What to Do Before, During, and After a Hurricane According to Ready.gov

Ready.gov's hurricane guidance centers on four actions: know where you will go if told to evacuate, build a stocked emergency kit, keep a way to receive official alerts, and treat the period after the storm as its own hazard. The advice below applies to anyone in a hurricane-prone area; if local officials order an evacuation, their instructions override general guidance.

Before a Hurricane

Know your evacuation route and destination

Ready.gov's hurricane page says to "know where to go if asked to evacuate quickly and how you and your family will get there." Practically, that means deciding in advance whether you would go to a shelter, a relative's home, or another location outside the storm's path, and mapping more than one route.

Build an emergency kit

Ready.gov maintains a separate emergency supply list and a "Build a Kit" section. The kit should be stocked before a storm is named, since stores empty quickly once watches are issued.

Make a family communication plan

Ready.gov offers a fillable Make a Plan Form at ready.gov/plan-form for creating a family communication plan quickly. The point of the plan is to agree on who contacts whom and where you reunite if you are separated.

Set up emergency alerts

Ready.gov notes that wireless emergency alerts let officials push life-saving information to the public quickly. The site also points to the FEMA mobile app for real-time weather and emergency alerts. Have alternative charging methods for your phone in case of power outages — Ready.gov lists this explicitly under its Power Outages guidance.

Plan for your location

Ready.gov separates general planning from planning for specific locations (ready.gov/plan-for-locations), which is useful if you split time between a home, a workplace, and a school.

During a Hurricane

The page evidence provided here does not detail in-storm behavior beyond the general preparedness sections. What Ready.gov's structure implies is that the before-storm steps — alerts, kit, communication plan, evacuation decision — are what carry you through the storm itself. Follow the evacuation order if one is given; if you are sheltering in place, the alerting tools you set up beforehand are how you learn when conditions change.

After a Hurricane

Ready.gov's "Stay Safe After Hurricanes" heading groups the post-storm risks you should plan for:

Flooding after a hurricane is a leading cause of death, which is why the turn-around rule is stated so bluntly. Downed lines, damaged structures, and contaminated water are the other reasons Ready.gov treats the aftermath as a distinct phase rather than the end of the event.

Where to Get the Details

Ready.gov organizes hurricane content into topic pages rather than one long document. The main entry points referenced on the site are:

• Hurricanes — evacuation planning and general hurricane tips
• Power Outages — charging alternatives and outage safety
• Flooding — flood preparation and the turn-around rule
• Severe Weather — risk awareness and planning
• Tornadoes — before, during, and after a tornado
• Emergency Alerts — how wireless alerts work
• Make a Plan Form (ready.gov/plan-form) — fillable family communication plan
• Build a Kit — emergency supply list
• FEMA Mobile App — real-time weather and emergency alerts

The site lists its content as last updated 10/10/2026. Because hurricane guidance and app features change, check the live pages rather than relying on a saved copy.