Hurricane Preparedness Tips

Plan Ahead for an Evacuation

• If you reside or work in a coastal community, contact your municipal emergency management agency or other local officials to learn about the risks of coastal flooding in your community and neighborhood.  To learn whether you live or work in a designated hurricane evacuation zone, use the interactive Know Your Evacuation Zone  map on MEMA’s website. If you live or work in designated evacuation zone you should be prepared to evacuate before a hurricane or tropical storm makes landfall.
• Know how to receive emergency information, including recommendations or orders to evacuate.

• • Sign up for your community’s emergency alerting system.
  • Monitor news broadcasts.
  • Download Massachusetts Alerts to your smartphone. This is a free app from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
  • Follow MEMA on Twitter or Facebook.
  • Follow your local emergency management agency and other local public safety agencies on social media.
• Make a Family Emergency Plan.  If you must evacuate, know where you will go, how you will get there, what you will bring.  Make sure that your plan includes provisions for managing children, seniors, and family members with disabilities or medical issues.  Include your pets in your Family Emergency Plan. While service animals will be allowed inside shelters, household pets are not allowed in all shelters. See MEMA’s Pets and Animals in Emergencies webpage for additional tips. Remember: “If you go, they go!
• Assemble an Emergency Kit . Keep your supplies in an easy-to-carry kit that you can take with you in case you must evacuate.
• If you or a family member may require special assistance to evacuate, ask local officials about special assistance programs or registries.
• If you undergo routine medical treatments or receive home health services, work with your service provider in advance to understand their emergency plan and to find backup providers that you might use in an emergency.
• Keep your car fueled if an evacuation seems likely. Gas stations may be closed during an emergency, or unable to pump gas during power outages.
• If you do not have personal transportation or a way to evacuate, make arrangements with family, friends or your local government.

If Asked to Evacuate

• Listen carefully to instructions and information from public safety officials and evacuate immediately.
• Gather only essential items; take your emergency kit.  Remember you may be away from home for up to a few days.
• Tell your family emergency contact where you are going.
• Advise family members who are outside the area not to return home.
• Wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes.
• If you go to a shelter, notify staff of any special needs you or your family may have.
• If designated evacuation routes are established, follow the routes; other routes might be blocked.  Expect heavy traffic.
• Do not return to the evacuation area until the evacuation order is lifted.
• Do not call 9-1-1 unless you have an emergency. Call your local non-emergency number, or 2-1-1 for non-emergency information or questions.

If you have enough time before you leave

• Elevate valuable items to higher points within your home in case of flooding.
• Secure outdoor items (lawn furniture, grills, hanging plants, trashcans, awnings, toys, etc.) or move them indoors.
• Close and lock windows and doors.
• Turn off lights and appliances. Turn off water, electricity, and gas (if instructed to do so).
• Check with neighbors to see if they need assistance.

Visit www.mass.gov/ready for comprehensive preparedness tips and information.