Get ready, stay ready: Hurricane Season is here

As part of AARP’s “Prepare, Respond, Recover” approach to disasters, the AARP Preparedness Program wants staff and volunteers to understand their role in preparing for emergencies. Preparing for disasters doesn’t have to be difficult. Resources exist to help make you, your family, and your community, more resilient.

Hurricane Season Quick Tips
Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Here are some helpful tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on how to prepare yourself for the upcoming storms:

1. Know your Hurricane Risk

• Check with local officials to understand your risk
• Search online to find your local emergency management agency to learn more about their response procedures
• Sign up for local alerts or download the FEMA app

2. Know Your Evacuation Zone

• Learn your zone, the travel route needed to get there, and an alternate location to stay
• Include pets when planning to evacuate
• Practice your plan

3. Assemble Disaster Supplies

• Gather needed supplies for at least 10 days
• Keep cash in your emergency kit, especially in small denominations
• Build an emergency kit add items to meet the household needs for children, parents, individuals with disabilities or other access and functional needs or pets

4. Prepare Financially

• Start an emergency savings fund
  
• Check your insurance coverage to make sure you have enough coverage
  
• Learn more about flood insurance by visiting:
  www.floodsmart.gov

5. Strengthen Your Home

• Make sure your home is in good repair and meets local building codes
• Declutter drains and gutters, trim trees, secure loose outdoor items and secure doors
• Know a safe location to move your car during a hurricane

6. Help Your Neighbors

• Get to know your neighbors before an emergency strikes
• Make sure your family has an emergency plan before and after a hurricane
• Exchange contact information

7. Make an Emergency Plan

• Write down your hurricane plan and share it
• Make a plan of how you will get in touch with others before, during, and after a storm
• Take photos of important documents and store them securely

8. Spread the Word!

• Share FEMA’s Hurricane Preparedness resources, all which are
• available in 12 other languages
• Use Ready Kids resources to get your children involved
• Check out Ready.gov for more preparedness tips