Hurricane Season Preparedness Checklist: What to Do Before the Storm

Family Emergency Planning

• 🤝 Meet with your family to create a communication plan and establish a physical meeting point in case of separation.
• 🗺️ Know your evacuation zone by checking local maps, especially if you live near a coast or body of water.
• 🏡 Arrange a place to stay with friends or family outside the potential impact area, and confirm this arrangement in advance.

Home and Property Preparation

• 🩹 Assemble a first aid kit with essential supplies like bandages, antiseptic wipes, and adhesive tape, plus extra diapers for children.
• 🔌 Prepare your home by knowing how to turn off gas, water, and electricity to prevent fires, and ensure you have the correct tools.
• 💨 Secure your property by bringing in outdoor items like lawn furniture and bicycles that could become projectiles in high winds.

Essential Supplies and Documents

• 🔦 Gather supplies for power outages, including battery-operated flashlights and radios, and consider a NOAA weather radio.
• 💧 Stock up on water, with a minimum of one gallon per person per day for at least five days, and non-perishable food.
• 🥫 Ensure you have a can opener and a way to prepare food, such as a portable stove.
• 📄 Safeguard important documents by storing copies of birth certificates, social security cards, passports, and insurance papers in a waterproof bag.

Pet Preparedness

• 🐾 Prepare for pets by ensuring they have carriers, up-to-date ID tags, and a separate supply of food.

Overall Preparedness Benefits

• ✅ Being prepared allows you and your family to stay calm and safe during a hurricane, avoiding the panic of those who did not prepare.