Hurricane Checklist: 7 Steps to Take Before a Storm Hits

Expect a busier hurricane season than normal this year. NOAA Climate Prediction Center estimates a 65% chance of an “above-normal” Atlantic hurricane season. The first major storm of 2024, Hurricane Berylhas already had an impact on Texas, cutting off power to millions of people.

Hurricanes and other major storms are among the most common natural disasters and pose a serious threat to anyone in their path. On average, there is about 12 named storms per yearbetween hurricanes and tropical storms. Unfortunately, we can’t predict when they will strike.

There is a hurricane season where major storms are expected, with September being the most likely month for a hurricane. The hurricane season varies by part of the country, depending on Ready.gov:

• Eastern Pacific: May 15 to November 30
• Atlantic Ocean: June 1 to November 30
• Central Pacific: June 1 to November 30

We’ve put together some steps you can take to prepare for hurricane season and protect your family and home. For more disaster relief tips, check out our guide to how to prepare for hurricanes, wildfires, storms and other natural disasters, 11 Things to Prepare for a Power OutageAnd how to store food in your refrigerator when the power goes out.

Make an emergency plan

One of the most important steps in preparing for hurricane season is creating an emergency plan for your family, including an evacuation route.

First, know in advance how your family will communicate during a hurricane and how to receive emergency notifications. Know where to shelter, but also what evacuation route to take, if necessary.

Your plan should also include any special arrangements needed to care for children, pets, or family members with mobility issues. Additionally, make a plan for any family members who require special medications or medical equipment.

Make sure everyone in the family, including the children, understands the plan before hurricane season starts.

Secure your home

As hurricane season approaches, you need to take steps to protect your property from potential hurricanes and high winds. Some steps you can take include:

• Prune trees to remove weak branches
• Install hurricane resistant doors
• Installing storm shutters on windows
• Replace the outside glass with tempered glass
• Make a plan for garden furniture, potted plants and toys

Prepare an emergency kit

The last thing you want to do when a hurricane is approaching is to run around trying to find everything you need for the next few days. Instead, have an emergency kit or have a bag on hand that you can fall back on. Your emergency kit might include:

• Non-perishable food
• Bottled water
• Flashlights
• Extra batteries
• Portable radio
• First aid supplies
• Prescribed medication
• Pet food
• Cash
• Blankets
• Phone chargers
• Basic hygiene items

Check your insurance policies

Every year before hurricane season, it’s a good time to review your insurance policies and make sure you’re fully covered in the event of an incident.

First, you need to make sure that your current coverage is sufficient to rebuild your home and replace all of your personal property in the event of a personal loss. You also need to make sure that you have the types of coverage that are specifically needed for hurricanes: flood insurance and windstorm insurance.

If you live in a hurricane-prone area, make sure you have the coverage you need. Understand your deductibles and keep enough in a savings account to cover it in case of loss.

Keep an inventory of your belongings

If you live in an area prone to hurricanes and there is a risk of your home being damaged, be sure to take an inventory of your personal belongings.

If there is a storm and you need to file a claim with your homeowners insurance, you should take inventory of the items that were destroyed. The sooner you can provide this information to the insurance company, the sooner they can process your claim and you can begin to recover.

To create your inventory, simply go room by room and add each item to a spreadsheet. Include the value of each item in case you need to file a claim. For valuable items, you may also want to include photos or receipts.

Make sure you keep your inventory digitally — there are apps that can help you do this. You should also update it every year before hurricane season.

Keep important documents in a safe place

If you keep important documents in your home in paper form, it’s time to find a new strategy. First, make sure that every important document is in a waterproof and fireproof safe in your home.

Next, make sure that every document has a digital copy, so that if your home is destroyed and your safe can’t be recovered, you still have copies of everything. (We also have advice on how to recover important documents after a natural disaster).

Important documents that you should keep safe include:

• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificates
• Social security cards
• Military service records
• Insurance Policy
• Tax returns
• Health records
• Financial details

Keep a hurricane checklist handy

When a hurricane hits, the fear and adrenaline can make you forget the steps you need to take. Before hurricane season, make a checklist of exactly what you’re going to do and pack when a hurricane hits. That way, when a storm hits, you can refer to your list instead of trying to remember every important step yourself.

Next steps

There’s no way to prevent a hurricane, but you can take steps to protect your family if one does strike. Check out our list of tips below to further prepare for hurricane season: best emergency apps for natural disasters to help you prepare for, weather, and recover from a hurricane.