General Supplies

• Pack a to-go bag: This ‘basic’ overnight bag should be easy to take with you if you have to evacuate in a hurry and should include a change of clothes, bottled water, flashlight and important documents.

• Cash: ATMs and credit card machines may not work for a while after the storm.

• Battery-operated radio: Make sure you have extra batteries too, so that you can keep up with news reports and alerts.

• Hand-crank radios work well, too.

• Secure a two-week supply of prescription medicine: Anyone on prescription medications, should pack a two-week supply of their meds in a sealable plastic bag, clearly labeled.

• Flashlight and lanterns: Make sure you have a couple of flashlights, candles, matches, lanterns and other alternate sources of light.

• Personal hygiene items: It might be hard to get to the store to buy toilet paper, tissues, soap and other sanitary items after the storm.

• Extra keys: Having an extra set of keys in your kit is a good idea in case people get separated or if they’re lost in a flood or the confusion.

• Pet items: Remember food, medicine and water for your pet, too.

• Disinfectant: You never know what mess you’ll have after a storm.

• Checklist: This printable checklist can serve as a guide for your own personal checklist. Give one to each family member to personalize.

• Extra batteries: You’ll need extra batteries for your radio, flashlights, and other items. Get these early before they all sell out.

• Prepare early: Emergency items sell out quickly at the stores, so stock up your kit before hurricane season even starts.

Entertainment

• Board games or cards: Get out board games or play cards to keep you distracted during the storm and to play if the power goes out.

• Read: Read when it’s light out, and save the radio battery for nighttime or news alerts only.

• Play with your pets: Give your pets extra attention, especially if they seem stressed or scared.

• Play charades: Games like charades or hide and go seek don’t require any power and are fun with the kids.

• Tell stories: Kids love to hear stories.

• Get to know your family better: A perfect time to ‘talk’ together instead of everyone’s head stuck in an electronic device.

Special Needs and Children

• Minimize stress: Help children cope better by minimizing stressful situations and discussions.

• Limit TV time: Don’t let your kids watch scary footage of the storm on TV.

• Pre-register for special needs shelters: If you think you will have to evacuate and are bringing a special needs or disabled person with you, pre-register to ensure space and adequate care.

• Maintain normal routines: Keeping up with a normal routine helps soothe everyone from babies to adults, provided that you are already prepared.

• Contact home health care service: If you use a home health care service, call them and ask them to check on you during and after the storm.

• Answer children’s questions: Welcome questions from children about what to do, what a hurricane is, and how to prepare for it.

• Get older kids to help: School-aged children will feel more prepared and maybe even excited if they’re allowed to help gather blankets and find batteries.

• Bunk with the neighbors: If you’re elderly, ask to spend the night at the neighbors’ house, or work out some kind of signal for help should you need it and if the phones go out.

• Stay hydrated: People who are sick and the elderly are especially at risk for dehydration.

• Know the risks: Disabled individuals will find it harder to evacuate, so know all the obstacles and risks involved in transporting them or keeping them safe in your home.
 

Evacuating

• Find a place for pets ahead of time: If you’re unable to take your pets with you, make arrangements ahead of time, and never leave your pet chained up or alone on your property. It’s cruel.

• Get a real map: You may not be able to rely on your GPS, especially if roads are blocked or flooded. Get a real map to help you find your way out.

• Plan meeting places: Pick two or three meeting places — one inside your home, one inside your neighborhood, and one outside your neighborhood for whenever the storm hits or where you plan to evacuate.

• Sleeping bag: Get a sleeping bag, blankets and pillows ready if you have to evacuate.

• Keep your gas tank full or at least half full: Fill it up all the way, but even when you’re on the road, try not to let your tank get lower than half full.

• Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes: There should be standard routes, but listen to the news to learn about any new or updated routes.

• Plan to stay with friends: Hotels will book up quickly, so plan to stay with friends or family who live inland at least for the first couple of nights.

• Find out if you live in an evacuation zone: You may not even have to worry about evacuating.

• Leave when you’re told: Avoid the worst traffic, road closures and getting stuck behind by leaving right when you’re told to go (or before if you’re pretty sure it’s going to happen).

• Carefully inspect your home upon return: Before letting children back, watch for danger, hanging electrical wires and loose debris.
 

Paperwork

• Emergency contact information: Put doctors’ phone numbers and other emergency contact information in your preparedness kit.

• Prioritize what’s important: You can’t take everything with you, but deeds, wills, Social Security cards, birth certificates and important financial statements should be collected.

• Use a USB drive: Download important data onto a flash drive and put it in a waterproof, sealable bag or container.

• Check home insurance: Do this before hurricane season starts, otherwise updated coverage may not take effect until the following year. Also look into flood insurance.

• Write down serial numbers: In case important belongings are stolen or lost in the storm, you’ll need serial numbers to get them back.

• Proof of residence: A driver’s license or mail should suffice.

• Use a fireproof safe: A fireproof safe will keep your belongings protected.

• Take video and photos: Take them of your car, home and property before and after the storm for insurance purposes.
 

Staying Informed

• Know the terminology: Know the difference between tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes so that you can follow the reports better.

• Listen for warnings: Actually do what the officials tell you to do: stay put, evacuate, and/or get your supplies ready.

• Stay up to date with a weather radio: Best weather radios
 

Safety

• Head to a windowless room: Even if your windows are boarded up, stay in a windowless room while the winds are blowing.

• Stay downwind: This area is the opposite side of the house that the wind is hitting.

• Stay inside: Stay indoors for the entire duration of the storm, and do not go outside during the calm of the storm, when the eye passes over.

• Be careful with candles: Only light them if you have to, and set a reminder to blow them out before leaving the room or going to bed.