University of Florida

Hurricane Preparedness & Recovery

Families and Consumers


Families have special concerns when preparing for and recovering from hurricanes. We offer safety tips and guidelines for taking care of your household before, during, and after a storm.

Create a Family Disaster Plan

A plan will ensure that in case of a disaster, your family is prepared not only physically but also mentally. (See “Disaster Preparedness” in the Disaster Handbook for more information)

Gather information
  • Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family.
  • Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.
  • Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard.
  • Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.
Share information

Meet with the other members of your household to discuss possible disasters and how you will respond to them.

Plan how you will stay in contact if separated
  • Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.
  • Establish a specific meeting place that is a safe distance from your home and outside of your neighborhood in case you cannot return home.
Meet with neighbors
  • Find out neighbors’ skills and/or special needs.
  • Make plans for child care in case parents cannot get home.
Other planning measures
  • Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.
  • Prepare a disaster supplies kit.
  • Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.

Empower Your Family

Everyone in your family can contribute to disaster preparedness.

Emergency telephone numbers

Post these numbers next to every phone in the house.

Utilities

Show responsible family members how to shut off gas, electricity, and water.

First aid and CPR

Someone in your family should have these important skills. Contact your local Red Cross chapter for information and training.

Important family documents

Keep birth certificates, wills, insurance policies, passports, social security cards, and other important documents in containers that are waterproof, fireproof, and portable. (See: Disaster Planning: Important Papers and Documents for more information)

Home hazards

Look around your home for electrical, chemical, and fire hazards. Check fire safety equipment--smoke detectors and fire extinguishers--regularly. Look for items that could shift or fall, especially during disasters. Know your home's escape routes.

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit

In case of evacuation, keep these supplies in an easy-to-carry container, such as a camping backpack or a duffle bag.

Water

A 3 to 7 day supply of at least 1 gallon of water daily per person should be stored in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Be sure to empty, rinse, and refill these containers every six months if kit is being stored. Also, remember to include water purification supplies in your kit.

Food

A 3 to 7 day supply of non-perishable, packaged or canned food and juices that require little preparation (i.e., little heating) and no refrigeration should be included in the kit. Include some snacks as well as any specific foods required by infants or the elderly. Also, remember a non-electric can opener, paper plates, plastic utensils, and a portable stove with fuel if necessary.

Bedding

Blankets and pillows are needed in the kit especially if you will be staying at a shelter. One sleeping bag per person should also be included.

Clothing
 The kit should include at least one full change of clothes per person. Clothes should be seasonal/temperature appropriate. Rain gear and a pair of sturdy shoes should be included as well.

First Aid Kit

In the first aid kit, include required medicines and prescription drugs (check prescription expiration dates), sunscreen, insect repellent, and other basic first aid supplies such as bandages, scissors, tweezers, and antiseptic.

Special Items

Include any special items required for babies,  the elderly, or anyone with special needs in your family or group.

Toiletries

Include in your kit toilet paper, moisture wipes, feminine supplies, insect repellent, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, liquid detergent, and other needed hygiene items. Also for sanitation, include plastic garbage bags and ties, a plastic bucket with a tight lid, disinfectant, and house chlorine beach (unscented).

Radio

A special battery operated NOAA weather radio with extra batteries should be included. Regular AM/FM radios do not pick up emergency broadcasts. (See: Where to Buy a NOAA Weather Radio Receiver)

Telephones

A fully charged cell phone (that has been activated via a wireless provider) with an extra battery and a traditional, non-cordless telephone set should be added to the kit.

Money

Bring cash with some small bills or traveler’s checks and credit cards (ATMs and banks may not be operational).

Tools

Include in your tool set a flashlight and extra batteries, a utility knife, a fire extinguisher (small canister ABC type), pliers, tape, a compass, matches in a waterproof container, aluminum foil, plastic storage containers, a signal flare, and paper/pencil.

Pet Care

Because pet owners may not be able to bring their pets along in the event of an evacuation, plans should be made for pets to stay at a veterinary clinic, kennel, or other appropriate facility. A disaster kit should include a pet carrier, leashes, collars, recent photo and pet identification, medications, and muzzles (if necessary).

Miscellaneous
  • Keys
  • Toys, Books, Games
  • Vehicle fuel tanks filled

Secure Your Home

Retrofitting

The most important precaution you can take to reduce damage to your home and property is to protect the areas where wind can enter. You can do this by protecting and reinforcing these five critical areas:

National Flood Insurance Program

A pre-disaster flood mitigation and insurance protection program designed to reduce the escalating cost of disasters.

It makes federally-backed flood insurance available to residents and business owners

Flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.  Do not make assumptions.  Check your policy.

Call 1-888-CALL-FLOOD ext. 445, TDD# 1-800-427-5593.

During a Hurricane Watch 

For more information, see “During the Disaster”  in the Disaster Handbook.

  • Listen to a radio or television for storm reports (have a working, battery-operated radio nearby).
  • Check emergency supplies.
  • Fuel car.
  • Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys and garden tools, and anchor objects that cannot be brought inside.
  • Secure buildings by closing and boarding-up windows. Remove outside antennas.
  • Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings. Open only when absolutely necessary and close quickly.
  • Store drinking water in clean jugs, and prepare cooking utensils.
  • Review evacuation plan.

Information During and After the Storm

During hurricanes and other disasters, National Weather Service forecasters can interrupt the routine weather broadcasts to substitute special warning messages. A special NOAA weather radio is required to pick up these messages because the average home radio does not pick up the frequencies on which these messages are broadcast. (See Where to Buy a NOAA Weather Radio Receiver)

Further Information

Share Bookmark / share this page

Related Sites & Articles

For Other Audiences