Everything You Need to Do in Advance to Prepare for a Hurricane
Hurricane Yan is a severe Category 3 storm that is expected to bring winds up to 125 mph, heavy rain and possible flooding as it moves up Florida’s Gulf Coast. In general, here’s what you need to do in advance to be prepared for a hurricane or tropical storm.
Have a plan for Hurricane Yan
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that you make a plan for what you and your family will do in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm. Make sure you have all the emergency numbers you need, not only programmed into your mobile phone, but written down somewhere. This includes numbers for family members, doctors, pharmacists, teachers, and anyone else you might need to contact in an emergency.
Find the shelter closest to your home. Visit it and plan all the different routes you could take in case your main route gets interrupted in some way. Talk to your family, especially children, about how you will get to the shelter, what they should do if they cannot contact you, and where you will meet them if you have to.
Supplies to get before the hurricane
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should have the following items on hand before a major storm hits:
- Food and water for emergencies (ideally enough for at least three days)
- Any medicine you may need
- Power supplies
- Flashlights (and extra batteries)
- Personal items
- Copies of key documents (such as medical records, wills, identity cards, etc.)
- Fire extinguisher
The state of Florida has additional guidelines on what to include in your kit:
- Battery operated radio
- Waterproof container for important documents and money
- Manual can opener
- Matches or lighter
- Books, magazines or games
- ice packs
Take some aspirin, any medicines you and your family use regularly, soap, shampoo, deodorant, and other care items. Think of it like you’re packing for a trip. Keep it all in a bag so your family can quickly access it. Check your kit at the start of each hurricane season—around mid-May—to make sure any medicines, food, or other special items have not expired.
Also consider getting a few portable chargers so your phones and other devices don’t run out of power when you need to contact family members. Keep them fully charged and store as a set.
Don’t forget your car
Have an extra emergency kit in your car, and never run your car too low on fuel (although this is a precaution to take at all times, not just during an oncoming thunderstorm).
If you don’t have a car, make sure part of your emergency planning includes talking to neighbors or family members who have one about whether you can evacuate with them if necessary.
Your pets need special training
Determine in advance if any shelters in your area are suitable for pets. If not, you should have a plan for your furry friends before the emergency happens. Ask neighbors or friends if you and your animals can stay with them in case of a big storm. Also keep some dry food for your pets in your emergency kit.
This story was originally published in May 2022 and updated with additional information.