Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Hurricane Preparedness: Building Resilient Homes, Plans, and Effective Warning Systems

How do people prepare for hurricanes before the season begins? When a hurricane is looming, how do people receive warning, decide to take action, and prepare for the storm? As part of the National Weather Service’s Hurricane Preparedness Week, Sea Grant programs have been highlighting their work that aims to answer these questions. Resources developed by Sea Grant and partners can help communities and individuals prepare for storms well before hurricane season even approaches as well as when a storm is approaching.

 

For coastal residents, hurricane preparation starts with building a wind- and water-resistant home well before hurricane season begins. However, constructing a house to withstand both of these forces requires careful planning and forethought. According to recent research funded by Connecticut Sea Grant, protecting a house from flood waters by elevating it may make the building more vulnerable to wind damage if the roof has not also been retrofitted for high winds.

Roof modifications that can withstand hurricanes are also a focus of North Carolina Sea Grant’s partnership with Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity to build homes that are fortified against wind and rain. The measures they are taking are simple and cost-effective, and may lower insurance rates according to North Carolina Sea Grant’s coastal construction and erosion specialist.

 

Once a hurricane season begins and home construction is no longer an option, the safety of communities often depends on receiving a hurricane warning so they can evacuate or gather supplies and “batten down the hatches.” Unfortunately, despite the National Weather Service’s advanced hurricane warning system, many people fail to evacuate or prepare properly.

 

A study funded through the Sea Grant Coastal Storm Awareness Program found that the fault may be in the way hurricane warnings are communicated: people are more likely to listen to local experts, friends and family, and make judgements based on the behavior of their community. A Wisconsin Sea Grant and National Weather Service partnership is exploring how the methods of communicating severe weather warnings, such as hurricane warnings, could help explain why people who are economically disadvantaged are disproportionately impacted by severe weather.

 

Once warnings have been received, adequate preparation and sometimes evacuation, are necessary for hurricane safety and resiliency. Consider participating in Hurricane Preparedness Week by making a plan for action now. Start by exploring resources offered by the National Weather Service and by many Sea Grant programs to help communities prepare for hurricane season, such as evacuation maps, homeowner’s handbooks, and other preparedness resources. Follow the tips provided by the National Weather Service’s Weather Ready Nation program.

 

Hurricane Preparedness Week is part of the National Weather Service’s initiative called Weather Ready Nation. NOAA Sea Grant and many Sea Grant programs are Weather Ready Nation Ambassadors.

 

Related Posts
Oysters in a pair of gloved hands
Announcements

NOAA Sea Grant Develops 5-Year Aquaculture Investment Plan

Year-over-year, Sea Grant is committed to supporting aquaculture development across the nation, as a means of enhancing economic resilience and nutritional security in American communities. Sea Grant recently developed a five-year Aquaculture Investment Plan to guide its efforts in supporting aquaculture research, extension and education.

Read More >
(top left) A hand holding a pen traces a map for determining flood risk; (top right) an aerial view of waterfront property flooding; (bottom left) a walkway to docked fishing boats on the left and right; (bottom right) a person speaking and pointing to a flipchart while other participants listen.
Climate

NOAA Sea Grant Advances Resilient Coastal Communities with $4 Million in Support

Sea Grant programs across the U.S. are scaling up capacity to support additional hands-on, collaborative engagement to advance the sustainability of coastal and Great Lakes communities. Sea Grant awarded $4 million in fiscal year 2023 funds to its grant-based programs nationwide to continue or expand ongoing work or address new opportunities for coastal climate adaptation and resilience for the communities that Sea Grant serves.

Read More >
Scroll to Top