Preparing Before the Storm: 

• Prepare to lose power for several days or weeks.
• Gather your emergency supply kits with enough bottled water and non-perishable food to sustain each family member for three to seven days.
• Include a weather radio, flashlight, extra batteries, toiletries, change of clothes, blankets or sleeping bag, rain gear and appropriate footwear. Also include cell phone charger, prescription medicines, copies of important documents, such as birth certificates and insurance policies.
• Know your evacuation route, and find out where friends and loved ones will be and how to get in touch with them.
• Plan for your pets. Gather supplies for your pets and put them in an easily-accessible container.
• Prepare your home. Clean out gutters and clear property of debris that could damage buildings in strong winds.
• Stay tuned to local news for the latest advisories from the National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center (NHC), as well as state and local emergency management officials.

Evacuation Routes

• For travel resources and evacuation routes, please click here. 

Keeping Food Safe After Power Outages

• Your food should be safe as long as power is out no more than 4 hours
• Keep the door closed as much as possible
• Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) that have been above 40 degrees F for over 2 hours

Clean Up and Disaster Assistance

• Disinfect items that touch floodwaters: 1 cup bleach/5 gallons CLEAN water. Dispose of whatever cannot be washed.
• If cans have come in contact with floodwater or storm water, remove the labels, wash the cans, and dip them in the bleach/water solution. Re-label the cans with a marker.
• Food containers with screw-caps, snap-lids, crimped caps (soda pop bottles), twist caps, flip tops, snap-open, and home canned foods should be discarded if they have come into contact with floodwater because they cannot be disinfected.
• If you need to report disaster assistance, please visit DisasterAssistance.Gov. 

How to Stay Updated

• Visit Hurricanes.gov for the latest on the storm.
• Visit www.ready.gov, www.listo.gov (español), or readync.org for tips on how to prepare for and stay safe during hurricanes and flooding.
• Visit the FEMA Social Hub for updates from official emergency management social media accounts.
• Download the FEMA Mobile App to receive alerts from the National Weather Service, get safety and survival tips, customize your emergency checklist, find your local shelter, and upload your disaster photos to help first responders.
• Follow these accounts to stay updated:
  • @NCEmergencyManagement
  • @Fema
  • @femaregion4