What to Do During a Hurricane

During the hurricane

It’s normal to feel heightened anxiety during a hurricane, but if you’ve taken the necessary precautions and made emergency preparations, If you did not evacuate and will be at your residence, now is the time to shelter in place and execute your plan. Remember, the state and federal government, as well as many disaster services agencies are tracking the hurricane and building strategies for necessary aid. Use this time to try and accept what you can’t control, and know that help will be available after the storm should you need it.

Stay inside and away from windows

Remain indoors and away from windows, doors, and exterior walls during a hurricane. If necessary, take refuge in a designated storm shelter or a small, windowless interior room at the lowest possible level.

Monitor updates from your local National Weather Service office and local government/emergency management office. Listen for any change in instructions from local authorities and be prepared to evacuate if directed to do so. Be advised that the eye of a hurricane can be deceiving, as the quiet, two to 30-minute lull that characterizes the eye is followed by stronger winds from the opposite direction. Wait for officials to declare that a storm has passed before exiting your place of shelter.

Ready your emergency plans and practice safety measures

Even the most rehearsed safety measures can slip past us in times of stress. Remember these tips and if possible, have a buddy system where another adult can help reinforce the steps of your emergency action plan.

• Avoid using candles or open flames during the storm. If you need lighting while the electricity is out, stick to flashlights, battery-powered lanterns, solar powered lamps, or survival-rated glow sticks.
• Turn off utilities if instructed to do so or if flooding is imminent.
• Find ways to keep your mind at ease and to help children and pets stay calm. Play cards or board games, tell stories, build a fort, and create a comforting space using soft music.

Most hurricanes bring partial or total loss of power to people within its path. If you plan to use a generator as a secondary source of power, follow the directions supplied with the generator and stay aware of the carbon monoxide, fire, and electrocution hazards.

• Use generators outdoors and away from windows to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. (Consider installing battery-powered carbon monoxide alarms inside your home prior to the storm to alert you of dangerous levels.)
• Operate generators on dry surfaces under an open canopy-like structure, such as under a tarp held up on poles.
• Never use a generator in rain or wet conditions and avoid touching the generator with wet hands.
• Always connect your generator to appliances with heavy-duty extension cords.
• Never hook your generator directly into your home power supply without hiring a licensed electrician to install the appropriate power transfer switch.
• Fuel your generator outside, and do not store fuel for your generator in your house or near fuel-burning appliances, such as gas stoves.
• Be sure to turn the generator off and let it cool down before refueling. According to FEMA, gasoline and other flammable liquids spilled on hot engine parts could ignite, and invisible vapors from the fuel can travel along the ground and be ignited by the generator’s pilot light or by arcs from electric switches in the appliance.

A natural disaster or extreme weather can disrupt communication channels. In such a chaotic situation, your mobile phones and tablets will be essential to keeping in touch with family and staying updated on response and recovery efforts. Here are a few emergency service apps to download and things to can do to stay informed and connected.

Staying informed during a storm

Download emergency service apps. 

Emergency service apps give you access to important resources. The Hurricane Disaster App from the American Red Cross allows you to monitor hurricane conditions in your local area, throughout the storm track, and let others know you are safe even if the power is out. It’s free and available in the App Store or on Google Play. The FEMA mobile app allows you to get real-time alerts for up to five locations nationwide, locate emergency shelters, and connect with FEMA to register for disaster assistance online. It’s also free for Apple and Android devices.

Keep your devices charged.

Ensure all devices and backup chargers plugged in as long as you have power. If you’re preparing to evacuate, ensure your devices are 100% charged before you leave. When you’re on the road, use mobile chargers in the care and only use your cell phone only for emergency calls or updates. 

Find alternate ways to receive emergency notifications.

If you want to save your mobile phone battery on the road, use your car radio. You can find your local station that’s broadcasting weather alerts and preset it on your vehicle ahead of time. Here’s a search tool to find the best station for you.

Purchase an emergency weather radio with hand crank power.

If all other technology fails, a hand crank power radio can be an excellent last resort to stay connected during a storm. You will ensure that you’re able to receive all weather updates and news, and some new models can even charge your devices.

How to help your family stay connected

Create a texting phone tree.

Organize a network of contacts so you can reach them quickly. In the aftermath of extreme weather or a natural disaster, texting may be the only available form of communication. Every family member should also carry contact cards in the event that they need to rely on someone else’s device to get in touch.

Get a family GPS app.

Most of your family members carry a personal tracking device in the form of their smartphone. Many mobile apps can show you where they are at any given time on a map. The family GPS tracking system should help you find your loved ones, get safety alerts to them or call for help with the tap of a button. Free for iOS or Android.

Use a social network.

Create a private “family only” page on Facebook so your extended family can check on your status even if their calls won’t go through. You may still be able to access social or other apps even when call services aren’t working. It’s helpful to communicate with family nearby and to let far-away family know that you’re safe.

Help the family stay in touch in case of an emergency.

If you have an iPhone, turn on the Find My iPhone feature under iCloud settings. Then consider giving someone else your AppleID, and they’ll be able to log in and get an idea of where you are. A similar thing can be done with Android’s “Find My Device” app.

The best time to set up a communication plan for an emergency is before you need one. With the threat of severe weather, make sure all family members know how to stay connected during a storm are prepared to get in touch when needed.