When it comes to extreme weather, preparing is key. Before a hurricane enters the forecast, figure out what types of danger your community might be in and plan accordingly. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers helpful tools to assess historical hurricane patterns. As Kerrin Jeromin reported for Capital Weather Gang in May, storms can cause flooding, extreme winds, storm surge, long power outages, thunderstorms and tornadoes. Those impacts can affect communities hundreds of miles from where a hurricane makes landfall. If you live in a hurricane evacuation zone or flood-prone area, figure out where you will evacuate to if needed. The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes has an evacuation zone “quick guide” that can help. There are also steps that you can take to secure your home. As Lindsey M. Roberts reported in 2020 , people in high-risk areas should consider getting half-inch-thick plywood cut for their windows and place the wood on the windows’ exteriors ahead of a storm. You can also install high-impact glass, which will crack into spiderweb patterns when met with force rather than shattering. Also, trimming any tree branches that are touching your house can keep those branches from pulling off pieces of roof in a storm. Consider buying a generator that can keep essential appliances running if you’re without power for a few hours, days or weeks. Make sure to learn how to safely operate a generator , which must be used outside, and if operated improperly can cause a fire, electrocution or carbon monoxide poisoning from the engine exhaust. Build an emergency preparedness kit, with water, food, a blanket and pillow, a change of clothing, tools, important documents, first-aid supplies and personal hygiene items. My colleagues Joanne Lee, N. Kirkpatrick and Bill O’Leary put together a guide with more details. Other tips: Fill up your car’s gas tank because gasoline may be hard to access once a storm hits. Secure your important documents by photocopying them and storing the originals in a waterproof and fireproof container. Store digital copies in the cloud if you won’t need to access them right away. And ask your insurance company whether your policy will cover potential hurricane damage, keeping in mind that home and renters insurance does not cover flooding. Asked in 2019 by Paul Douglas for Capital Weather Gang about the most common hurricane preparation mistake, meteorologist Dennis Feltgen of the National Hurricane Center said : “People tend to prepare for an approaching hurricane based on their previous experience.” In reality, every storm is different.

If you’re ordered to evacuate, do so as soon as possible. As Angela Fritz reported ahead of Hurricane Irma in 2017 , you should gather what you absolutely need but do not spend more than a few hours packing. Contact your banks to let them know you will be out of the area so that they don’t shut down your debit or credit cards. Stay with family or friends if you can. If that’s not viable, expect to make many calls to hotels to find available space. You can stay in a shelter as a last resort, but you should expect it to be crowded and uncomfortable. Shelters also usually don’t provide more than a place to sleep, so you should bring your emergency kit. Do not drive through floodwater while evacuating — or ever. Moving water can sweep your car away. Almost 90 percent of deaths during a hurricane involve water, rather than wind, Ken Graham, then the director of the National Hurricane Center, said in a 2021 video . If you are riding out the storm at home, prepare to lose electricity and running water. Park your car in a garage, if possible, or at least downwind from the house to protect it. Fill your bathtub with water and keep it full. The water in the tank of your toilets is also potable in an emergency. Know where your emergency kit is. Stay inside, even if the outdoors look calm. Weather can get calm during a storm but then worsen again, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Close all interior doors, and stay away from windows and glass doors. Keep curtains and blinds closed. Stay in a small room, closet or hallway on the home’s lowest level. If you’re trapped by flooding, go to the highest level of the building, but do not climb into a closed attic where water can block the exit.

If you had to evacuate, understand that it could be a few days after the storm ends before you can return home. Emergency workers have to check for safety hazards and conduct any necessary rescue operations. Power might also take weeks to be restored. Do not go home until officials have declared that it’s safe. As you’re cleaning up your property, work with another person for safety. Do not walk through floodwater, which can have pathogens or debris and may have been electrically charged by underground or downed power lines. The federal government’s disaster preparedness website, Ready.gov , suggests wearing protective clothing, including masks if you’re dealing with mold. Don’t touch wet electrical equipment or, if you’re standing in water, any electrical equipment. Turn off electricity at the main breaker if it’s safe to do so. Remove any floodwater as soon as possible. As my colleague Jura Koncius reported last year , a wet vac can usually get rid of a few inches of standing water. Professionals, such as Servpro or ServiceMaster, can handle more extensive damage. Then use dehumidifiers and fans to keep air flowing, lessening the chance that mold and mildew will form. Run your air conditioner all the time. Scrub the floors with a bleach and water mixture, and clear gutters and drains. If valuable papers have gotten wet, you can put them in the freezer to stop mildew growth and further deterioration. As you assess your home, document all damage with photos and consult your insurance company about any coverage that you may have for repairs.

clockThis article was published more than 1 year ago

Climate Solutions

How to prepare for a hurricane and stay safe after it hits

By Marisa Iati

September 26, 2022 at 3:47 p.m. EDT

People who never considered themselves at risk from climate change are waking up to floods and fires. (Video: Monica Rodman/The Washington Post)

In the Atlantic, last year was the third most active season on record in terms of named storms.

This year, Hurricane Fiona slammed Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands, causing flash flooding, mudslides and widespread power outages. Now all eyes are on Hurricane Ian as it barrels toward Florida.

Preparing for a tropical storm can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. Here are some tips for readying yourself before a hurricane hits, staying safe when it makes landfall and assessing the damage after it passes.