If this is your first time living at the coast – you might be new to Hurricane Season (June 1 – November 30). Between 1980-2021, hurricanes have been responsible for $1.1 trillion dollars in damage, and over 6,000 deaths in the United States alone (NOAA).
What is a hurricane?
A hurricane is a tropical storm, which brings strong wind and rain to coastal areas, and eventually onto shore. These storms push water inland, creating what’s called a storm surge. They start as a Tropical Depression, which strengthens to a Tropical Storm (maximum 73 mile per hour (mph) winds). Hurricanes have sustained wind speeds of at least 74 mph (119 km/hr), and there are five different categories of hurricanes, based on wind speed.
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is:
- Category 1: 74-95 mph wind speed
- Category 2: 96-110 mph wind speed
- Category 3: 111-129 mph wind speed
- Category 4: 130-156 mph wind speed
- Category 5: >157 mph wind speed
When characterizing a hurricane, these categories do not take rainfall or storm surge into consideration – which is why the storm category does not necessarily indicate how much damage could be sustained from the storm.
Hurricanes have three key parts:
- The Eye: This is the center of the hurricane, or the center spiral that the tightest bands of wind form. This is the ‘hole’ in hurricane satellite images.
- The Eye Wall: The wall is the tightest ring of storms and most intense wind and rain.
- The Rain Bands: These are the ‘arms’ of the hurricane, or rain bands that can stretch for hundreds of miles.
These tropical storms require warm water – which is why the Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 – November 30 each year. This is when the waters in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico are the warmest, and most likely to fuel these large storms. The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is September, as most hurricane activity occurs between August and October.
Tropical storm formations are monitored, and we now know days in advance when a hurricane is expected to make landfall. Updates typically available on your local and national weather reports, as well as the NOAA Hurricane Tracker.
Why should I evacuate during a hurricane?
It’s critical to listen to emergency management officials when there is an evacuation order. There can be voluntary evacuation or mandatory evacuation orders. These orders are determined when the threat of the hurricane is likely to severely impact a region, and the evacuation orders are to reduce potential fatalities. The leading cause of fatalities during a hurricane is drowning due to flooding from storm surge and rainfall.
The National Hurricane Center has modeled potential impacts from storm surge throughout the country, which can be viewed here. Note that the legend shows potential feet of water above ground level by hurricane category. The screenshot below shows potential inundation for a Category 1 hurricane.
This is why it’s important to have an evacuation plan in place before you need it. Not everyone has the same resources (like a vehicle) to evacuate an area, so consider planning your evacuation destination and method of transportation before the start of hurricane season.
Here’s what you need to consider for your evacuation plan:
- Know your evacuation zone. Check your local community evacuation guidelines for hurricane evacuation zone maps to know if and when you will need to evacuate. For example, check out the
Houston-Galveston area map - Know you’re evacuating to somewhere safe. If you have the means to travel inland, do that. Make a plan ahead of time to stay with either friends or family outside of the evacuation zone.
- Know your evacuation route. Evacuation route roadways are marked (typically) with blue and white signs indicating either an emergency evacuation or hurricane evacuation route (these stay up year round, so keep an eye out throughout the year.
- Know where your evacuation kit is. Keep a small kit, like a waterproof backpack, ready with critical documents, a change of clothes, back up batteries, etc. Keep this ready and check it annually before hurricane season starts to make sure you don’t need anything like new batteries.
How do I prepare for a hurricane?
Here are some important steps you can take to prevent damage to yourself, your home, and your neighbors.
- Bring any yard furniture (chairs, grills, paddle boards) inside if you have room. If you do not have room, use a lock or ties to secure it in place.
- Fill your bathtub with water if you’re sheltering in place, which can be used for any non-potable water needs if you lose power or water access (can be used to flush toilets, for example).
- Fill up your gas tank early. We know days in advance that a hurricane is coming, so make sure your gas tank is full before the panic sets in.
- If you live on the ground floor, or waterfront, elevate any items you don’t want to get wet. This could look like putting 2×4’ boards under your couch to raise it a few extra inches, or placing your mini-fridge on top of the office desk.
- Protect your windows with hurricane shutters if you have them, or plywood.
- Sandbags can be placed along doorways to redirect water around instead of through the door in certain situations. Not sure how to place sandbags? Check out this how-to video.
- Make sure you have plastic sheeting or tarps at home in case you need to patch up your roof or windows when you return.
- Follow your local emergency management system online to know about evacuation orders, and more.
- Consider your pets – make sure you include their food and water needs when preparing your evacuation kit, or shelter in place kit.
- Before hurricane season, look into flood insurance options for your home or rental.
- Know where your breaker box is (electric box that houses the breakers) in case you need to shut off or turn on electric power to your house.
- Check in with your neighbors to make sure they have plans and means to evacuate if needed.
Be sure to follow the NOAA Hurricane Center, your local emergency management services, and local weather stations to stay up to date this hurricane season.
Need a checklist to guide your hurricane kit preparations?
Grab the free Hurricane Kit checklist today to start your hurricane prep.