Hurricane Safety Tips

Storm waves hitting island home.

Getting your home and family ready to weather the storm - when and if it comes thundering your way -  is key to hurricane safety.

There are a few simple yet effective things you can do to secure your home and belongings before a hurricane is imminent.

Among the most important is having an emergency plan in place so that every family member knows what to do and who to call if family members become separated during a hurricane.

These hurricane safety tips can help you prepare your home and family for the storms ahead.

Preparing Your Home for Wind and Rain

Whipping winds and rain - the effects of a hurricane can be devastating.  

Strong winds that enter a house through broken windows or a patio or garage door will weaken the structure of your home, exposing it to more significant damage.

To protect your windows from breaking, have storm shutters installed, or create your own by buying precut sheets of 3/4-inch (2cm) plywood to fit each window.

Make sure they fit snugly and can be attached to the window quickly. Many companies offer braces that will protect your vulnerable patio and garage doors from high winds.

You might want to consider installing a new garage door that has been hurricane rated.

Many people don't think about the wind turbines that dot their roofs, though they're vulnerable to being blown off during high winds and will leave a gaping hole for the rain to come in.

Make sure there are no leaks in your roof and check the wind turbine regularly. Consider replacing the turbine with a style of wind vent that is less vulnerable to violent gusts.

Keep large plastic trash bags and drop cloths on hand to spread over furniture, computers, and other home valuables if your roof springs a leak.

During storm season, clear your yard of all loose objects - such as potted plants, bicycles, trash cans, and patio furniture - that can become lethal flying weapons in the grip of a raging storm. 

Hurricane Safety When a Hurricane is Imminent

Preparation is the best protection against the dangers of a hurricane or tornado. When a hurricane or tornado is heading your way, for hurricane safety, here's what to do:

  • Listen to an NOAA Weather Radio for critical information from the National Weather Service.
  • Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting. Keep the door closed as much as possible in case the power goes out.
  • Be packed and ready to leave if advised to do so by authorities. Be careful to avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.
  • Close windows, doors, and hurricane shutters. 
  • Fill your car's gas tank. This ensure's you're ready to roll in the event of an evacuation.

A Family Hurricane Safety Plan

Make sure you and your family have a personal evacuation plan in the event of a hurricane, and a safe zone in your home in the case of a tornado.

Determine where or how you'll find each other should a hurricane hit while you're all at your various locations during the day.

Choose several places - a friend's home in another town, a shelter, or a hotel. Each family member should keep the phone numbers of your designed spots and a local road map handy.

If your regular routes are clogged or closed, you may need to take unfamiliar roads.

Disaster Supplies

Be sure you have a disaster kit ready to go, as well as the following supplies you'll need in case of a hurricane or tornado, and you're forced to weather the storm out at home:

  • Water - at least a 3-day supply. Plan for on gallon per person, per day.
  • A first aid kit and disaster survival supplies. Be sure to include medications (7-day supply) and medical items such as glasses and contact lenses.
  • Family and emergency contact list.
  • Extra cash.
  • Tools and supplies for securing your home.
  • Food - at least a 3-day supply. Choose non-perishable, easy-to-prepare food.
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio. Choose a NOAA Weather Radio, if possible. 
  • Copies of personal documents. This would include a medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, and insurance policies.

You're at the mercy of Mother Nature when she unleashes her strongest elements. (And she's probably not as lovely a mother as you are.)

If you put these safety measures into place now - and prepare your home and family before storms darken the skies - you'll rest easier knowing that while hoping for the best, you're ready for the worst.


You might like these:

  • Ignorance can be bliss. Or at least it used to be. But Asbestos awareness, especially at home, can help protect your family from its ravaging effects.

    Asbestos Awareness Can Keep Your Family Safe

    Ignorance can be bliss. Or at least it used to be. But Asbestos awareness, especially at home, can help protect your family from its ravaging effects.

  • A serious sweat sesh might be just what the doctor ordered to help relieve stress in these trying pandemic times.. Good idea (mostly). If it weren't for those pesky germs at the gym.

    Beat Germs at the Gym

    A serious sweat sesh might be just what the doctor ordered to help relieve stress in these trying pandemic times.. Good idea (mostly). If it weren't for those pesky germs at the gym.

  • The better the security door locks on your home's doors, the more difficult it is for intruders to get inside. What you need to know about choosing door locks.

    Choosing Security Door Locks

    The better the security door locks on your home's doors, the more difficult it is for intruders to get inside. What you need to know about choosing door locks.

  • Most of us know that lead paint is hazardous to children. These safety tips can help you keep your home safe.

    Lead Paint Safety Tips

    Most of us know that lead paint is hazardous to children. These safety tips can help you keep your home safe.

  • Earthquake Insurance: Yes or No? 8 things you need to know when making this important insurance decision for your family so you can avoid financial aftershocks.

    Earthquake Insurance: Yes or No?

    Earthquake Insurance: Yes or No? 8 things you need to know when making this important insurance decision for your family so you can avoid financial aftershocks.

  • Radon gas is an odorless menace, moving up through soil into homes through foundation cracks. Here's how to find out if radon is present in your home.

    Radon Gas in Your Home

    Radon gas is an odorless menace, moving up through soil into homes through foundation cracks. Here's how to find out if radon is present in your home.

  • Disaster planning is essential. While they may never happen to you, natural catastrophes strike millions of families each year. So it's only prudent to prepare.

    Disaster Planning for Families

    Disaster planning is essential. While they may never happen to you, natural catastrophes strike millions of families each year. So it's only prudent to prepare.

  • Earthquake preparedness is essential, no matter where you live. Here are things you can do to keep your home and family safe in the event of a natural disaster.

    Earthquake Preparedness at Home

    Earthquake preparedness is essential, no matter where you live. Here are things you can do to keep your home and family safe in the event of a natural disaster.

  • f you'll be counted among the traveling masses, these holiday travel safety tips can go a long way to keeping your family healthy.  Here's how to protect yourself in a variety of on-the-go situations this holiday season.

    Holiday Travel Safety Tips

    f you'll be counted among the traveling masses, these holiday travel safety tips can go a long way to keeping your family healthy. Here's how to protect yourself in a variety of on-the-go situations this holiday season.

  • As we all know - accidents happen. But you can prevent accidents at home without turning your home into a fortress.

    Accidents at Home and How to Prevent Then

    As we all know - accidents happen. But you can prevent accidents at home without turning your home into a fortress.

  • Expecting guests?  These 10 home safety tips can help ensure visiting family and friends have a safe visit by preventing common household accidents.

    Home Safety Tips to Prevent Accidents

    Expecting guests? These 10 home safety tips can help ensure visiting family and friends have a safe visit by preventing common household accidents.

  • Of all the things in our homes, these three things aren't worth the risk of not insuring with comprehensive insurance. Because like life - accidents happen.

    Don't Risk Not Insuring These 3 Items with Comprehensive Insurance

    Of all the things in our homes, these three things aren't worth the risk of not insuring with comprehensive insurance. Because like life - accidents happen.

  • An estimated 80 percent of homeowners affected by Hurricane Harvey path don't have flood insurance. Are your finances and home prepared for a natural disaster?

    Flood Insurance: What You Should Know

    An estimated 80 percent of homeowners affected by Hurricane Harvey path don't have flood insurance. Are your finances and home prepared for a natural disaster?

  • Some threats to your family's safety you can detect before they cause harm; others cause damage without warning. Prepare for them with these home safety tips.

    Home Safety Tips: The essentials

    Some threats to your family's safety you can detect before they cause harm; others cause damage without warning. Prepare for them with these home safety tips.

  • Since we're outside so much during summer, we need to consider setting some backyard and pool safety rules to play by.

    10 Pool Safety Rules for Kids

    Since we're outside so much during summer, we need to consider setting some backyard and pool safety rules to play by.

  • You don't need to spend a bundle to keep your home safe from environmental and man-made hazards. These tips for a safe home can help.

    A Safe Home in 4 Easy Steps

    You don't need to spend a bundle to keep your home safe from environmental and man-made hazards. These tips for a safe home can help.

  • If you have a large, vulnerable home, these home security systems are worth considering.

    About Home Security Systems

    If you have a large, vulnerable home, these home security systems are worth considering.

  • Being prepared to act when a fire occurs will help you rest easier. These home fire safety tips can help get your home prepared.

    Home Fire Safety Tips

    Being prepared to act when a fire occurs will help you rest easier. These home fire safety tips can help get your home prepared.

  • Easy ways to keep your home and family safe from intruders, accidents, and natural disasters.

    Safe at Home

    Easy ways to keep your home and family safe from intruders, accidents, and natural disasters.

  • Whether your home is humble or palatial, there's probably something inside it of interest to thieves. These tips to protect your home can help.

    Protect Your Home Against Intruders

    Whether your home is humble or palatial, there's probably something inside it of interest to thieves. These tips to protect your home can help.

  • Children have a way of finding hazards at home you might never have suspected were there. These kids home safety tips can help keep little ones safe.

    Kids Home Safety Tips

    Children have a way of finding hazards at home you might never have suspected were there. These kids home safety tips can help keep little ones safe.

  • These flood safety tips will help you prepare your family, your home, and your pets should a water disaster occur.

    Flood Safety Tips

    These flood safety tips will help you prepare your family, your home, and your pets should a water disaster occur.

  • 'Tis the season to light up the fireplace. But before you do, here are some fireplace safety tips to keep the home fires burning - safely.

    10 Fireplace Safety Tips: Burn, Baby Burn - Safely This Winter

    'Tis the season to light up the fireplace. But before you do, here are some fireplace safety tips to keep the home fires burning - safely.



Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.