What to Do Before the Tropical Storm or Hurricane

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href="https://www.weather.gov">Weather.gov</a> > <a href="https://www.weather.gov/safety">Safety</a> > What to Do Before the Tropical Storm or Hurricane </div> </div> </div> <div class="div-full"> <div class="cms-content"><div class="two-third-first"> <div id="hmenu"> </div> <img alt="Drought" src="/images/safety/prepare-txt.png" style="width: 600px; margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px;" /></div> <div align="right" class="one-third-last"><a href="https://www.weather.gov/wrn/"><img alt="" src="/images/wrn/Icons/161022_wrn.png" style="width: 115px; margin-top: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px;" /></a> <div style=" border-top-left-radius:10px; width: 250px; background: #1a2757; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid white;"><span style="font-size:16px;"><strong><span style="color:#FFFFFF;">Hurricane Resources</span></strong></span></div> <div id="id01"> </div> </div> <div class="div-full"> <p>The best time to prepare for a hurricane is before hurricane season begins on June 1. It is vital to understand your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind. Here is your checklist of things to do BEFORE hurricane seasons begins.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Know your zone: </strong>Do you live near the Gulf or Atlantic Coasts? Find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation area by contacting your local government/emergency management office or by checking the <a href="https://hurricanestrong.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/8-28-23-Find-Your-Evacuation-Zone-Final.pdf">evacuation site website</a>.</li> <li><strong>Put Together an Emergency Kit: </strong>Put together a <a href="https://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit">basic emergency</a>. Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and storm shutters.</li> <li><strong>Write or review your Family Emergency Plan: </strong>Before an emergency happens, sit down with your family or close friends and decide how you will get in contact with each other, where you will go, and what you will do in an emergency. Keep a copy of this plan in your emergency supplies kit or another safe place where you can access it in the event of a disaster. Start at the <strong>Ready.Gov </strong><a href="http://www.ready.gov/">emergency plan webpage</a>.</li> <li><strong>Review Your Insurance Policies:</strong> Review your insurance policies to ensure that you have adequate coverage for your home and personal property.</li> <li><strong>Understand NWS forecast products, </strong>especially the meaning of <a href="https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-ww">NWS watches and warnings.</a></li> <li>Preparation tips for your home from the <a href="https://flash.org/prepare-your-home/">Federal Alliance for Safe Homes</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="https://www.weather.gov/wrn/summer-safety">Download our checklists and more free resources</a>.</p> <table border="0" style="width: 500px;"> <tbody> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hurricane/hur-images/Draft%20Daily%20Infographics/NHC_Hazards.PNG"><img alt="" src="/images/safety/NHC_Hazards-sm.png" style="width: 300px; height: 463px;" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hurricane/hur-images/Draft%20Daily%20Infographics/NHC_Evacuation.png"><img alt="" src="/images/safety/NHC_Evacuation-sm.png" style="width: 300px; height: 463px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hurricane/hur-images/Draft%20Daily%20Infographics/NHC_HomeStrength.png"><img alt="" src="/images/safety/NHC_HomeStrength-sm.png" style="width: 300px; height: 463px;" /></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hurricane/hur-images/Draft%20Daily%20Infographics/NHC_HurricaneINFO.png"><img alt="" src="/images/safety/NHC_HurricaneINFO-sm.png" style="width: 300px; height: 463px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hurricane/hur-images/Draft%20Daily%20Infographics/NHC_Insurance.png"><img alt="" src="/images/safety/NHC_Insurance-sm.png" style="width: 300px; height: 463px; margin: 10px;" /></a></td> <td><a href="http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/hurricane/hur-images/Draft%20Daily%20Infographics/NHC_Supplies.PNG"><img alt="" src="/images/safety/NHC_HomeStrength-sm.png" style="width: 300px; height: 463px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;" /></a></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <link href="/source/safety/css/menuFd.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /><script src="/source/safety/js/menu.js"> </script><script src="/source/safety/js/hurricaneMenu.js"> </script><script src="/source/safety/js/hurricaneMenuRs.js"></script><script src="/source/safety/js/menuWrap.js"></script> </div> </div> <div style="clear:both"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="partial-width-borderbottom feature-block">  </div> <div class="full-width-first"> </div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> </div> </div>  <div class="footer"> </div>  <div class="footer-legal"> <div class="footer-legal"> <div class="footer-legal-content"> <div class="one-sixth-first" id="footer_legal_gov"> <a href="http://www.usa.gov"><img src="/bundles/templating/images/footer/usa_gov.png" alt="usa.gov" width="110" height="30" /></a> </div> <div class="one-half-first" id="footer_legal_info"> <p> <a href="http://www.commerce.gov">US Dept of Commerce</a><br /> <a href="http://www.noaa.gov">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a><br /> <a href="https://www.weather.gov">National Weather Service</a><br /> Safety<br /> 1325 East West Highway<br /> Silver Spring, MD 20910 <br /><br /> <br /><a href="mailto:wrn.feedback@noaa.gov">Comments? 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What to Do Before the Tropical Storm or Hurricane