Hurricane Preparedness Kit

We've all seen it on the news. Long lines at the grocery stores and empty shelves at home supply warehouses as the hurricane bears down on some unfortunate coastal community. Like most things in life, the time to prepare for a hurricane is well before you hear warnings on your local radio station. With hurricane season in Massachusetts starting on June 1 and peaking in August and September, the time to prepare is the beginning of spring and throughout the summer, especially if a storm is approaching. Any named storm in the Bahamas has the potential to hit New England, so stay tuned to the local weather forecasts and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Weather Radio, and use the information below to help with preparations.

Hurricane guides and general information
NOAA's National Hurricane Center Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hurricane Forecasts Mass.gov Hurricane Page American Red Cross Hurricane Awareness Page CNN Weather: Hurricanes USA Today's Hurricane Page NOAA's Hurricane Research Division New Bedford's Hurricane Page Unisys Weather: Hurricane/Tropical Data Weather Underground: Tropical Weather

Protecting yourself and your family before, during, and after the storm
FEMA's Hurricane Page USA Today's Hurricane Safety Guide MIT Sea Grant's Hurricanes in the Northeast Website Clemson University Extension's Hurricane Preparedness Page

Disaster kits
NOAA's Hurricane Prearedness Disaster Supply Kit American Red Cross Get A Kit Page MEMA's Hurricane Supply List FEMA's Kid Activity Survival Kit

Developing an emergency plan for your family
The Department of Homeland Security's Family Emergency Plan Page FEMA's Plan for Emergencies Page The Weather Channel Family Preparedness Plan Page American Red Cross Family Weather Emergency Plan

Protecting your home
CZM's Using Freeboard to Elevate Structures above Predicted Floodwaters Page Protecting Your Home from Hurricane Wind Damage (PDF, 3.6 MB) Protecting Coastal Property from Major Storm Damage (PDF, 2.0 MB) USA Today's Protecting Your Home Against a Hurricane

Protecting your pets
FEMA's Caring for Animals Page Humane Society's Disaster Preparedness for Pets FEMA's Pets and Distasters for Kids Village of East Rockaway's Pets and Hurricanes

Protecting your boat
U.S. Coast Guard's How Do I Prepare My Boat, Trailer or Myself Before a Hurricane? U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety's Hurricane Observations and Precautions Boats.com's Hurricane Prep Hurricane Preparedness Plan: Marina/Yacht Club/Municipal Anchorage (PDF, 160 KB) Major Storm Preparedness: Aware Boater Checklist (PDF, 137 KB)

Learn about and track hurricanes
Coastlines 2002, CZM's annual magazine, focuses on hurricanes and the potential impacts to Massachusetts Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale Atlantic Basin Hurricane Tracking Chart (PDF, 928 KB) Hurricane Names Dr. Gray's Tropical Storm Forecast Hurricanes...Unleashing Nature's Fury (PDF, 1.3 MB) Historical Hurricanes Mapping & Analysis Tool FAQ: Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Tropical Cyclones Reason to Name Hurricanes Miami Museum of Science Hurricane Page for Kids

New England hurricanes
A Centennial Review of Major Land Falling Tropical Cyclones in Southern New England Cape Cod Times Huricane Preparation Page The 1938 Hurricane Hurricanes Carol and Edna, 1954 Hurricane Bob

Additional information
National Flood Insurance Program Dangers of Mixing Water and Electricity The Hurricane Hunters