# Getting ready for a hurricane or big storm > Know your evacuation zone and route, including plans for pets. Pack supplies for several days: about a gallon of water per person per day, food, medicines, chargers, cash, flashlights and document copies. Video your home and belongings for insurance. Homeowners policies usually don’t cover flooding, and flood insurance often has a 30-day wait, so buy it early. Evacuate when told and never drive through flooded roads. Afterward, document damage, use generators outside and beware of upfront-payment contractors. - URL: https://explained.page/hurricane-prep - Language: en - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - Watch the 1-minute animated guide: https://explained.page/watch?start=hurricane-prep ## Step by step 1. **Hurricane or big storm on the way?** Getting ready early keeps your family safe and makes insurance claims easier later. 2. **Know your evacuation zone and route.** Look it up with your county emergency office. Decide now where you’d go, including for pets. 3. **Pack supplies for several days.** Water, about a gallon per person per day, food, medicines, chargers, cash, flashlights and copies of important documents. 4. **Video your home before the storm.** Record every room and your belongings. It makes insurance claims much easier. 5. **Check your insurance now, not later.** Homeowners policies usually don’t cover flooding. Flood insurance often has a 30-day waiting period, so buy it well before a storm. 6. **If told to evacuate, go.** Follow official orders and get alerts from local officials. Never drive through flooded roads; a little moving water can sweep a car away. 7. **After the storm, be careful.** Stay out of floodwater, run generators only outside, photograph damage, and beware of contractors who show up demanding payment upfront. Apply for FEMA help if a disaster is declared. 8. **Look it up the right way.** Search with your town or state in the words. Pick the official site: it usually ends in .gov. Skip ads and sites that charge for free forms. ## Checklist - Know your evacuation zone and route - Pack water, food, medicine, cash - Video your home and belongings - Check flood insurance early - Evacuate when told; avoid flooded roads - After: document damage, avoid scams ## Plan ahead - Look up your evacuation zone with your county or city emergency office. - Plan a route and where you’ll stay, including for pets. - Sign up for local emergency alerts. ## Supplies and a go-bag For several days: about one gallon of water per person per day, nonperishable food, medicines, phone chargers and power banks, flashlights and batteries, a first aid kit, cash, and copies of IDs, insurance policies and important papers in a waterproof bag. ## Protect your home and records Video every room and your belongings. Bring in outdoor furniture, secure loose items, and know how to shut off utilities if told to. ## Insurance Homeowners and renters policies usually don’t cover flooding. National Flood Insurance Program policies often have a 30-day waiting period, so buy coverage well before storm season. Many policies have a separate hurricane or windstorm deductible. ## During the storm Follow official evacuation orders. Never walk or drive through floodwater; just inches of moving water can knock you down or sweep away a car. ## After the storm - Stay out of floodwater and away from downed lines. - Run generators only outdoors. - Photograph damage before cleanup and keep receipts. - Be wary of contractors who demand large upfront payments. - If a disaster is declared, apply for FEMA assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov. ## Common questions ### When is hurricane season? In the Atlantic, officially June 1 to November 30, with peak activity in late summer and early fall. Source page: https://explained.page/hurricane-prep/questions/when-is-hurricane-season ### Do renters need flood insurance? Renters can buy flood coverage for their belongings. Renters insurance usually doesn’t cover flooding. Source page: https://explained.page/hurricane-prep/questions/do-renters-need-flood-insurance ### How do I prepare for a hurricane? Know your evacuation zone, pack supplies for several days, video your home, check flood insurance early, and sign up for local alerts. Source page: https://explained.page/hurricane-prep/questions/how-do-i-prepare-for-a-hurricane ### How much water do I need for a hurricane? About one gallon per person per day, for several days. Source page: https://explained.page/hurricane-prep/questions/how-much-water-do-i-need-for-a-hurricane ### Does homeowners insurance cover hurricane damage? Usually wind damage, often with a separate hurricane deductible. Flooding usually needs a separate flood policy. Source page: https://explained.page/hurricane-prep/questions/does-homeowners-insurance-cover-hurricane-damage ### How long does flood insurance take to start? National Flood Insurance Program policies often have a 30-day waiting period. Source page: https://explained.page/hurricane-prep/questions/how-long-does-flood-insurance-take-to-start ### Should I evacuate for a hurricane? Follow official evacuation orders for your zone. Leaving early is safer than waiting. Source page: https://explained.page/hurricane-prep/questions/should-i-evacuate-for-a-hurricane ### How do I get FEMA help after a hurricane? If a disaster is declared for your area, apply at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone. Source page: https://explained.page/hurricane-prep/questions/how-do-i-get-fema-help-after-a-hurricane ## Official sources - [Ready.gov: hurricanes](https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes) - [National Hurricane Center](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/) - [FloodSmart: flood insurance](https://www.floodsmart.gov/) - [DisasterAssistance.gov](https://www.disasterassistance.gov/) To find your local office, search for: - "[your county] evacuation zone lookup" - "[your county] emergency alerts sign up" --- General information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ by state. From explained.page (www.explained.page). Life’s stuff, explained simply.