A Family Hurricane Plan can help you and your loved ones be as ready as possible for an approaching hurricane. Make sure everyone in the family understands a Family Hurricane Plan. One weekend in May each year, review the plan.

What’s in a good hurricane plan? Here’s a checklist:

• A deadline to evacuate. (No matter what’s in your plan, obey all evacuation orders from local officials.)
• A destination after you evacuate. (Map alternate routes in case roads are blocked.)
• What to do with family pets.
• Storage for boats or recreational vehicles.
• Relatives to notify.
• Safe places to keep important family papers and keepsakes.
• Meeting places after the hurricane, if people get separated.
• Locations of emergency shelters. (Vital if you decide to leave at the last minute.)
• Duty of each family member before the storm. (Does Dad put plywood over the windows while Mom takes the dog to the kennel?)
• Phone number of a friend or neighbor if you need last-minute help as a storm approaches.
• Contact information and a stand-by plan for elderly family members or friends who live alone.

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