Hurricane checklist A checklist you can print and work through before and during hurricane season. It's general preparedness information based on Ready.gov and National Weather Service guidance, not advice about any one home. Before hurricane season [ ] Find your evacuation zone and route. Your parish or county emergency office can tell you. Learn more: Find your evacuation zone https://www.ready.gov/evacuation Learn more: LA: Find your evacuation zone https://gohsep.la.gov/get-a-game-plan/disasters-and-emergencies/hurricanes/ Learn more: FL: Find your evacuation zone https://www.floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone/ [ ] Sign up for emergency alerts from your parish or county. Learn more: How to get alerts https://www.ready.gov/alerts [ ] Gather supplies: water, food, medicine, a flashlight, batteries and phone chargers. Include what your pets need. Learn more: Supply list https://www.ready.gov/kit Learn more: LA: Supply list https://gohsep.la.gov/get-a-game-plan/make-a-plan/build-a-kit/ [ ] Make sure your insurance policies and important papers, like your ID, are up to date. Make copies and keep them in a secure, password-protected digital space. Learn more: Protect your papers https://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness [ ] Take photos of each room and your belongings, so you have proof of what you own. Learn more: Make a home inventory https://www.ready.gov/emergency-financial-first-aid-kit [ ] Learn how to turn off your home's power, gas and water. If you turn off the gas, only a qualified professional should turn it back on. Learn more: Turn off utilities https://www.ready.gov/safety-skills [ ] Make a family plan: where to meet, who to call and how to reach each other. Learn more: Make a family plan https://www.ready.gov/plan Learn more: LA: Make a family plan https://gohsep.la.gov/get-a-game-plan/make-a-plan/family-plan/ [ ] Clear your drains and gutters. Think about hurricane shutters for your windows. Learn more: Get your home ready https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-plan Learn more: FL: Get your home ready https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/hazards/hurricanes/ [ ] Ask your insurance agent or company what your policy covers, including whether you have flood insurance. Learn more: About flood insurance https://www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy [ ] FEMA's FloodSmart.gov says a new National Flood Insurance Program policy usually starts 30 days after you buy it, with some exceptions. Ask your agent when a policy would start. Learn more: FloodSmart: buy a policy https://www.floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy When a hurricane watch is issued [ ] Follow updates from the National Hurricane Center and your local National Weather Service office. Learn more: Watches and warnings explained https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-ww [ ] Fill your car's gas tank and charge your phone and backup batteries. [ ] Bring in outdoor furniture and tie down anything that could blow away. [ ] Check on neighbors who may need help. When a hurricane warning is issued [ ] If local officials tell you to evacuate, leave right away. Learn more: Evacuation basics https://www.ready.gov/evacuation Learn more: FL: Evacuation basics https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/counties/ [ ] If you aren't told to leave, take shelter from high winds in a designated storm shelter or an interior room away from windows. If you're trapped by flooding, go to the highest level of the building. Don't climb into a closed attic, because rising water can trap you there. Learn more: Hurricane safety https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes [ ] Never walk, swim or drive through flood water. Learn more: Why flood water is dangerous https://www.weather.gov/safety/flood-turn-around-dont-drown After the storm [ ] Wait until local officials say it's OK to return. [ ] Stay away from downed power lines. Don't touch electrical equipment if it's wet or if you're standing in water. Learn more: Power outage safety https://www.ready.gov/power-outages [ ] Take photos of any damage before you clean up, for your own records. [ ] Contact your insurance company or agent to report damage. Learn more: How NFIP flood claims work (if you have NFIP flood insurance) https://www.floodsmart.gov/recover/start-a-claim [ ] For disaster help, check DisasterAssistance.gov and your local officials. Help may be available after some disasters. Learn more: DisasterAssistance.gov https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ [ ] Watch for fraud. Don't pay for repairs in full before the work is done. FEMA doesn't charge a fee to apply for disaster help. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Learn more: Report a scam https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ Records to gather Make copies of each one. Keep them in a secure, password-protected digital space, and keep a list of where everything is. Learn more: Emergency Financial First Aid Kit https://www.ready.gov/emergency-financial-first-aid-kit [ ] Photo ID, like a driver's license (Don't have it? Ask your state's driver's license office.) Learn more: Replace lost ID https://www.usa.gov/replace-vital-documents [ ] Social Security cards (Don't have it? Ask the Social Security Administration (ssa.gov).) Learn more: Replace lost ID https://www.usa.gov/replace-vital-documents [ ] Birth certificates (Don't have it? Ask the vital records office in the state or territory where the person was born.) Learn more: Replace lost ID https://www.usa.gov/replace-vital-documents [ ] Passports (Don't have it? Ask the US Department of State (travel.state.gov).) Learn more: Replace lost ID https://www.usa.gov/replace-vital-documents [ ] Insurance policies for your home, flood, wind and car, and your agent's phone number (Don't have it? Ask your insurance company or agent for a copy.) [ ] Deed or lease (Don't have it? For a deed, ask the office that records deeds in your parish or county, often the clerk of court. For a lease, ask your landlord.) [ ] Mortgage papers (Don't have it? Ask the company you send your mortgage payments to.) [ ] Receipts for large purchases and home repairs (Don't have it? Ask the store or the company that did the work. Your bank or card statements may also help.) [ ] Home inspection, wind mitigation or roof reports, and permits, if you have them (Don't have it? Ask the company that did the report. For permits, ask your city, parish or county building office.) [ ] Medical information and prescriptions (Don't have it? Ask your doctor or pharmacy.) [ ] Phone numbers for your bank and credit cards, and some cash (Don't have it? The number is on the back of your card or on your statement.) [ ] Important phone numbers, written on paper (Don't have it? Write them down now and keep the list with your supplies.) Based on Ready.gov, USA.gov and FEMA's Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (ready.gov/emergency-financial-first-aid-kit). Sources: Ready.gov "Hurricanes" (ready.gov/hurricanes) and "Safety Skills" (ready.gov/safety-skills); NOAA National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center (weather.gov, nhc.noaa.gov). US government information; not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by any government agency. Last reviewed 2026-10-21. Also based on: FEMA's FloodSmart.gov (floodsmart.gov/get-insured/buy-a-policy) and DisasterAssistance.gov; Ready.gov "Make a Plan" (ready.gov/plan) and FEMA's Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (ready.gov/emergency-financial-first-aid-kit); USA.gov (usa.gov/replace-vital-documents); and the Federal Trade Commission (consumer.ftc.gov). Last reviewed 2026-10-21. Louisiana GOHSEP (gohsep.la.gov) and Florida Division of Emergency Management (floridadisaster.org). Information from US federal and state government agencies and from nonprofit organizations. KAVO360 is not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by any of them. Last reviewed 2026-10-21. General information only. KAVO360 isn't an emergency alert service and doesn't issue watches or warnings. The National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center are the official sources for watches and warnings. Always follow local officials and evacuation orders.