It's been an unusually quiet hurricane season so far.
But that may change with Hurricane Gabrielle taking aim at Bermuda in the coming days and more than two months left before the 2025 storm season officially comes to a close.
Wondering how to stay safe? The University of Georgia's Alyssa Ragan, from the UGA Institute for Disaster Management, answers common questions surrounding hurricane preparedness.
"Our forecast models are getting better, but the exact location where a storm will hit and the extent of its impact are largely unknown until it actually happens. That's why it's so important to be prepared."
What should go in a hurricane emergency kit?
A hurricane emergency kit doesn't differ much from your standard all-hazards emergency kit. The main difference is the amount of supplies.
The advice is usually three days' worth of supplies, but with recent storms, we've seen people trapped in their homes with no communication for a week or even longer. So, consider closer to a week's worth of food, water, and necessities, if you are able - especially infant and child items like diapers and formula. If you are evacuating, be sure to bring those items with you and plan on the trip taking a lot longer than average traffic times.
Another thing to think about for hurricanes is alternate power sources. If you don't have a generator, are there battery packs or other alternate sources you can use to charge your devices?
I would also recommend having a pet-specific emergency kit. This can be a bag or box you keep nearby with things like pet food, collars and leashes, paw wax, medications, shampoo, medical records, etc.
Where can I find reliable information and alerts about a storm?
The National Hurricane Center within the National Weather Service is a good source.
You should also follow your local county and city officials on social media, as well as your county or state emergency management agency. Opt in to as many channels of communication as possible. That can be texts, emails, calls, social media, and television.
Keep in mind that forecasts are still just predictions. Even if you're outside of the cone, you may still be impacted.
Should I evacuate or stay home during a hurricane?
Every storm is different. You shouldn't base your decision on the category of the storm. These are helpful to understand wind speeds, but a Category 1 and Cat. 2 storm can be just as or more dangerous than Cat. 4 or 5 storms.
Either way, you want to make your decision at least a day or two before tropical storm force winds (39 mph and up) are going to be in your area. Always listen to your local officials and heed their warnings if they're issuing a mandatory evacuation.
Where is the safest place in my home to shelter?
Typically, you want to be on the lowest level, the most interior part of your home, away from windows. If you experience flooding, you would want to get to a higher level, if possible. Be sure that if you go up, you have a way to get out. Have a hammer, saw, or something heavy that can punch a hole in the roof.
What are some common misconceptions about hurricanes?
A common mistake I see is solely relying on the hurricane category rating to predict a storm's impact. The category of hurricanes is a rating based on maximum sustained windspeed. But you don't just want to focus solely on wind. You want to consider how much rain and water a storm might bring, too. Some of the most destructive hurricanes we've seen have been lower on the scale because they've moved slowly and brought so much water with them.
