction
- Keep a NOAA Weather Radio on and phones charged; follow official updates only
- If water rises inside, move to the highest floor — but not into a closed attic where you could be trapped; go to the roof only as a last resort and call 911
After the hurricane
- Wait for officials to say it's safe before returning home or going out
- Turn around, don't drown: six inches of moving water can knock you down; about a foot can carry away a car
- Treat every downed power line as live and report it
- Run generators only outdoors, 20+ feet from the house (generator safety)
- Check food and water safety: throw out fridge food that was above 40°F for 2+ hours (food safety guide) and follow any boil water advisory
- Photograph damage before cleaning up, and contact your insurer
- Wear gloves, boots and an N95 mask when cleaning flood-damaged areas; dry or remove wet materials within 24–48 hours to limit mold
Hurricane FAQ
What is the difference between a hurricane watch and a warning?
A watch means hurricane conditions are possible (usually about 48 hours out). A warning means they're expected (usually about 36 hours out) — finish preparations and follow evacuation orders.
When is hurricane season?
The Atlantic season runs June 1 – November 30 (Eastern Pacific from May 15). Most major Atlantic hurricanes occur August through October.
How much water and food do I need for a hurricane?
At least 1 gallon of water per person per day and non-perishable food for several days; because outages after landfall can last weeks, aim for two weeks. See how much water to store and emergency food storage.
Get the full 2-week plan
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Get the Protocol Survival SystemRelated guides
Sources: NOAA National Hurricane Center, "Watches and Warnings" and hurricane preparedness; Ready.gov, "Hurricanes" (FEMA); FloodSmart.gov (NFIP); National Weather Service, "Turn Around Don't Drown."