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You are at NWS Houston/Galveston »
Tropical Weather» Hurricane Plan Checklist - Three
Your Family Hurricane Plan Checklist
III. WHEN A HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUED
Note: A WARNING means sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected in the warned area within 24 hours or less.
 Closely monitor radio, TV, NOAA Weather Radio, or hurricane hotline telephone numbers for official bulletins.
Follow instructions issued by local officials. LEAVE IMMEDIATELY IF ORDERED TO DO
SO.
Complete preparation activities, such as putting up storm shutters, storing loose objects, filling up water
containers, etc.
Evacuate areas that might be affected by storm surge flooding.
If evacuating, disconnect utilities...phone, gas, electricity...as a precaution to prevent further damage.
If evacuating, leave early and if possible, during daylight hours.
Leave all mobile homes in any case.
Notify neighbors and family members outside of the warned area of your evacuation plans.
Plan to evacuate if you...
Live in a mobile home. Do not stay in a mobile home under any circumstances.
Live on the coastline or on an offshore island, or live near a river or in a flood plain.
Live in a high-rise building. Hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.
If you are evacuating...
Stay with friends or relatives or at a low-rise inland hotel/motel outside of flood zones.
Leave early to avoid heavy traffic, roads blocked by early flood waters, and bridges impassable due to high winds.
Put food and water out for pet if you cannot take it with you. Public shelters do not allow pets nor do most
hotels/motels.
Hurricane shelters will be available for people who have no other place to go. Shelters may be crowded and
uncomfortable, with no privacy and no electricity. Do not leave your home for a shelter until government officials
announce on radio and/or TV that a particular shelter is open.
Disconnect all utilities and appliances that use them.
Turn main switch for electricity to off.
What to bring to a shelter...
First-aid kit, medicines, baby food and diapers, cards, games, books, toiletries, battery-powered radio, flashlights,
extra batteries, blankets or sleeping bags, identification, valuable papers (insurance), and cash.
If you are staying home...
Reminder! Only stay in a home if you have not been ordered to leave. If you ARE told to leave, DO SO IMMEDIATELY.
Store water. Fill sterilized jugs and bottles with 2 weeks supply of drinking water. Fill bathtub and large
containers with water for sanitary purposes.
Turn refrigerator to maximum cold and open only when necessary.
Turn off utilities if told to do so by authorities.
Turn off propane tanks.
Unplug small appliances.
Stay inside your home at all times.
If winds become strong...
Stay away from windows and doors even if they are covered. Take refuge in a small ground floor,
interior room, closet, or hallway. Take a battery-powered radio, a NOAA Weather Radio, and a
flashlight with you.
Close all interior doors. Secure and brace external doors, particularly double inward opening doors
and garage doors.
If you are in a multiple-story building and away from the water, go to the first or second floors and
take refuge in the halls or other interior rooms away from windows. Interior stairwells and the areas
around elevator shafts are generally the strongest part of a building.
Be alert for tornadoes which often are spawned by hurricanes. Also, if the "EYE" of the hurricane
should pass over your area, be aware that the improved weather conditions are only temporary
and that the storm conditions will return with winds coming from the opposite direction sometimes
in a period of just a few minutes.
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