Emergency Preparedness and Response

Step 1: Take the First Steps for a Hurricane Plan

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS: MAKE A PLAN

Learn about your community's emergency plans, warning signals, evacuation routes, and locations of emergency shelters.
Identify potential home hazards and know how to secure or protect them.
Locate and secure your important papers.
Inform local authorities about any special needs.

Learn more: Key Facts about Hurricane Readiness

If you are under a hurricane watch or warning, here are some basic steps to take to prepare for the storm:

Learn about your community's emergency plans, warning signals, evacuation routes, and locations of emergency shelters.
Identify potential home hazards and know how to secure or protect them before the hurricane strikes. Be prepared to turn off electrical power when there is standing water, fallen power lines, or before you evacuate. Turn off gas and water supplies before you evacuate. Secure structurally unstable building materials.
Buy a fire extinguisher and make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it.
Locate and secure your important papers, such as insurance policies, wills, licenses, stocks, etc.
Post emergency phone numbers at every phone.
Inform local authorities about any special needs, i.e., elderly or bedridden people, or anyone with a disability.
Make plans to ensure your pet's safety.