Hurricane Isaias: 10 Ways to Prepare Before the Storm Hits

Hurricane Isaias is gaining strength in the Gulf, and the window to prepare is closing fast.

Isaias is headed for a Gulf Coast landfall Friday night, bringing storm surge, flooding rain and high winds before spreading heavy rain inland across the East this weekend. As of Thursday morning, Isaias had sustained winds of 85 mph and was centered just under 400 miles south-southwest of New Orleans, moving east-northeast at 10 mph.

Forecasters say preparations to protect life and property from damaging winds and storm surge should be finished by tonight. Whether you live on the coast or farther inland, here are 10 ways to get ready.

1. Know Your Evacuation Zone

Start with the most important question: Do you live in an evacuation zone? Know if you live in one and where you'd go if local officials ask you to leave. Plan how you'd get there and where you'd stay, whether that's a shelter, a hotel or a friend's home outside the risk area.

If officials order an evacuation, leave. Don't wait to see how bad the storm gets.

2. Stock Up on Water and Food

Have at least three days of drinking water and nonperishable food for everyone in your household, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency urges residents. A good rule of thumb is about one gallon of water per person per day.

Choose foods that don't need cooking or refrigeration, such as canned goods, peanut butter, crackers and granola bars. Don't forget a manual can opener.

3. Gather Medications and Essentials

Make sure you have medications, a first-aid kit, batteries, important documents and other essential supplies. Refill prescriptions now if you can, since pharmacies may close during and after the storm.

Flashlights are safer than candles during a power outage, so check that yours work and have spare batteries on hand.

4. Protect Important Documents

Gather insurance policies, IDs, medical records and other important paperwork. Zip-top freezer bags work well for keeping documents dry, and a permanent marker makes it easy to label each one.

One popular hurricane hack is to empty your dishwasher and use it as a makeshift waterproof safe for those bags. Taking photos of documents and storing them in the cloud adds another layer of protection.

5. Charge Everything

Fully charge cell phones, portable battery packs and other essential devices before the storm arrives. Be prepared for power outages that could last several hours or even multiple days.

A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can keep you updated if cell service goes down.

6. Secure Outdoor Items

Strong winds can turn everyday items into dangerous projectiles. Bring outdoor furniture, grills, trash cans and other loose objects inside, or tie them down securely.

7. Clear Drains and Prepare for Flooding

Clean leaves and debris out of gutters and storm drains so rainwater has somewhere to go. Sandbags can help keep water away from doors and low spots.

Some communities are already handing them out. In Panama City, Florida, residents and businesses can fill up to 10 sandbags each through Friday night. Check with your city or county to see whether sandbags are available near you.

8. Make Extra Ice

If the power goes out, ice will help keep food cold longer. Fill freezer bags with ice cubes, or freeze bottles of water, which double as ice packs and drinking water once they melt.

If anyone in your household relies on medication that needs refrigeration, keep a separate cooler just for those.

9. Fill the Bathtub

Filling your bathtub with water before the storm gives you a backup supply for flushing toilets and cleaning if water service is disrupted. Don't drink it, though. Stick to your bottled supply for that.

10. Stay Out of Floodwater

Flooding is often the deadliest part of a tropical system, and Isaias could bring 6 to 10 inches of rain to parts of the Gulf Coast. Never drive or walk through floodwater. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock a person down, and 1 foot can sweep away a car. Remember the phrase "turn around, don't drown."

That warning applies far beyond the coast. People from the Southeast up to the Appalachians, Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic should watch for flash flooding this weekend.

Stay Informed

Conditions can change quickly, so keep checking updates from the National Hurricane Center and your local emergency management office. You can also find detailed checklists and planning tools at Ready.gov.

Taking these steps now, before the wind and rain arrive, can make a big difference in keeping your family safe through the storm and its aftermath.

Weather changes fast, so help your community stay prepared. Share this story with friends, family, or your group chat, and keep your forecast in the now with Weather Forecast Now.