National Hurricane Preparedness Week April 30–May 6

Wake County Emergency Management encourages residents to get ready now for hurricanes by updating their emergency plans and supply kits. The National Weather Service has declared April 30–May 6 as Hurricane Preparedness Week so people can prepare before hurricane season starts in June.

“The best time to prepare for a hurricane is before one happens,” said Shinica Thomas, chair, Wake County Board of Commissioners. “Take a few moments this week to understand your risk, update your emergency kit and make a plan for what you’ll do if disaster strikes.”

Make a Plan

Where will you go? Decide how your family will leave your home if necessary, and select a safe place to meet outside.

How will you contact family? Practice how you’ll evacuate, and plan how you will contact each other if you’re not together.

What do you take with you? Write down your plan and gather important documents, such as copies of driver's licenses, insurance policies, medical records and bank account statements, and put them somewhere you can quickly access them in case of emergency.

Will others need help? Talk to your neighbors about their plans, especially those who may need assistance, such as seniors.

What about your home? With advance notice, you can mitigate damage to your home or business by taking measures such as trimming trees, covering windows and securing loose outdoor items. Make sure to review and update your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance policies to ensure they include coverage for damage, natural disasters and flood insurance.

What about my well or septic system? If you own a private well or septic system, now is a good time to review maintenance and safety procedures to protect the health and safety of your family and home. Read how you can take steps to minimize damage and repairs from a hurricane or flood here.

Prepare a Kit

Assemble an emergency supplies kit that includes enough non-perishable food and water to last each family member three to seven days, and make sure everyone knows where it is.

Other essential items include:

• First-aid kit
• Weather radio and batteries
• Prescription medicines
• Sleeping bag or blankets
• Changes of clothes
• Hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and deodorant
• Cash
• Pet supplies including food, water, bedding, leashes, muzzle and vaccination records
• Face masks and hand-sanitizer

Stay Informed

Get alerted about weather emergencies in your area by signing up for ReadyWake alerts. This system enables Wake County Emergency Management to send targeted, time-sensitive messages in a way you choose – phone, email or text.

You can also stay up to date on weather and evacuation information during an emergency by using a battery-powered weather radio.

“Hurricanes and severe storms will impact your family at some point,” said Autumn Goheen, outreach coordinator with Wake County Emergency Management. “Having a plan and being prepared reduces stress and improves your chances of surviving and recovering from damage caused by severe weather.”

More information on hurricanes and emergency preparedness is online at readywake.com and readync.gov.