Hurricane Preparedness

Louisiana is a wonderful place to live, but our coastal location makes it vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes. Tropical storms hit the coastline an average of twice every three years, with hurricanes occurring once every 2.8 years.

In 2005, our state was devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the deadliest and costliest hurricane in history. Weather patterns are out of our control, but hurricane preparedness is something we can and should manage. To keep your family safe, follow these steps.

Step 1: Assemble an emergency kit.

The contents of your emergency kit should be stored in a cool, dry place in one or two easy-to-carry containers. Your kit should be easily accessible and ready-to-go at a moment’s notice.

For a checklist of suggested emergency kit contents, click here.

Step 2: Develop an emergency communications plan for your family.

In an emergency, cell phones, Internet access, and telephone landlines won’t be reliable. How will you contact your family in an emergency? How will you and your family get to a safe place? Where will you evacuate? These are the types of questions you will answer when you create a communication plan.

Click here to download our template for creating your family emergency communications plan.

Step 3: Stay informed.

In an emergency situation, receiving the right information at the right time can mean the difference between life and death. Have a battery operated radio and spare batteries in your family’s emergency kit.

For a list of other emergency information resources, click here.