Riding Out the Storm: Staying Safe When the Hurricane Finally Arrives

By Haskell L. Moore, W5HLM

President, Hurricane Preparedness Training and Consulting, LLC

For weeks, maybe months, you’ve prepared. You’ve stocked up on supplies, reinforced your home, and made your emergency checklists. But once the hurricane itself arrives, the preparation phase ends, and the survival phase begins. At that point, your mission is simple and absolute: keep your family, pets, and yourself safe until the storm passes.

While every hurricane brings its own personality—different speeds, rainfall amounts, and damage patterns—the fundamentals of riding out a storm remain the same. This article will walk you through what to expect, how to shelter effectively, and what lessons we’ve learned from some of the worst storms in recent history.

Finding the Safest Place in Your Home