Hurricane Preparedness Week in the U.S.

• Review home insurance.

Homeowners insurance typically covers flood damage caused by burst pipes, overflowing tubs, and leaking appliances. However, it doesn’t cover floods from hurricanes and storms. Check with your insurance agent or the National Flood Insurance Program for available coverage in your region.

• Set up weather notifications.

Monitor NOAA weather radio or use a weather smartphone app to set Monitor NOAA weather radio or use a weather smartphone app to set up alerts for dangerous weather. The FEMA mobile app is also an excellent resource for alert updates and local shelter availability.

• Trim trees.

Trim trees to remove dead branches and prevent any branches from extending over your home. During a hurricane’s strong winds, these branches can break off, gather wind speed, and damage your property.

• Maintain your roof.

Repair loose or missing shingles and damaged roof vents to prevent rain leaks in the attic, ceilings, and walls.

• Keep gutters clear.

Gutters and downspouts should also be cleaned and repaired. They guide rain from the roof and away from the foundation. Water pooling around the foundation, particularly if the ground is saturated, can cause basement and crawl space flooding.

• Check the foundation drainage system.

Waterproof your basement or crawl space using adequate drainage systems. A sump pump with battery backup is essential during power outages.

• Add an emergency generator.

A small emergency generator keeps appliances running during extended power outages. Before the hurricane hits, test the generator to ensure it’s working properly, and you know how to start it. Have extension cords ready, and never run a generator indoors, as it can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Keep backup fuel on hand.

Several days of fuel will be needed to keep the generator running. Propane is also useful for an outdoor grill. A chainsaw can help remove downed trees and large branches, so ensure you have enough gasoline.

• Move vehicles.

Move your cars, trucks, or other vehicles to the garage or another covered or protected area. Fill gas tanks in case fuel is unavailable after the hurricane. Ensure you know how to open the garage door manually since power may be lost.

• Secure outdoor furniture.

Move lawn chairs and patio furniture into storage. In high winds, they may become airborne and damage your home or your neighbors’ homes.

• Cover windows and secure doors.

Nail plywood or hurricane shutters over your home’s windows to prevent shattered glass, rain, and wind from entering. Install a wind-load garage door to prevent wind pressure on the walls and roof.

• Set up an emergency family shelter.

Designate an interior room without windows as a family emergency shelter. Stock it with emergency supplies, such as bottled water, medications, a first aid kit, food, flashlights, batteries, and blankets, and ensure your family understands where to meet.

• Stock emergency supplies.

Hurricanes devastate power lines, trees, and buildings, shutting down everything for several days to weeks. You could be in your shelter for that duration. Stock it with food, water, first-aid supplies, a flashlight, prescription medications, and other essentials. Ready.gov provides a checklist to build your own basic disaster supplies kit.

• Write a family emergency plan.

This document addresses what to do in the case of a major disaster such as a hurricane. It should have information not only about actions to take at home but also about what to do if you’re away from home. Ready.gov has a superb family emergency plan as a starting point.

• Add school and work plans.

It’s also important to be aware of what’s happening at work and at school. Review those plans and add the highlights to your own emergency plan. This will help everyone in your family be prepared wherever they are when a storm or hurricane hits.

• Read the community hurricane response plan.

Your community’s hurricane response plan contains important details about notification methods, evacuation plans, and shelter locations. It should be included in your family plan.

• Set up family emergency contact numbers.

Incorporate everyone’s contact numbers in your emergency plan. This should include workplace and school numbers. It should also be on your smartphone. This document will serve as a backup in case something happens to your phone.

• Set up family emergency contact numbers.

Incorporate everyone’s contact numbers in your emergency plan. This should include workplace and school numbers. It should also be on your smartphone. This document will serve as a backup in case something happens to your phone.

• Establish an emergency meeting location.

Your family may get separated due to sheltering in place wherever they may be. It’s wise to set up an emergency meeting location should your home be damaged or access to it restricted. It would also be prudent to set up backup meeting locations as well.

• Practice your plan together.

Plans often fall apart when put into action. It’s wise to conduct a briefing or practice session. This communication allows input from other family members who might catch things you’ve missed, enabling you to make those corrections before the hurricane.