How to Stay Safe During a Hurricane: Preparation Safety Tips
How to Stay Safe During a Hurricane
The best way to stay safe during a hurricane is to prepare before storms develop, follow evacuation orders immediately, maintain emergency supplies, and use backup power safely during outages.
Monitoring forecasts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which includes the National Weather Service (NWS) and National Hurricane Center (NHC), securing your home, and having a clear emergency plan can significantly reduce risks to your family and property.
Hurricanes can produce dangerous flooding, high winds, prolonged power outages, and severe storm damage. Whether the threat is a tropical storm, major hurricane, or another tropical cyclone known as a typhoon in other regions, early preparation is your strongest defense.
What Should You Do Before Hurricane Season?
Preparing before hurricane activity increases helps reduce stress, improve response times, and ensure access to critical supplies.
Each year, meteorological experts from the NWS and the NHC monitor tropical weather systems across the Atlantic basin, including the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. These organizations issue hurricane forecasts, tropical storm advisories, and emergency alerts to help communities prepare for dangerous weather conditions year-round.
Preparing early helps homeowners avoid fuel shortages, long supply lines, and limited emergency resources once named storms begin approaching land.
2026 Hurricane Season Outlook
According to forecasts from the NOAA and Colorado State University (CSU), the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is expected to produce up to 14 named storms across the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean – a below-normal forecast compared to recent active seasons.
Seasonal hurricane activity can vary depending on factors such as tropical Atlantic conditions, ocean temperatures, wind shear, and broader weather patterns like El Niño or La Niña.
This seasonal outlook is updated annually and should not replace official local emergency guidance.
What Should Be Included in a Hurricane Emergency Kit?
The NWS recommends assembling emergency supplies well before hurricane activity increases as part of your hurricane preparedness plan. Waiting until a storm has been named can make it difficult to find fuel, food, batteries, and other critical supplies.
Essential Hurricane Emergency Supplies
- Water: Store one gallon per person per day for drinking and sanitation.
- Food: Prioritize high-calorie, non-perishable foods that require little or no preparation.
- Communication: Include a battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA Weather Radio.
- Medical Supplies: Maintain a complete first aid kit and at least a 14-day supply of prescription medications.
- Documentation: Store copies of insurance policies, identification cards, and birth certificates in waterproof containers.
- Backup Power: Keep portable generators or home standby generators available to maintain essential systems during power outages.
How Do You Use a Generator Safely During a Hurricane?
Power outages after major hurricanes can last for days or even weeks depending on storm severity, infrastructure damage, and widespread wind damage. Backup power can help maintain refrigeration, communication devices, medical equipment, lighting, and other essentials during extended outages.
If you are using a portable generator, following proper generator safety procedures is critical to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, electrocution, and fire hazards.
Critical Generator Safety Rules
- NEVER operate a generator inside a home, garage, basement, or crawlspace.
- POSITION the generator at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, and vents.
- INSTALL battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms on every level of your home.
- DRY the generator and your hands before operation to reduce electrocution risks.
- USE a Champion Storm Shield to help protect the generator during severe weather operation.
Regardless of the energy source, generators must always operate outdoors in well-ventilated areas. Learn more about generator safety at Take Your Generator Outside.
Should You Evacuate or Shelter During a Hurricane?
If local officials issue a mandatory evacuation order, leave immediately. Emergency managers use storm surge models, hurricane forecasts, and tropical weather data to determine when conditions may become life-threatening.
Even Tropical storms and Category 1 hurricanes can intensify rapidly before landfall, bringing dangerous flooding, high winds, and significant storm damage to coastal and inland communities.
If Evacuating
- Unplug appliances to reduce potential damage from power surges.
- Shut off the main water valve and gas pilot lights if instructed by local officials.
- Follow designated evacuation routes and avoid flooded roadways.
If Sheltering in Place
- Identify a safe room located on the lowest interior floor away from windows.
- Stay away from glass doors and windows even if they are boarded.
- Monitor the eye of the storm carefully and avoid going outside during temporary periods of calm.
How Can You Protect Your Home Before and After a Hurricane?
Protecting your home before a hurricane arrives can help reduce structural damage, storm damage, and overall safety risks.
Before the Storm
- Install impact-resistant shutters or 5/8-inch exterior-grade plywood.
- Clear gutters and downspouts to help prevent flooding.
- Secure or move outdoor furniture, grills, decorations, and trash cans indoors.
- Trim dead or overhanging tree branches that could become airborne during high wind speeds.
These preventative steps can help homeowners reduce the risk of costly wind damage during severe tropical weather.
After the Storm
Floodwaters often contain sewage, chemicals, debris, and hidden electrical hazards. Avoid walking or driving through standing water whenever possible.
Continue monitoring emergency broadcasts and local weather alerts after the storm passes, as flooding, storm damage, downed power lines, and unsafe conditions may continue long after landfall.
Hurricane Safety FAQ
What size generator do I need to power my home during a hurricane?
The right generator size depends on how many appliances and systems you want to power during an outage. Most homes need a generator between 5,000 and 12,500 watts to keep essentials like refrigerators, lights, fans, and select appliances running. Larger homes or those wanting to power central air conditioning may require even more capacity. To choose the right size, add up the running watts of the items you plan to use and account for any higher starting watts needed by appliances like refrigerators or AC units.
How far should a generator be from the house?
Portable generators should always operate outdoors at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, garages, crawlspaces, and vents to help reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Is it safe to run a generator in the rain?
Generators should not operate in standing water or while wet. If you need to run a generator during light rain or wet conditions, use a properly designed cover like the Champion Storm Shield, which protects the unit while maintaining required ventilation. Never operate a generator in heavy rain, flooding, or severe storm conditions.
Can I refuel a generator while it’s running?
Always turn the generator off, allow it to cool, and make sure it is in a well-ventilated area before refueling. Adding fuel while the generator is running can cause flammable gas or fuel vapors to come into contact with a hot engine or spark, creating a serious risk of fire or explosion.
What should you do during the eye of a hurricane?
Do not go outside during the eye of the storm. Conditions may temporarily become calm, but dangerous winds quickly return as the eye passes through.
When should you evacuate during a hurricane?
Evacuate immediately if local officials issue a mandatory evacuation order or if you live in a storm surge or flood-prone area.
How long do hurricane power outages last?
Hurricane-related power outages may last from several hours to multiple weeks depending on storm severity, flooding, wind damage, utility damage, and local infrastructure conditions.
Emergency Customer Support and Resources
During hurricane season, rely on official government agencies and trusted emergency organizations for real-time weather alerts, evacuation notices, and disaster assistance.
- FEMA — Download the FEMA App for shelter locations and emergency alerts.
- NHC — Access hurricane tracking maps, advisories, and storm updates.
- Red Cross — Contact 1-800-RED-CROSS for disaster assistance and reunification services.
- Local 211 Services — Dial 211 for information about shelters, food banks, and local emergency resources.
Champion Generators Built for Storm Season
Champion Power Equipment offers a full lineup of portable generators and home standby generators designed to keep essential systems running during hurricane-related power outages. Dual Fuel models operate on either gasoline or propane, providing flexibility when fuel supplies become limited. Tri Fuel models add natural gas compatibility, allowing homes with utility service to maintain continuous backup power without refueling.
Many Champion portable generators are equipped with CO Shield technology, which automatically shuts the unit off if it detects unsafe levels of carbon monoxide in nearby enclosed spaces. CO Shield provides an added layer of protection against one of the most common and dangerous hazards associated with portable generator use during storms.
For severe weather operation, the Champion Storm Shield is a heavy-duty generator cover engineered specifically to protect portable generators from rain, sleet, and falling debris while the unit is running. Unlike standard tarps or improvised covers, Storm Shield is designed to maintain the airflow and ventilation a generator requires for safe operation, helping reduce the risk of overheating, water damage, and electrical hazards during prolonged outages. Storm Shield is compatible with select Champion generator models and is a recommended accessory for any homeowner relying on a portable generator during hurricane season.
Every Champion generator includes free lifetime technical support by phone, email, or live chat, in addition to the product warranty. Visit the Help Center for how-to guides and self-service resources, explore our YouTube channel for tutorials and troubleshooting videos, or contact our support team anytime for assistance in getting the most from your generator.
