How do I prepare my family for a hurricane?

Stock a week of water and food, fill prescriptions, charge everything, secure or bring in outdoor items, and know your evacuation zone before a storm is even named.

When should we evacuate for a hurricane?

Leave as soon as officials issue an order for your zone. Roads clog quickly, so if you can go early and stay with family or friends inland, take the chance.

How much water do I need for a hurricane?

Plan for a week at one gallon per person per day. For a family of four that is about 28 gallons, plus extra for pets.

How to Prepare Your Family for a Hurricane

A steady, week-by-week hurricane plan for families — what to do when a storm is days out, hours out, and after it passes, without the panic.

A hurricane is one of the few emergencies that gives you something precious: warning. You often have days to get ready. A family that prepares early gets to skip the frantic last-minute store runs and ride it out with everyone safe and supplied. The trick is knowing what to do when, so the countdown feels organized instead of overwhelming.

Here’s a straightforward timeline, from the quiet season beforehand to the all-clear.

Before the season: get your foundation set (a weekend, once)

The families who weather hurricanes best do the boring work when there’s no storm in sight. If you live in hurricane country, spend one weekend before the season squaring away the basics:

Water. Store a supply now so you’re not fighting over the last case at the store. Aim for a gallon per person per day (here’s how much your family actually needs), stored in water storage containers that stack and put away easily.
Food. Build a two-week pantry of shelf-stable meals your family will eat, and a way to cook without power. Our guide to emergency food kids will actually eat makes this painless.
Power. A charged portable power station keeps the fridge, phones, and a fan going when the grid drops for days. Pair it with power banks for the little stuff.
Information. A crank weather radio keeps you tuned to official alerts when cell service fails. See how to choose an emergency weather radio.
Documents. Get copies of IDs, insurance, and medical info into a waterproof document bag or fireproof pouch now, and photograph them to the cloud. Our document storage roundup covers your options.

Our full hurricane scenario page pulls the whole gear list together in one place.

A few days out: watch, and top off

When a storm enters the forecast cone, you have time to work the list methodically, with no need to rush:

Fill every water container and charge every battery, power bank, and device in the house.
Refill prescriptions and check your first aid kit so you’re not caught short if pharmacies close.
Fuel up the car and any generators, and get cash. ATMs and card readers go down with the power.
Review your plan as a family. Where you’ll shelter in the house, where you’d go if told to evacuate, and how you’ll reach each other if separated. A quick set of two-way radios helps when cell networks jam.
Prep the house as conditions and time allow — clear the yard of anything that could become a projectile, and know how to protect windows.

The day before / hours out: shelter mode

As the storm gets close, shift from prepping to hunkering down:

Bring everything inside and move to the safest interior room on the lowest safe floor, well away from windows.
Fill bathtubs and sinks with water for washing and flushing (separate from your drinking supply).
Set out your outage kit: flashlights, lanterns, the weather radio, power banks, and snacks, so nobody’s hunting in the dark.
If ordered to evacuate, go early. Don’t second-guess an evacuation order; leaving before the roads clog is far safer than riding it out somewhere unsafe. Grab your go-bags, documents, meds, and pet supplies and head out.

For families with little ones, keeping the mood light matters as much as the gear. Our guide to getting through a power outage with young kids works just as well for a storm night — headlamps, a living-room campout, and a settled grown-up go a long way.

During the storm: stay put and stay steady

Stay inside and away from windows until officials say it’s over, including during the eerie stillness of the eye, which is only a pause.
Keep the fridge and freezer closed to hold the cold; use your power station for what truly needs it.
Listen to your weather radio for updates rather than opening the door to check.
Never run a fuel-burning generator or stove indoors or in a garage — carbon monoxide is a leading cause of post-storm tragedy. Keep it well outside, and have a working CO detector inside.

After it passes: safe cleanup

The storm’s end isn’t quite the all-clear. The hours right after cause a lot of avoidable injuries. Take it slow:

Avoid floodwater. It can hide downed power lines, sharp debris, and contamination. Don’t let kids play in it.
Watch for hazards: damaged trees, weakened structures, standing water near electrical equipment.
Use your stored water until officials confirm the tap is safe; if in doubt, filter or boil.
Check on neighbors, especially older ones or those with medical needs.
Document any damage with photos before cleanup for insurance.

The honest bottom line

A hurricane is serious. It’s also the most forecastable emergency there is, and that’s your advantage. A family that sorts out water, food, power, and a plan before the season gets to spend the countdown topping off instead of panic-shopping. Start with the hurricane prep list, knock out the foundation this weekend, and let the warning work in your favor.