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Be Prepared to Weather the Storm: Steps You can Take Now Before the Hurricane Season Begins

Whether you live along the coast or far inland, hurricanes can cause significant damage through strong winds, storm surges, tornadoes and flooding caused by heavy rainfall. With the Atlantic hurricane season upon us—June 1 through Nov. 30—now is the time to prepare.

The National Weather Service has developed a robust resource for hurricane preparedness. Follow these guidelines to plan before the season begins and prepare for an approaching storm.

Know Your Hurricane Risk

Determine the risk of water, rain and wind hazards in your region. Do you live in a hurricane-prone area? Are you located in a flood zone? At risk for tornadoes?

Write An Emergency Plan

Don’t wait until you’re under the pressure of an imminent storm to make a hard copy of your emergency plan. Have an essential contact list of family, friends, doctors, vet—including the number to report power outages — 1-877-737-2662.

Review Your Insurance Policies

Make sure you have enough insurance coverage to repair damages to your home, car or boat, and consider adding flood insurance if you don’t already have it.

Develop an Evacuation Plan

Once you determine if you live in an evacuation zone, be sure to follow all evacuation orders, plan for several options of where to go and how to get there and have a go-bag of supplies ready.

Gather Emergency Supplies

Make a list of supplies to gather and purchase well in advance of the approaching storm or inclement weather.

  • Food and water for each family member for a minimum of three days
  • Filled prescriptions and other medicines
  • Radio, batteries, flashlights (not candles)
  • Fully charged phones and back up chargers including one for your car
  • Full tank of gas
  • Cash on hand
  • Pet supplies
  • Masks and hand sanitizer
  • Additional recommended items

Protect Your Home

If you are not required to evacuate, and will remain in your home during the hurricane, you should still take steps to protect yourself and your home from storm damage, such as covering windows and securing doors, trimming trees, securing loose outdoor items and moving your vehicle to a safe location.

Help Your Neighbors

Now more than ever, we need to look out for each other. Check with your neighbors, especially seniors or others in need of additional help, to assist them with their emergency plans, particularly collecting supplies, securing their homes and helping them evacuate.

If The Power Goes Out

When power goes out, Pepco’s restoration process begins as soon as conditions are safe for our professionals and crews. We are committed to resolving outages as quickly as possible for our customers. Visit the Storm Center to learn more about what you can do in the event you do lose power during a storm.