{ "slug": "making-a-hurricane-evacuation-plan-for-your-household", "url": "https://checklists.org/c/making-a-hurricane-evacuation-plan-for-your-household", "markdown": "https://checklists.org/c/making-a-hurricane-evacuation-plan-for-your-household.md", "title": "Making a Hurricane Evacuation Plan for Your Household", "description": "Work out where you'd go, how you'd get there, and what you'd grab before a storm is anywhere near the forecast cone.", "category": "safety", "tags": [ "hurricane", "evacuation", "emergency-planning", "disaster-preparedness" ], "version": "1.0", "updated": "2026-10-21", "sources": [ { "name": "Ready.gov — Hurricanes", "url": "https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes" }, { "name": "Ready.gov — Make A Plan", "url": "https://www.ready.gov/plan" }, { "name": "Ready.gov — Six Ways to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane", "url": "https://www.fema.gov/blog/six-ways-prepare-your-home-hurricane" }, { "name": "Red Cross — Be Red Cross Ready Hurricane Preparedness Checklist", "url": "https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/get-help/pdfs/hurricane/EN_Hurricane-Safety-Checklist.pdf" }, { "name": "CDC — Preparing for Hurricanes or Other Tropical Storms", "url": "https://www.cdc.gov/hurricanes/safety/index.html" }, { "name": "MCIEAST Camp Lejeune — Hurricane Preparedness Checklist", "url": "https://www.mcieast.marines.mil/Portals/33/Documents/IEM/Camp-Lejeune/150929-MCB-CLJ-Hurricane-Preparedness-Checklist.pdf" }, { "name": "This Storm Season — Hurricane Evacuation Checklist", "url": "https://thisstormseason.com/evacuation-checklist/" }, { "name": "ValuePenguin — How Long Is the Flood Insurance Waiting Period?", "url": "https://www.valuepenguin.com/flood-insurance-waiting-periods" } ], "intro": "Hurricane season just started, and this is the window to get your plan sorted — before a storm is anywhere near the forecast cone. Once a hurricane is a few days out, you're rushing; right now you can think clearly, make calls, and get everyone on the same page. This isn't about boarding up windows — it's about knowing where you'd go, how you'd get there, and what you'd grab on the way out.", "itemCount": 19, "essentialCount": 6, "sections": [ { "title": "Know Your Risk", "items": [ { "id": "9c406a", "text": "Look up your evacuation zone", "note": "You may have to evacuate quickly due to a hurricane if you live in an evacuation zone. Your county or state emergency management site will have the official zone map — don't guess based on how far you are from the beach.", "essential": true }, { "id": "17dhdfe", "text": "Check whether you're in a storm surge or flood-prone area", "note": "Zones are based on surge risk, not just distance from water, so even some inland spots flood badly." }, { "id": "19sng00", "text": "Note any extra risks at home", "note": "If you're in a mobile, manufactured, or trailer home, plan to leave for any hurricane warning no matter what zone you're in: mobile, manufactured, trailer homes and recreational vehicles are not safe in high wind events, so plan ahead by preparing to evacuate to a safe location.", "when": "mobile-or-manufactured-home" } ] }, { "title": "Decide Where You'll Go and How", "items": [ { "id": "1cczzxk", "text": "Map at least two routes out of your area", "note": "Have a backup in case your main road floods or jams with traffic." }, { "id": "1gnbr1", "text": "Pick an actual destination, not just \"somewhere inland\"", "note": "A relative's place, a hotel, or a public shelter as a last resort — stay with friends, relatives or at an inland hotel or, as a last resort, go to a designated public shelter outside of the flood zone." }, { "id": "ehjpsg", "text": "Arrange transport if you don't drive", "note": "Line this up now, not during a watch: if you don't own a car, consider making plans with friends or family or call authorities to get a ride if you need to evacuate.", "when": "no-personal-vehicle", "essential": true }, { "id": "kuwlb7", "text": "Confirm pet-friendly options along your route", "note": "Most shelters won't take animals, so if you have pets, confirm pet-friendly shelters or hotels in advance.", "when": "has-pets" }, { "id": "yp9uxe", "text": "Register for help if you or someone in your household needs it", "note": "If anyone has a disability, medical equipment, or needs transportation assistance, get on your area's registry now; some counties ask you to call 2-1-1 to sign up.", "when": "household-member-needs-assistance" } ] }, { "title": "Set Up Your Household Plan", "items": [ { "id": "1vv2m1p", "text": "Agree on an out-of-area contact", "note": "Pick one person everyone calls or texts to check in — local lines get jammed, but out-of-state calls often go through." }, { "id": "19ufsft", "text": "Write the plan down and give everyone a copy", "note": "Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands your hurricane plans. Include the routes, destination, and contact numbers — don't rely on everyone remembering it." }, { "id": "1a9qju", "text": "Talk through everyone's specific needs", "note": "Think through medical needs including prescriptions and equipment and dietary or language needs so the plan actually fits your household, not a generic one.", "when": "household-member-has-specific-needs", "essential": true } ] }, { "title": "Lock Down Paperwork and Insurance", "items": [ { "id": "1f1hynn", "text": "Check your flood insurance now", "note": "Standard NFIP flood policies take 30 days to kick in, so if you're not in the middle of a home closing, you're likely waiting a whole month — buying once a storm is forecast is already too late.", "essential": true }, { "id": "olz8i9", "text": "Gather key documents and back them up", "note": "Insurance policies, ID, medical records, and a home inventory — save digital backups of insurance policies, deeds, birth certificates and other important documents. Keep originals in a waterproof bag." }, { "id": "1iwp91v", "text": "Set aside some cash", "note": "ATMs and card readers may not work if power's out along your route." } ] }, { "title": "Build Your Go-Bag", "items": [ { "id": "wmyd1y", "text": "Pack a 3-day go-bag per person", "note": "Water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, and a battery or hand-crank radio are the core of it, per the Go-Kit: at least three days of supplies that you can carry with you, including backup batteries and chargers for your devices.", "essential": true }, { "id": "1do4udv", "text": "Pack at least a week of medication", "note": "Pharmacies may be closed for days after a storm, so go beyond the bare minimum if your supply allows." }, { "id": "1y0pzq7", "text": "Keep your car's gas tank above half full all season", "note": "Stations run out or lose power fast once an evacuation is called — keep vehicle gas tank above half-full during hurricane season (June–November)." } ] }, { "title": "Finish the Loop", "items": [ { "id": "1wibva0", "text": "Walk your evacuation route once with the household", "note": "A dry run makes the real thing far less chaotic, especially with kids or older relatives." }, { "id": "q4shrf", "text": "Share the plan with your out-of-area contact", "note": "Share your evacuation plan with out-of-area family contact so someone outside the storm's path knows where you'll be headed.", "essential": true } ] } ] }