Hurricane Preparedness Guide

Hurricane-season preparation: shelter decisions, supplies for extended power outages, evacuation planning, and post-storm safety.

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Hurricane preparedness essentials

Before the season

Hurricane season runs June through November in the Atlantic basin. Top up your kit before the first named storm: at least one gallon of water per person per day for two weeks, two weeks of non-perishable food, two weeks of any prescription medication, and a full propane tank for cooking after a power outage. Trim weak tree branches that could fall onto the roof, and store outdoor furniture or anything that could become a projectile.

When a storm is approaching

If officials issue an evacuation order, leave early; coastal traffic stalls within hours of a major hurricane warning. Boarding up windows with plywood or installed shutters reduces structural damage. Charge every battery you own, fill your car's gas tank, fill bathtubs with non-potable water for sanitation, and move valuables to the highest floor in case of flooding.

After the storm

Stay off the roads for at least 24 hours unless you have specific damage to report; downed power lines and floodwater hide dangerous debris. Do not wade through standing water, which often carries sewage, fuel, or live current. Photograph damage before any repairs, throw out food in any freezer that has been off for more than four hours, and boil tap water until your municipality lifts the boil-water advisory.

About the EmergencyKit.app checklist

How we built it

EmergencyKit.app combines the official emergency-kit recommendations published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Red Cross, USA.gov's Ready.gov campaign, and the German Federal Office of Civil Protection (BBK) and Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB). Each item on the checklist is tagged with the organisations that recommend it so you can see at a glance how well-supported it is.

The 20% body-weight rule

A go-bag should weigh no more than roughly 20% of the carrier's body weight. Above that threshold, evacuating on foot becomes painful, slow, and risky for older or smaller adults and for children. The weight checker on the homepage estimates your kit's total weight from the items you select and warns you when you cross the limit, so you can swap heavier items for lighter alternatives before you actually need to leave.

Three days, then more

The baseline kit covers a 72-hour window because that is how long it typically takes public services to restore basic supplies after a major disaster. Households in high-risk regions for hurricanes, wildfires, or earthquakes should plan for at least two weeks of food, water, and prescription medication on top of the baseline kit.