Hurricane preparedness fundamentals — the complete US household reference for the 2027 season

Why this is the reference document

Most US hurricane preparedness guidance is scattered across FEMA pages, state emergency management websites, NOAA technical documentation, and Red Cross publications. This briefing consolidates the household-actionable subset.

If you live in an Atlantic or Gulf coast state, this is the briefing to bookmark and refer to throughout the season.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale

Hurricanes are categorized 1-5 based on sustained wind speed:

• Category 1 (74-95 mph): Some damage to mobile homes, signs, trees. Power outages possible. Most well-constructed homes safe.
• Category 2 (96-110 mph): Major damage to mobile homes. Significant roof and siding damage to frame homes. Power outages common, lasting days.
• Category 3 (111-129 mph): Major damage to frame homes. Substantial structural damage. Power and water outages lasting days to weeks. Evacuation strongly recommended for evacuation zones.
• Category 4 (130-156 mph): Catastrophic damage. Most homes severely damaged. Power infrastructure widely destroyed. Evacuation mandatory in evacuation zones.
• Category 5 (157+ mph): Catastrophic regional damage. Inhabitability for weeks to months. Evacuation mandatory regardless of zone.

Key insight: the category number indicates wind. It does NOT indicate storm surge. A Cat 1 with high storm surge can produce more damage than a Cat 3 with low surge.

Storm surge — the most underrated threat

Storm surge is rising water level along coast due to a hurricane's wind pushing water inland. Storm surge causes more hurricane fatalities than wind in most major storms.

Storm surge categories:

• 0-3 feet: Beach flooding, minor coastal damage
• 3-6 feet: Significant beachfront damage, evacuation zone A flooding
• 6-9 feet: Major coastal damage, evacuation zone A and B flooding
• 9+ feet: Catastrophic — buildings destroyed at ground level, can affect inland areas

Storm surge is forecast by the National Hurricane Center as part of the cone forecast. Surge maps are at nhc.noaa.gov/surge.

Evacuation zones

Most Atlantic and Gulf coast states use letter-based or number-based evacuation zone systems:

• Florida: Zones 1-5 (1 = most vulnerable, 5 = least)
• Texas: Zones I-V (I = most vulnerable)
• Louisiana: Zones A-D (A = most vulnerable)
• Most others: Zones A-C (A = most vulnerable)

Find your zone: - Florida: floridadisaster.org → Know Your Zone - Texas: txdps.gov → Emergency Management → Know Your Zone - Louisiana: getagameplan.org → Know Your Zone - All others: search "[state name] evacuation zone lookup"

Each county may have additional zone subdivisions. Verify with your county emergency management.

Stay-or-evacuate decision rules

The decision is not "Cat X = leave." It is more nuanced:

### Always evacuate if: - You live in evacuation zone A or B AND a Category 3+ storm is forecast within 36 hours - You live in a mobile home (any category) - Your home has known structural deficiencies (older roof, windows not protected, etc.) - You have a medical condition requiring power or oxygen - Your local emergency management orders mandatory evacuation - You have no realistic shelter-in-place plan

### Consider sheltering if: - You live in evacuation zone C or farther inland - Your home is properly constructed with hurricane straps, impact-rated windows or shutters - You have 7+ days of water, food, and supplies - You have backup heating/cooling and lighting - You have CO detector + backup heating plan - A Category 1 or 2 storm is forecast

### Watch for cascade scenarios: - Direct hit Cat 3+ = evacuation zone A and B should leave - Storm surge forecast > 6 feet at your zone = leave regardless of wind category - Power outage forecast > 7 days + medical-dependent household member = leave

Supply checklist (7-day shelter-in-place)

### Water - 1 gallon per person per day × 7 days × household members - 1 gallon per pet per day × 7 days × pets - Plus 5 gallons for hygiene/sanitation per person - Family of 4: 80-100 gallons minimum

### Food - 7 days shelf-stable: canned protein, peanut butter, crackers, oats, dried fruit, energy bars - Don't forget: pet food, infant formula if applicable - Manual can opener (electric ones don't work in outages) - Family of 4: ~$200-400 of stocking cost

### Power and light - Multiple flashlights with extra batteries - 20,000+ mAh power bank, fully charged - Battery-operated lamp for kitchen - NOAA Weather Radio with battery backup - Hand crank or solar backup option recommended

### Medical - 7-day medication supply (more if possible) - First aid kit (current and complete) - Sanitation supplies (toilet paper, paper towels, garbage bags, hand sanitizer)

### Communication - Charged phones for all family members - Family communication plan (out-of-state contact + meeting location) - Important phone numbers on paper - Cash $200-500 in small bills

### Tools - Manual can opener - Multi-tool / pocket knife - Duct tape and plastic sheeting - Whistle (for signaling) - Wrench for gas shutoff (if applicable)

Hurricane shelter setup (if staying)

If shelter-in-place is the plan:

• Designate the "ride out" room — interior, on lowest floor (unless flood zone), away from windows. Typically a bathroom or interior closet.
• Cover all windows with hurricane shutters, plywood (5/8" minimum), or impact-rated film 24-48 hours before landfall.
• Fill the bathtub with water (extra for sanitation and washing).
• Move important items off the floor of basements and first floors if flooding is possible.
• Move outdoor furniture inside or secure it.
• Trim or remove dead tree branches near the house (before storm; don't try during).
• Charge everything to 100% before storm arrives.

Evacuation execution

If evacuating:

• Leave at least 36 hours before forecast landfall to avoid traffic jams.
• Pre-pack evacuation bag in vehicle.
• Fuel up. Gas stations sell out within hours of evacuation orders.
• Take pets and important documents.
• Leave a note on the front door indicating you've evacuated (so first responders know).
• Verify destination before leaving (relatives confirmed, hotel reservation made).
• Drive to destination directly. Do not delay; do not detour.
• Keep phone charged during drive (some traffic may force long delays).

Post-storm recovery

When storm passes:

• Don't immediately return if you evacuated. Wait for official "all clear."
• Beware downed power lines. Treat all wires as energized.
• Document damage with photos for insurance.
• Check for gas leaks. Don't enter homes with strong gas smell.
• Avoid driving through standing water (could be deeper than appears).
• Watch for water-borne contamination (mosquitoes, bacterial illness, infrastructure damage).
• Conserve generator fuel — only run when necessary, never indoors.
• Refrigerator food >40°F for 4+ hours: discard.
• Avoid floodwater — sewage, chemical, electrical hazards combined.

What this is not

This is not a guarantee of safety in any specific scenario. The vast majority of US Atlantic and Gulf coast households navigate hurricane seasons with normal patterns. The point of this reference is that the household which understands and acts on the framework above handles any reasonable scenario as inconvenience, while the household that doesn't faces it with panic.

The single most-leveraged action is knowing your evacuation zone today, not when an actual storm is approaching.

One thing this week: find your evacuation zone using your state's lookup tool. Write it on a sticky note. Tape it to your refrigerator. 5-minute task.

— Systems Fail Lab