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World desk5 min

How to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane: A Checklist Before Landfall

A practical hurricane checklist for U.S. households: identify local risks, plan whether to evacuate or shelter, prepare supplies, protect windows in advance, and stay safe during flooding and outages.

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To prepare your home for a hurricane, first check your address for evacuation and flood risks, make a household plan, and gather supplies well before a storm is forecast. Before landfall, follow local evacuation orders; if you are not told to leave, shelter in an interior room away from windows. Hurricanes can bring dangerous flooding, wind, tornadoes, and landslides far inland—not just along the coast.

Start with the risks at your address

Look up your local evacuation zone and sign up for alerts from your local emergency-management office. Check where officials direct residents to go, which routes they designate, and where shelters are located. Those details can change by address and storm, so use current local instructions rather than a general map or a past storm plan.

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Consider more than storm surge. Heavy rain can flood inland neighborhoods, while strong winds, tornadoes, and, in some areas, landslides can make travel and sheltering dangerous. The National Weather Service’s regional guidance for western North Carolina, western South Carolina, and northeast Georgia describes these inland hazards: NWS Greenville-Spartanburg hurricane preparedness. Check local flood information and know how you would reach higher ground if water threatens.

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Keep your insurance policy and contact details accessible. Ask your insurer what your policy covers and excludes; do not assume that a homeowners policy covers flood damage.

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Write a leave-or-stay plan before a storm threatens

Decide in advance how the household will make contact, where everyone will meet, and where you could go if you need to leave. Record who issues evacuation orders in your area and identify more than one destination and route. The National Weather Service recommends writing down and sharing a household hurricane plan: NWS written-plan guidance.

  • List household members, emergency contacts, meeting points, transportation options, and accessible travel needs.
  • Plan for prescription medicines, medical equipment, and any care that cannot be interrupted. Ask providers how to maintain supplies or treatment during an outage or evacuation.
  • Include pets in the plan. Confirm shelter rules with local officials and arrange an alternative if a shelter does not accept animals.
  • Keep a copy of the plan with emergency supplies and share it with household members.

If officials order an evacuation, leave promptly and use designated routes. Do not wait to choose a destination or assume your home is safe because it is inland. If there is no evacuation order, use local advice and your home’s actual exposure and condition to decide where to shelter. NWS explains storm actions at Actions to Take When a Tropical Storm or Hurricane Threatens.

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Build a supply kit around your household

The National Weather Service recommends planning for at least three days of food, water, and medicine, and storing more water if possible. The right amount depends on household needs and local guidance. NWS’s preparedness list includes nonperishable food, water, medicine, cash, flashlights, a battery-powered radio, and a way to charge phones: NWS hurricane preparedness.

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  • Food and water: Store nonperishable food, drinking water, and a manual can opener. Include supplies for infants or anyone with dietary needs.
  • Health and hygiene: Pack prescription and over-the-counter medicines, first-aid supplies, hygiene items, and any needed medical-device supplies.
  • Light, information, and power: Keep flashlights or battery-powered lanterns, spare batteries, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, phone chargers, and a power bank. A NOAA Weather Radio can provide official weather information.
  • Cash and documents: Keep some cash and copies of important documents, insurance details, and contact information in a water-resistant container.
  • Pets: Include food, water, medicines, identification, a carrier or leash, and relevant veterinary records.

Check supplies periodically and replace expired items. If you use a preassembled kit, compare its contents with your household’s medicines, food, water, charging, and pet needs rather than assuming it is complete.

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Strengthen the home well before a forecast

Inspect the home when there is time to make repairs safely. Maintain trees and secure outbuildings and outdoor structures. Review local hurricane building-code specifications and consult a qualified professional about retrofits; a last-minute fix is not a guarantee against damage.

Assess windows, exterior doors, and the garage door. The National Weather Service says that “Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows.” It also identifies fitted 5/8-inch exterior-grade or marine plywood as an alternative. Choose suitable protection in advance and ensure panels are properly fitted and can be installed safely before conditions deteriorate. See NWS guidance on strengthening your home.

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Window coverings reduce one vulnerability, but they do not make a home storm-proof. Factor local code, installation requirements, and your ability to put the protection in place safely into the choice.

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When a storm is forecast to affect your area

Monitor the National Weather Service and local emergency-management updates. Pay attention to local watches, warnings, evacuation directions, and shelter information. Forecasts and road conditions can change; keep alerts available and act on official instructions.

  1. Make the evacuation decision early. If local officials tell you to evacuate, follow their instructions and designated routes. Take your go-bag, medicines, documents, and pets if you can do so safely.
  2. Secure the property only while it is safe. Bring in or tie down loose outdoor objects, secure exterior doors, and install prepared window coverings if there is time and conditions permit. Do not climb or work outdoors in dangerous wind or rain.
  3. Prepare to leave or shelter. Charge phones, gather supplies, and fuel or charge your vehicle if you may need to go. Confirm arrangements for household members who need assistance and for pets.
  4. If you are not ordered to evacuate, move to a safe room. Use a small interior room on the lowest level, away from windows and glass. Keep official alerts on and remain there until the threat has passed.
  5. If flooding threatens, get to higher ground before water arrives. Do not wait for water to reach the home, and do not treat a storm’s temporary calm as an all-clear.

The American Red Cross hurricane safety checklist, published January 1, 2022, also covers practical preparations such as securing outdoor items and preparing to evacuate. Current orders, road conditions, and shelter availability come from local officials.

Use generators and handle flooding safely

Never operate a portable generator inside a home or garage, even if doors and windows are open. NWS says generators should be outdoors more than 20 feet from the home, doors, and windows. Follow the generator manufacturer’s instructions and local fire guidance for setup. The Red Cross checklist also cautions against using fuel-burning devices near open windows.

  • Never walk, swim, or drive through floodwater. Follow road closures and evacuation routes; water can hide hazards and move quickly.
  • Return home only when officials say it is safe. Keep away from downed power lines and damaged buildings.
  • Follow local health-department instructions about drinking water and cleanup. Do not assume tap water is safe without local confirmation, and use appropriate protective equipment during cleanup.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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