7 Tips to Prepare for Hurricane Season

An Evacuation Plan
When it’s safe to remain in your home and you haven’t received orders to evacuate, stay indoors. Stay away from windows to avoid injuries from flying debris and, if possible, get to an interior room on the lowest level of the house. However, conditions may warrant the need for you to evacuate. Do so carefully and watch for debris (broken glass, nails, etc.) that can hurt you. When evacuating, take only what you need. Follow the designated evacuation route but familiarize yourself with any alternate evacuation routes. Don’t take shortcuts as the roads may be impassable. Know the location of the nearest emergency evacuation shelters in the event you need them.

Don’t forget about your pets. They’re family, too, and they should evacuate with you in an emergency. When an evacuation is necessary, take your pet with you. If possible, plan how you’ll care for your pet. If you must seek emergency shelter, know that they may not allow pets in the shelter.

Communication Plan
Planning where to meet and how to communicate with family and friends is crucial. Decide on the best method of communication but keep in mind that phone lines may overload. Sending texts may be the fastest and most reliable method of staying in touch and keeping family members aware of your whereabouts.

An Evacuation Package
Create an evacuation package that includes important documents, such as birth certificates, social security cards and insurance policies. Think about keepsakes and items that insurance could never replace. Place the items in a waterproof and fireproof container. Make sure everyone knows where you keep the package and assign a family member responsibility for it in case you need to evacuate.

Emergency Contact
In advance, select a family member or friend who isn’t in the affected area to communicate with in the event of an evacuation. This contact can be the person who lets others know where you are and that you’re safe, so you won’t have to spend precious time doing so.

When prepping for a hurricane, a safety kit is a vital element. Keep a stocked safety or emergency kit with all the things you need in a hurricane on hand for emergencies. Make sure everyone in your household knows the location of the kit. Recommended items include:

• Battery-operated radio or TV
• Flashlights or battery-operated lanterns
• LED candles
• Extra batteries
• Cell phone and tablet chargers (home and auto)
• Extra set of car keys
• Credit cards, debit cards and cash
• Fire extinguisher
• First aid kit with medications
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Garbage bags
• Nonelectric can opener
• Nonperishable food and water (1 gallon per person per day) to last three days; water shouldn’t be more than six months old
• A change of clothing and footwear for each person
• Protective clothing suited to the weather (rainwear, rain boots, coats, gloves, etc.)
• Sanitary supplies
• Additional items based on your personal needs (pet food, infant-care items, etc.)

Look for a hand-cranked weather radio that you can use when the electricity goes out. Some of these devices include a built-in flashlight and can charge a mobile device. You can also find solar-powered mobile device chargers.

Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. A few inches of floodwater can cause significant property damage. If your home is in a flood plain, take steps to protect it from potential flooding resulting from hurricanes. If you don’t already have them, install check valves. These automatic valves prevent water from flowing back into drains, which stops floodwaters from draining into the home.

Be prepared to turn off water, gas and electricity if local officials or utilities instruct you to do so. And be prepared to move to higher ground.

Unplug appliances and sensitive electronic devices to prevent power-surge damage when the power comes back on. Don’t unplug the refrigerator and freezer, however, but adjust the settings to keep food cold. Refrigerators should be set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower, and the freezer should be set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sand bags are a simple solution that, when used correctly, reduce the threat of flooding, divert water away from your home and minimize damage. Although sand bags don’t create a watertight seal, they do help minimize the amount of water that may cause damage. Sand bags are most effective when staggered by offsetting rows by half of a bag length for each row.

A good alternative to sand bags is self-inflating flood bags. The bags are compact and easy to use. They contain porous materials that expand to create a barrier when water combines with them. As with sand bags, self-inflating flood bags are stackable.

If you live in an area vulnerable to hurricanes, consider installing hurricane shutter panels. Several different types are available, and they’ll go a long way toward keeping damaging wind and rain from entering through your home’s windows. They may also reduce your homeowners insurance premium.

If you don’t have storm panels and a storm is on the way, putting plywood over your windows will help prevent water from getting in or flying objects from breaking the glass. For the best protection, the plywood should be at least 5/8 inch thick. See How to Board Up Windows With Plywood for more information.

Steel entry doors provide the best protection for your home. Double doors and French doors are most vulnerable to high winds. No matter what type of door you have, a hurricane panel is your best option to minimize damage. As with windows, you can also nail plywood over the doors to help keep out water and debris. Don’t nail yourself inside the house in case you need to evacuate the area on short notice.

If you have double doors that have no structural member in the center between them, install special hardware to secure the doors where they meet. Bolts that secure doors into the frame at both the top and bottom greatly increase the strength of the doors. Wedge a dowel or a piece of broom handle into the track of sliding glass doors to prevent them from coming loose in heavy winds.

The pressure from wind increases with door size. Wide doors, particularly garage doors, need bracing for stability during high winds. You can provide stiffening support for garage doors by making your own vertical supports. Nail two 2-by-4s together and attach them to the inside of your garage door with L brackets.

Ensure that your roof is in good shape prior to severe weather. Here are a few precautions that you can take.

• Disconnect and remove any television antennas or satellite dishes.
• Remove roof turbines and cover the holes. Otherwise, high winds could remove them, leaving a gaping hole for rain to enter your home.
• Check for loose or damaged shingles. Seal around flashings, chimneys or vent pipes.
• Check for loose and clogged gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters can send water flowing into your home in the event of heavy rains.
• In addition, you should also trim back any tree limbs above or around the roof.

If you live in a low-lying area and a hurricane is coming, move your car or boat to higher ground, preferably to an enclosed garage or warehouse to protect it against high winds. If you don’t have a garage to park your car in, consider parking next to a building. This provides partial protection from high winds. Also consider covering the car with a tarp to prevent engine or transmission failure from corrosion.

If you’re unable to store your boat inside, take precautions to secure it. If possible, relocate it to higher ground. Stow all loose gear (outriggers, dinghies, canvas tops, etc.) and remove electronics and other valuables to avoid damage and theft. Remove the battery, shut off all fuel lines and turn off the electrical system. Anchor the trailer tongue of a trailered boat to a firm spot on the ground. Lash the boat to the trailer and let some of the air out of the tires. Add water for weight, but make sure you keep it below engine level. Cover the boat to keep out additional water and debris. If you plan to leave the boat in the water, anchor the boat with at least two anchors. Also, use extra lines to tie it down and use chafe protectors to keep the lines from rubbing against and marring the boat.

Damage to your home’s plumbing system from a hurricane or flood can be costly to repair and result in damage to other parts of your home. When preparing for a storm or possible flooding, it’s important to take care of potential plumbing issues in advance. Here are some tips.

• Keep Your Drains Clear: Hurricanes bring heavy rainfall, which can put stress on your home’s drainage system if it’s not functioning properly. Before a hurricane hits, run water into all of the drains in your home and notice how long it takes them to empty. If they don’t clear completely within a few seconds, take the necessary steps to diagnose the problem and repair them or schedule an appointment with a licensed plumber. For information to help you complete the repairs yourself, see Unclog a Sink, Shower or Tub Drain.
• Solve Outdoor Drainage Problems: Inspect your home’s exterior before a storm or flood to make sure that downspouts, gutters or any drainage systems are in good shape. If your home’s foundation shows any cracks or other signs of stress, you should fix these issues in advance of a storm. Also, contact a professional if you need to address any sewer line issues. 
• Check Your Sump Pump: Your basement is the area of your home that’s at the highest risk of flooding. In the event that your basement does flood, a sump pump can pump water out of it. Before severe weather strikes, make sure that your sump pump is free of clogs and is working properly. Contact a professional if you need it repaired or you’re due for an upgrade. For help choosing a pump, check out our Sump Pump Buying Guide. For other tips, see How to Dry Out and Prevent a Wet Basement.
• Turn Off the Water to Your Home: It’s a good idea to turn off the water to your home at the main valve to prevent damage to the pipes and prevent contaminated water from entering your home’s plumbing system. When you turn off the water, remember to turn off the gas or power to your water heater as well — depending on which you have — to make sure your heater doesn’t turn on without any water in it.

• Always be alert and exercise caution before, during and after a hurricane.
• Return to your home only after officials say it’s safe to do so. Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads, fallen trees and downed power lines.
• Call the gas company if you suspect a gas leak, which you can detect if you hear a hissing/blowing sound or smell gas. Avoid using lighters, matches, kerosene lamps or candles to prevent a potential explosion.
• Photograph any damage to your home for insurance claims.
• Avoid consuming tap water until you’re certain it isn’t contaminated. Instead, drink bottled water.
• Board up any doors and windows that may have broken during the hurricane.
• Tarp a damaged roof to prevent leaks.
• Stay away from downed power lines as they may still be live.
• For more in-depth information, read How to Clean Up After a Hurricane, Tornado or Flood. Learn how to break down fallen trees and branches in How to Use a Chainsaw.