Hurricane alerts and protective action
Hurricanes can bring wind, storm surge, flooding, tornadoes, and prolonged outages well beyond the coast.
This retained reference page explains preparedness and protective actions; it is not a live alert feed or a forecast. For current conditions, use official alerts for your location.
Prepare before an alert
- Know the local evacuation zone and route using official local information.
- Prepare for both evacuation and sheltering, including medicine, communications, transport, pets, and extended outages.
- Monitor the National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, and local emergency officials as conditions develop.
Watch and warning language
A watch means the hazard is possible and you should be ready to act. A warning means the hazard is occurring, imminent, or highly likely in the warned area and protective action is needed. Read the complete official alert because wording and actions vary by hazard.
Protective actions
- Evacuate promptly when local officials direct and use designated routes.
- If sheltering, stay in a sturdy interior location away from windows and continue monitoring alerts.
- Do not assume calm conditions mean the storm has ended.
- Avoid floodwater, downed lines, damaged buildings, and unsafe generator use after the storm.
Important: Call emergency services for immediate danger. Always follow current directions from local authorities over general web guidance.
Related PREPHAUS resources
Official sources
Source links are provided for provenance and current official instructions. No publication or retrieval date is asserted here.