Hurricanes kill through three distinct mechanisms — storm surge, wind, and inland flooding — each requiring different preparation responses. The most critical preparation decision is made 48–72 hours before landfall: whether to evacuate or shelter in place. This guide covers the decision framework, the supply requirements for both options, and the specific actions by hurricane category.
The Leading Killer: Storm Surge, Not Wind
Storm surge — the dome of ocean water pushed inland by hurricane winds — accounts for 49% of hurricane deaths in the United States, more than any other hurricane hazard. Storm surge is not proportional to wind speed: a slow-moving Category 2 can produce larger surge than a fast-moving Category 4 depending on coastal geometry, landfall angle, and the continental shelf profile.
Surge heights by category (National Hurricane Center estimates):
| Category | Wind speed | Surge potential | Inland reach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 74–95 mph | 4–5 ft | Low-lying coastal areas |
| 2 | 96–110 mph | 6–8 ft | Flooding up to several miles inland |
| 3 | 111–129 mph | 9–12 ft | Flooding 10+ miles inland in flat coastal terrain |
| 4 | 130–156 mph | 13–18 ft | Low-lying areas up to 25 miles inland |
| 5 | 157+ mph | 18+ ft | Catastrophic surge; entire coastal communities |
Key fact: A 20-foot surge over a 10-foot elevation means 10 feet of water above your ground floor. No structure below surge height is survivable without upper-story refuge in a well-constructed building.
Evacuation Zones and Decision Triggers
FEMA and local emergency management offices divide coastal areas into lettered evacuation zones (A through F or similar) based on surge vulnerability. Zone A has the highest surge risk; inner zones have lower risk. Your zone determines at which storm category you should evacuate:
- Zone A (highest surge risk): Evacuate for any storm with surge potential reaching your zone — typically Category 1+ depending on local geography. Do not shelter in place in Zone A for Category 2+.
- Zone B: Evacuate for Category 2+.
- Zone C: Evacuate for Category 3+.
- Inland zones (D+): Storm surge is not the primary risk; wind, rain, and flooding from rainfall are. Evacuate if your structure is not wind-rated or if flash flood risk exists.
Determine your zone: Your county’s emergency management website lists evacuation zones by address. Look this up before hurricane season begins (June 1) — not the night before landfall when websites crash.
Evacuation Decision: The 72-Hour Window
The decision to evacuate must be made no later than 72 hours before projected landfall — when the National Hurricane Center issues a Hurricane Watch. By 48 hours (Hurricane Warning), fuel shortages begin and evacuation routes clog. By 24 hours, contraflow has been implemented and traffic may be moving at 5–10 mph on major routes.
Evacuation decision matrix:
- Evacuate: Your home is in a mandatory evacuation zone; you are in a mobile home (not wind-rated); you are in a flood-prone area; you have medical needs requiring electricity; you have transportation and a destination.
- Shelter in place may be acceptable: You are inland, not in a surge zone; your home is masonry or wood-frame with hurricane-rated windows (Miami-Dade rated or equivalent); your property is not in a flood zone (Zone X on FEMA FIRM maps); you have 14 days of water, food, and fuel.
14-Day Supply List
Post-landfall power restoration averages 7–14 days for most areas after a Category 3+ storm. For Category 4–5 impacts to populated areas, restoration can take 3–6 weeks. A 14-day supply covers the probable recovery window:
Water
- 1 gallon per person per day × 14 days: For 4 people = 56 gallons minimum
- Fill bathtubs (using WaterBOB liners) and every available container when Watch is issued
- Boil or treat tap water after landfall until municipal notice says water is safe
Food
- 14 days of shelf-stable food per person (approximately 2,000 kcal/day): Canned goods, peanut butter, crackers, dried fruit, nuts, protein bars
- Manual can opener (2 of them — they break at the worst time)
- Propane camp stove + 3 × 1 lb cylinders per person per week for hot meals
Power and Lighting
- Generator (sized per household critical load) + 10–20 gallons stabilized fuel
- Battery-powered fans (post-storm heat is severe)
- Headlamps + lanterns + spare batteries
Communication
- NOAA battery/crank weather radio (Midland ER310)
- Charged power bank (20,000 mAh minimum)
- Printed emergency contact list (phones may not charge for days)
Shelter and Safety
- Tarps (20 × 30 ft minimum) for roof damage mitigation
- Chainsaw or bow saw for clearing fallen trees
- Work gloves (heavy leather or coated)
- First aid kit with additional wound care supplies
72-Hour Pre-Landfall Action Timeline
- 72 hours out (Hurricane Watch): Make evacuate/stay decision. Fill gas tank. Fill water containers. Withdraw cash. Bring in outdoor furniture.
- 48 hours out (Hurricane Warning): Board windows or install shutters. Charge all devices and power banks. Pre-cook perishable food (it will last 24 hours in a closed refrigerator, 48 hours in a closed freezer after power loss). Stage bug-out bag if evacuating.
- 24 hours out: If not already evacuated from Zone A/B, understand you may be sheltering in place. Identify interior room with no windows (interior bathroom or closet) as storm shelter. Keep shoes on during the storm.
- During the storm: Stay inside. Do not go out during the apparent lull — the eye wall passage is not the end of the storm. Eye transit takes 20–45 minutes; after the eye passes, the back wall arrives with equal or greater force from the opposite direction.
