Hurricane preparedness starts with a simple goal: be ready before a storm threatens your area, because hurricane safety planning is something to prepare for each year.[6] NOAA identifies National Hurricane Preparedness Week as May 3-9, 2026, making it a useful calendar prompt for reviewing your plan.[1] The National Weather Service page for hurricane preparedness says hurricane preparedness starts now.[6] A practical plan can cover alerts, supplies, home protection, insurance, evacuation thinking, and safety during storm recovery.[5]

Hurricane preparedness

Put a yearly reminder on your calendar for hurricane preparedness, because the National Weather Service says you should prepare each and every year.[6] Treat preparedness as a household routine rather than a last-minute shopping trip, because the National Weather Service says it only takes one storm to make an impact on lives.[6] NOAA’s hurricane preparedness page is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website, and the page title is Hurricane Preparedness.[1] The National Safety Council points readers to a Tropical Cyclone Guide from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for information on hurricane anatomy and ways to prepare.[7]

Start with risk awareness, because the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking encourages residents to prepare for severe weather by knowing risks, protecting homes or businesses, and ensuring sufficient insurance coverage.[5] Write the plan in plain language so every household member can understand what to do when severe weather is approaching.[3] Include a place for emergency-alert signups, because severe weather guidance from a congressional office directs residents to resources for where to sign up for town emergency alert systems.[3]

Alerts

Sign up for local emergency alerts before storms are in the forecast, because severe weather guidance highlights resources for town emergency alert systems.[3] Keep alert information with your household plan, because severe weather guidance is presented as a resource on how to prepare for coming severe weather events.[3] Use official government websites carefully, because NOAA states that official websites use .gov.[1] Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites, because NOAA states that a lock or https:// means you have safely connected to the .gov website.[1]

Check current conditions as part of your weather routine, because a weather report can include location, local time, temperature, wind, pressure, humidity, visibility, and other current conditions.[2] A sample current-location weather report for Harbour Island, Bahamas listed clear conditions at the stated local time.[2] Do not confuse one calm current observation with storm safety, because hurricane preparedness materials emphasize planning before hurricanes threaten an area.[6]

Supplies

Use water as a first supply priority when preparing for severe weather impacts, because storm preparation guidance says to store drinking water in case pipes freeze.[5] The same guidance gives a water amount of 1 gallon per person per day for 3 days.[5] Keep that water where household members can find it, and rotate it as part of your yearly preparedness routine.[6]

Build the rest of the kit around the risks named in your household plan, because the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking frames preparation around knowing risks and protecting the home or business.[5] Budget-friendly preparation can start with items already named in storm guidance, including foam sleeves, pipe tape, batt insulation, expanding foam, caulking, washers, and stored drinking water.[5] Avoid buying supplies without first checking the plan, because severe weather guidance focuses on how to prepare for coming severe weather events and where to sign up for alerts.[3]

Home

Protect the home or business before severe weather arrives, because the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking encourages residents to protect homes or businesses as part of storm preparation.[5] Fix leaks as part of preparation, because the storm guidance says to fix all leaks.[5] Consider whether washers, piping changes, or caulking are needed, because the guidance says those actions may be needed.[5]

Insulate vulnerable water infrastructure where relevant, because storm guidance recommends insulating pipes and meters with foam sleeves, pipe tape, batt insulation, or expanding foam.[5] In unheated and uninsulated areas, the same guidance says to allow a faucet to drip during extreme cold weather.[5] Keep room temperature around 69°F or no lower than 55°F in all areas of the property when following the winter-weather preparation guidance.[5]

Use extreme caution with heaters, because the storm guidance specifically warns to use extreme caution when warming an area with space, kerosene, or other types of heaters.[5] Do not treat improvised heating as a casual shortcut, because the safety warning is attached directly to warming an area with heaters.[5]

Insurance

Review insurance coverage before a storm, because the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking says residents should ensure they have sufficient insurance coverage.[5] Include insurance documents in the same preparedness folder as alert instructions and household contacts, because the guidance connects severe-weather preparation with risks, property protection, and insurance coverage.[5] If the plan covers a business, include business insurance information too, because the guidance applies to protecting a home or business.[5]

Mistakes

Do not wait for a named storm to begin planning, because the National Weather Service says hurricane preparedness starts now.[6] Do not prepare only once and forget the plan, because the National Weather Service says you should prepare each and every year.[6] Do not focus only on wind, because the National Weather Service hurricane preparedness page references all hazards that tropical cyclones can bring.[6] Do not skip alerts, because severe weather guidance highlights where to sign up for a town emergency alert system.[3]

Do not assume official-looking pages are safe for sensitive information, because NOAA says sensitive information should be shared only on official, secure websites.[1] Do not ignore insurance until after damage occurs, because storm preparation guidance includes ensuring sufficient insurance coverage before severe weather.[5] Do not skip water storage in storm planning, because the guidance includes storing drinking water in case pipes freeze.[5]

Budget

Use the lowest-cost preparation first when money is tight, including signing up for alerts, writing a plan, fixing leaks, storing water, and checking insurance documents.[3] The materials named for pipe and meter protection include foam sleeves, pipe tape, batt insulation, and expanding foam.[5] Caulking and washers are also named in the preparation guidance as possible leak-related needs.[5]

Use free public safety information as part of your plan, because the National Safety Council points to a NOAA Tropical Cyclone Guide with extensive information on hurricane anatomy and ways to prepare.[7] Use NOAA’s hurricane preparedness page as a planning anchor, because it is titled Hurricane Preparedness and identifies National Hurricane Preparedness Week.[1] Local severe-weather guidance can also direct residents to emergency-alert signup resources.[3]

Quick checklist

• Review hurricane preparedness every year.[6]
• Use National Hurricane Preparedness Week as a reminder when helpful.[1]
• Sign up for town emergency alerts where available.[3]
• Know your risks before severe weather.[5]
• Protect your home or business before storms.[5]
• Check that insurance coverage is sufficient.[5]
• Store drinking water for the household.[5]
• Fix leaks before severe weather.[5]
• Insulate pipes and meters where needed.[5]
• Use extreme caution with space, kerosene, or other heaters.[5]
• Use official, secure government websites for sensitive information.[1]
• Review all hazards that tropical cyclones can bring.[6]

For your next planning step, Check the forecast for your city at PrestoWeather.