Hurricane checklist: Inside the home

Follow these steps in your home prior to the storm:

WHEN A STORM THREATENS

• Seal key documents — including passports, wills, contracts, insurance papers, car titles, deeds, leases and tax information — in zip plastic bags and get into a protected, dry place, such as a safe-deposit box or home safe.
• Monitor the news
• Set the refrigerator to its coldest setting in anticipation of the power failing.
• Fill the bathtub. It may be your main supply of water.
• Stock heavy-duty garbage bags for post-storm home and yard cleanup.
• Check flashlight and radio batteries and have extras on hand.
• Charge rechargeable cellphones, drills, power screwdrivers, flashlights, lanterns and batteries.
• Make sure you have enough toilet paper to last until you can safely get to the store again.
• If you live in mobile home, you should evacuate if a hurricane of any strength is heading your way.
• If you live in a hurricane evacuation zone, you must evacuate if an order is given. Please see evacuation zone maps (if available) to find out which areas must evacuate for Category 1 or 2 hurricanes and which must leave for Category 3 or higher storms.
• Your first choice should be to stay with a friend or family member who is living close by but is not in a flood-vulnerable area.
• If you plan to leave, start packing. Don’t wait until the storm is almost here to get on the road.

WHEN A STORM IS APPROACHING

• Don’t be misled by landfall predictions. Strong winds could arrive hours before official landfall and be many miles away from the eye.
• Move furniture away from windows or cover with plastic.
• Move as many valuables as possible off the floor to limit flooding damage.
• If possible, secure small, fragile and/or valuable items that could be thrown around if winds enter your home.

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