What to do in a hurricane

Run from the water, hide from the wind. Storm surge, water pushed ashore, is usually the deadliest part of a hurricane, and it can arrive before the strongest wind. Know whether you live in an evacuation zone. If you’re told to evacuate, go early. If you stay inland, shelter in a small interior room away from windows.

What to do

1. Know if you live in an evacuation zone before the season starts.
2. If you're told to evacuate, go. Early.
3. If you stay inland, shelter in a small interior room away from windows.
4. Never walk, swim or drive into floodwater. 6 inches of moving water can knock you down; 12 inches carries away most cars.

Remember: Run from the water. Hide from the wind.

The real danger

Storm surge (water pushed ashore) is usually the deadliest part of a hurricane. Surge can arrive before the strongest wind.

What happened: Galveston, Texas, 1900

In September 1900 a Category 4 hurricane drove the sea over Galveston. An estimated 8,000 people died. The National Weather Service calls it the greatest natural disaster in U.S. history.

The lesson: Run from the water. Hide from the wind.

Get ready before it happens

• Look up your county on FEMA’s National Risk Index and write down your top 3 hazards.
• Turn on Emergency Alerts on every phone and sign up for your county’s alerts.
• Store water: 1 gallon per person per day for at least 3 days, 2 weeks if you can. Label and date it. Replace every 6 months.
• Safeguard documents: Copies of ID, insurance and bank records in a waterproof bag. Photograph your home and belongings.