If local officials order an evacuation, leave immediately. If you are not ordered to leave, shelter in a small interior room on the lowest level, away from windows. Do not go outside if the eye passes over: the calm is short.
What the warning tells you
The National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning 36 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected. The NWS says all preparations should be complete by then. A watch, which is issued 48 hours before those winds are expected, means hurricane conditions are possible. See our guide on hurricane watch versus warning for the difference.
If you are ordered to evacuate
Follow instructions from local officials and leave immediately if they order an evacuation. NWS advises being prepared to evacuate if you live in a storm surge risk area, and allowing time to pack and tell friends and family. We cannot tell you whether to evacuate. Your local emergency management decides that, and our guide on evacuation zones explains how to find your zone.
If you are not ordered to evacuate
Take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level of the building and put as many walls as you can between you and the outside. Stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors.
The eye is not the end
If the eye of the storm passes over your area there will be a short period of calm. Hurricane-force winds then return rapidly from the opposite direction, so the calm is not a sign the storm has passed.
The wind is not the only danger
The NWS says storm surge has historically been the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the U.S., and it can travel several miles inland along bays, rivers and estuaries. Inland flooding from heavy rain is the second leading cause of deaths from landfalling tropical cyclones and can last for days after the storm weakens. Tornadoes can occur in rain bands away from the center, and dangerous rip currents can occur even when the storm is more than 1,000 miles offshore.
If the power goes out
Never run a generator or camp stove inside your home, basement or garage. See our guide on generator safety and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Stay informed
Monitor your local NWS office and your local government or emergency management website. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or TV for the latest storm news.
A calm during the storm does not mean it is over. If the eye passes over you, strong winds return from the opposite direction.
Check your own location
See current official alerts and the impact for your ZIP code.
Sources
Reviewed by the Storm Incoming editorial team on October 26, 2026. Follow local emergency officials if their instructions differ.