
How to prepare for a hurricane, as forecasters expect a busy 2025 storm season
Forecasters are expecting another unusually busy season for the Atlantic, with predictions calling for six to 10 hurricanes, with up to half reaching major status.
But the stress of hurricane season can be reduced if people have a plan for preparing their homes and for whether to stay and ride out a storm or evacuate, according to emergency management officials. That preparation, which includes putting together a kit of essential supplies, should begin long before a storm is approaching.
'Don't be complacent, take preparedness seriously, spend the time now to do the little things that will make a big difference for you and your loved ones when something does happen,' said Brian Mason, director of Houston's Office of Emergency Management.
How to prepare a home for a storm
Anything in the backyard that isn't tied down, such as furniture and barbecue grills, should be secured or brought inside so it doesn't become a flying projectile that can come through a window, said Shawn Schulze, regional CEO for the American Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast Region.
If possible, board up windows and place important documents such as passports and birth certificates in a waterproof case or even a Ziploc bag, Schulze said. That will prevent damage and make documents easier to locate in a quick evacuation.
Mason recommends that homeowners get their roofs inspected before each hurricane season and know how to turn off their utilities in case of damage.
Well before a storm is brewing, people should trim or remove dead or weakened tree limbs and shrubs that hang over their homes to lessen potential damage from high winds, said Mistie Hinote, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Insurance.
Hinote also urged people to review what type of insurance coverage they have and to make a home inventory of their possessions by taking photos of them in case an insurance claim needs to be made after a storm.
'It is a lot of information and a lot of pre-storm steps but a little at a time,' Hinote said.
Have an emergency kit
Every family should have an emergency kit with supplies to meet its basic needs.
For people who stay, a kit should include at least 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water per day per person, with enough for up to seven days, Mason said. One way to have enough water is to fill a bathtub.
People should also have enough nonperishable food for up to seven days, as well as flashlights, batteries, candles, medications, portable power banks or other power sources, and a radio that runs on batteries.
Pets should be included in preparations, including bringing them inside ahead of a storm, and having enough food, water and necessary medications for up to seven days, Mason said.
Parents should also include something to entertain their kids, such as games or coloring books, because likely power outages after a hurricane mean there won't be internet and cellular service, and there's 'nothing's more challenging for a family than kids that are bouncing off the walls because they're bored,' Mason said.
'If you decide to stay, you need to make sure that you can be self-sufficient for days to weeks, depending on how long it takes for power to be restored,' Mason said.
Have an evacuation plan
If people decide to leave ahead of a storm, they should also prepare an emergency kit with enough supplies to get to their destination, officials said.
Before a storm arrives, people should know their evacuation routes are and have backup routes in case roads get congested, Mason said.
Officials recommend fueling vehicles if a storm is approaching. People with electric vehicles should make sure their routes have charging stations along the way, he said.
Schulze said it's natural for people to be afraid when a hurricane is coming, but having a plan in place and letting loved ones know you're prepared will go a long way to easing fears.
'Think about what the worst could be and prepare for that and you'll always be ready for what comes your way,' Schulze said.
___
Follow Juan A. Lozano: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
US cities have seen an 80 percent increase in extreme heat streaks
Life-threatening heat waves and consecutive hot days, known as heat streaks, are increasingly affecting US cities due to human-caused climate change. A report by the non-profit Climate Central revealed an 80 percent increase in extreme heat streaks across 247 analyzed US cities, with 198 cities experiencing two more streaks annually than in the early 1970s. Cities in the Southwest, Northeast, Ohio Valley, and Southeast, including Nashville and Raleigh, have seen the most significant rise in heat streak frequency. Prolonged heat poses severe risks, such as increased heat-related illnesses, worsened air quality, and strain on electrical grids, with heat being the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US, accounting for 2,325 deaths in 2023. A new heat wave is currently impacting 100 million Americans, bringing temperatures up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit above average and 'feels like' temperatures potentially reaching 115 degrees Fahrenheit in some regions.


The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Huge wildfires rage across Turkey as 13 dead & ‘disaster zones' declared – as president warns of ‘truly great disaster'
DEVASTATING wildfires have once again erupted in Turkey with hundreds of people evacuated as massive blazes continue to rip through the country. The president of the country has warned of a "truly great disaster" after at least 13 people died in the fatal fires. 10 10 10 New wildfires broke out on Turkey's Mediterranean coast on Friday, as the government declared two western provinces in the country to be "disaster zones". East of Antalya, fires broke out in Adana and Mersin on Friday. Elsewhere in the country, firefighters continued battling blazes in Eskisehir and nearby Karabuk that have been raging for several days. Images showed flames and smoke billowing into the sky close to high-rise apartment buildings in Antalya, where local and foreign visitors flock during the summer months. Homes were evacuated in the city centre and the outlying district of Aksu as the fire advanced, news agency DHA reported. Firefighters struggled to extinguish the blazes before strong winds could spread the fire, which closed a major coastal road. Further along the coast, homes in the city of Manavgat were also threatened. Local residents with hoses and buckets rushed to assist firefighters as water-dropping helicopters and planes also battled the flames. Police water cannons and municipal water trucks were also enlisted in the firefighting efforts. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that the country faced "a truly great disaster" after 25,000 people got involved in the emergency effort. Two burned alive in Cyprus & another 10 killed in Turkey in horror wildfires On Thursday, at least six separate wildfires were burning across Turkey. Turkish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli warned that strong winds and blazing heat were creating extremely dangerous conditions. He said that ten firefighters were killed while battling a fire in the central Eskisehir province, Yumakli said late on Wednesday, adding that 14 others were injured. Fanned by strong winds, the fire later spread to another central province, Afyonkarahisar. In the northwestern province of Bilecik, fires raged for a fourth straight day, as firefighters struggled to contain them. Residents were evacuated from fire-threatened areas of all three Turkish provinces, though some residents were later allowed to return to areas in Bilecik that were declared safe. 10 10 Another fire in the neighbouring province of Karabuk, where the UNESCO World Heritage City of Safranbolu is located, quickly grew and led to 10 villages being evacuated. Antalya Gov. Hulusi Sahin said that the fires were under control apart from one in Aksu, which was showing a tendency to grow, and another in Gazipasa, east of Manavgat. "The fires were truly disturbing and dangerous, because they occurred in city centres, among houses," he said. "We evacuated some of our homes ... There are no deaths or injuries." At 46.1°C, July temperatures in Antalya city were the highest for the month since records began in 1930. Turkey has faced widespread outbreaks of forest fires since late June. Firefighters were battling more than 600 fires fuelled by high winds in the drought-hit nation. Residents watched in horror as their homes were torched up and forestry continued to burn. Aftermath photos showed scorched cars and buildings while firefighters worked desperately to fight the flames. Meanwhile, Cyprus has been hit with its worst wildfires "for 50 years" amid growing fears a 44°C heatwave will fuel the blaze even further. The country has plunged into chaos after two people were burnt alive and more than 70 houses were destroyed. 10


Sky News
9 hours ago
- Sky News
Turkey faces 'truly great disaster', warns Erdogan amid raging wildfires and sweltering temperatures across Europe
Disaster zones have been declared in two provinces of Turkey as new wildfires broke out on the Mediterranean coast. Smoke billowed across the sky in the popular resort of Antalya, with homes evacuated in the city centre and elsewhere. In the nearby city of Manavgat locals grabbed hoses and buckets to help firefighters, with aircraft dumping water from above. Other wildfires started on Friday in Adana and Mersin, further east along the coast. Turkey's interior minister declared the western provinces of Izmir and Bilecik "disaster areas" after a month of fires in the country. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said on Friday that the country faced "a truly great disaster" and that 25,000 people were involved in the emergency effort. Thirteen people have been killed so far, including 10 volunteers and forestry workers in the central Eskisehir province on Wednesday. Cyprus has also been enduring one of its worst wildfires in living memory. Temperatures have reached 43C (109F) on the island this week. Two people were found dead in their car on Wednesday and scores of homes have been destroyed. Spain, Egypt, Jordan and Israel were providing assistance, and planes from the RAF base on the island were also helping. Elsewhere in southern Europe, firefighters in Albania have been dealing with a blaze in the mountainous forests near Elbasan. The devastating fires come amid dry, sweltering temperatures in southern parts of the continent. Greece's iconic Acropolis was forced to limit its hours this week as it approached the mid-40s, while there's also been intense heat in the Balkans. And it's not only southern Europe that's been getting abnormal heat: Finland broke a record this week after experiencing 14 straight days above 30C. The previous record of 13 days was set in 1972. Respite looks to be ahead, however, with many areas expected to cool to more usual levels next week. Most experts attribute the above-average temperatures for this time of year to human-caused climate change and say wildfires are likely to become more frequent. 2024 was the warmest year on record, with above the pre-industrial era for the first time.