Water causes most of the harm, so decide where you would go before the forecast makes you decide. Ask your county emergency management office whether your home is in an evacuation zone, and choose a place to stay outside it.
Most people who leave for storm surge only need to go a few miles inland. If you are told to evacuate, go.
Watch and warning
- Watch means hurricane conditions are possible, about 48 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected.
- Warning means they are expected, about 36 hours before those winds. Preparations should be done by then.
- The Atlantic season runs June 1 to November 30.
Before it arrives
- Fill clean containers with drinking water.
- Fill the car's gas tank and park vehicles in a garage or under cover.
- If you see flooding or downed lines, or you have to leave, turn off the power.
If you stay
- Stay inside even if it looks calm outside, away from windows. A room with no windows, or a closet, is better.
- Never drive through flooded areas. Six inches of moving water can knock an adult down, and about two feet can carry away most vehicles.
After
- Run a generator outdoors, more than 20 feet from windows, doors and vents, never in a garage.
- A closed fridge keeps food safe for about 4 hours, a full freezer about 48.
- Floodwater can be contaminated. Wear rubber boots and plastic gloves, and wash your hands.
Free pages to print
Hurricanes guide
A short guide to getting ready before a storm arrives.
Our leave-town plan
A blank single page you can print and fill in by hand.
Sources: National Weather Service; National Hurricane Center; CDC, Hurricane Safety and Carbon Monoxide; FoodSafety.gov. Checked October 2026. Zones and orders vary by county, so follow local officials.
General information for families, not legal, medical or financial advice. In an emergency, follow local officials and call 911.
Related questions
All planning answersPrinting page by page?
Get all 120 pages bound, tabbed and lying flat in the official book for $39 with free US shipping.
- Lies flat while you write
- The Smith family's example faces every fill-in page
- Arrives in time for Christmas
- 14-day money-back guarantee