There's good news and bad news about hurricanes. The good news is that typically you have advanced notice (a day or two) that the hurricane may impact your family. The bad news are several. First of all, preparing to ride out a hurricane at the last minute is difficult because everyone else in the potentially impacted area is going to be looking for the same safety and protection items needed to 'ride it out'. Thus, there can and probably will be a shortage of scarce materials (e.g. gas, plywood, water pumps, etc.). Also, most hurricanes have risks and dangers after the hurricane hits land. They can include storm surge, floods, tornadoes, transportation issues, scarcity of life saving food and water.
I admire those inhabitants that live along coastal lines in the U.S. These families have often seen it all and experienced many hurricanes - some moderate, some severe. However hurricanes don't only impact those families living along a coast line. They have impacted inland states with excessive rain and flooding, tornadoes and power outages, plus many more risks that can impact a family. So, no matter where you live in the U.S., knowing how to prepare and survive a hurricane can help your family also prepare for other potential disasters like flooding, tornadoes and power outages.
If you are in a hurricane prone area of the U.S., it is best to have a timely preparedness plan in place. There are action steps a family should take before a hurricane watch has been issued. In addition, there are action steps to take once a hurricane warning has been issued and there are countdown steps (36 hours before, 12 hours before, 6 hours before, and after) the hurricane strikes your home or area.
Consider the potential risks of having a hurricane impact your family:
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