Hurricane
A hurricane is a powerful tropical storm that brings high winds, heavy rain, flooding and storm surge, and it returns to the same coastlines season after season. Because hurricanes usually arrive with days of warning, families who prepare early can secure the home, plan the route out, and come through the storm and the recovery with far less stress.
A hurricane is a recurring tropical storm that can damage property and threaten lives across wide stretches of coast and inland country. Preparing for hurricanes matters most to families in hurricane-prone regions, where these storms bring high winds, flooding, storm surge and the other hurricane hazards that cause widespread devastation.
Protecting your property starts with fortifying the house. Our guide to hurricane proofing your home takes on doors, windows, roofs, garage doors and outdoor objects. Boat owners have their own steps in boat hurricane preparation. Surviving a hurricane takes careful planning, and a hurricane preparedness plan brings together the emergency kit, food, water, medications, important documents and family communication.
Staying informed lets you act on time. Learn to read hurricane watch vs warning alerts, and set your hurricane evacuation plans with routes, shelters and meeting points before the season begins. If you shelter at home, read up on what to do during a hurricane, and on what happens when a hurricane stalls over one area for days. After the storm passes, downed power lines, flooding and debris remain, and what to do after a hurricane walks you through recovery.
History is a teacher too. The worst hurricanes in US history and survival stories from the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season show what preparation looks like in a real storm. For a lighter evening, hurricane movies picked for preppers make good family viewing.
Hazards of Hurricanes
Why Preppers Care
Hurricanes return every season, and a single storm can cut power, close roads and damage homes across a whole region for days or weeks. Families who prepare ahead trade a last-minute scramble for time: time to secure the house, pack, and decide whether to stay or go before the roads fill. Wind gets the headlines, yet storm surge and flooding cause much of the harm. Start with a hurricane preparedness plan, settle your evacuation plan before the season begins, and know what to do after a hurricane so recovery starts on your terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
About
Hurricane
What Should You Do During a Hurricane?
Knowing what to do during a hurricane means having a safe room, supplies and a plan for each stage of the storm before the wind arrives.
What Is the Difference Between a Hurricane Watch and a Warning?
The difference between a hurricane watch and a warning comes down to how likely the storm is and how soon it is expected.
Where Do Hurricanes Hit the Most?
Hurricanes strike warm-water coastlines most often, including the US Gulf and Atlantic coasts, and the full picture of where hurricanes hit the most reaches inland areas too.
What Happens When a Hurricane Stalls?
A hurricane that stalls sits over one area and keeps dropping rain, which can turn a wind event into a long flood event.
How Do You Make a Hurricane Evacuation Plan?
A hurricane evacuation plan sets your route, destination and meeting point before an order comes, so your family can leave quickly and calmly.
What Should You Do After a Hurricane?
Recovery begins with safety checks for downed lines, floodwater and damaged structures, and what to do after a hurricane covers the rest of the road back.
