Hurricane
Note: This page is not for emergency services, call 911 immediately.
Understanding hurricanes
Hurricanes present several life-threatening and destructive weather hazards, including storm surge and storm tide, heavy rainfall and inland flooding, high winds, and rip currents. Find out more about these specific weather hazards and how to protect your family and your home.
Prepare for hurricanes
Before
- Prepare an emergency kit with at least 14 days’ worth of food and supplies.
- Develop a household emergency plan.
- Know your nearest hurricane shelter and evacuation routes.
During
- Monitor local media and weather sources.
- Take shelter in a safe location and stay away from windows.
After
- Check for damaged or downed power lines.
- Avoid flooded areas.
Getting Ready for Hurricane Season
Hurricane season in Hawaiʻi runs from June through November. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides an excellent overview to evaluate your preparedness for hurricane season. Visit NOAA and see what you need to do before, during and after a storm.
Understanding Hurricane Warnings & Weather Info
In the event of a hurricane, the National Weather Service will issue several different types of hazard alerts, storm-track models and forecast cones. This NOAA page lays out exactly what these alerts and tools communicate.
Prepare for hurricanes
Know Your Zone: Understand the risks where you live. Identify a safe place with family or friends in case you need to evacuate before a storm. Use the National Hurricane Center Storm Surge Risk Map to see if you are at risk of dangerous storm surges. Choose your location on the left side of the page, and select hurricane category at the top.
Make an Emergency Kit: Food, water, medicine, first aid, battery-powered radios and lights, and extra batteries are essential items to have on hand. In Hawaiʻi, a 2-week supply of these items is recommended because of our isolated location. Don’t forget to pack for your pets, too. Visit FEMA’s website for good ideas of what to keep in your emergency kit.
Prepare for Power Outages: Power outages are common during hurricanes. Be prepared to spend several hours or days without power. Have a plan for how to get information, communicate, store food and medicine, cook and prepare food, illuminate your home and run medical equipment. Use this FEMA pamphlet for information on preparing for power outages and what you need to consider in anticipation of a power outage.
Strengthen Your Home: Don’t wait for a storm to come. There are things you can do today to protect your home and property against hurricanes. Install hurricane straps to strengthen your roof, protect windows and glass doors with shutters or plywood, trim back weak tree limbs and have a place to secure lawn furniture and decorations that could be blown about by hurricane winds. Two excellent resources to use are this FEMA Property Handbook and the Hawaiʻi Homeowner’s Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards, published by the University of Hawaiʻi.