(WAVY) – Whether you evacuate or ride out a storm at home, you should consider several factors. First, and foremost, safety should be the number one priority for your family.
Staying Home
If you are not going to evacuate and decide to ride out a storm at your home, you should prepare your house for the worst by doing the following:
- fill sinks, bathtubs, and buckets with water
- freeze water bottles or cups of ice
- bring all outdoor lawn furniture inside
- test and prepare generators
- only use a generator outdoors (avoid garages too)
- photograph your home inside and outside for insurance verification
During the height of the storm when winds are the strongest, seek shelter in an interior room, away from windows. Make sure you have sturdy shoes on.
Evacuating
If authorities tell you to evacuate, you should follow their orders. Ignoring an evacuation mandate could put you and your family in danger. Rescuers may not be able to get to you, and it may be too late to evacuate once a storm approaches or arrives.
Before you leave make sure you:
- fill all your vehicles with gasoline
- withdraw cash
- take important documents, photo albums
- lock all doors, windows and close interior doors of all rooms
- shut off power, gas, and water
- pack extra food and water, snacks for traffic backups
- know recommended evacuation routes
Evacuation Routes
If officials order an evacuation for your area, use one of these designated routes. Become familiar with these routes and plan to leave early to avoid major traffic delays. Be careful using GPS routing as it may take you onto back roads that are not suitable for large amounts of traffic.
Peninsula
- Interstate 64 West
- Interstate 664 North
- U.S. Route 17 North
- U.S. Route 60 West
- Route 143
Southside
- 264 West and Interstate 64 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel
- Interstate 664 North Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel
- U.S. Route 17 North
- U.S. Route 58 West
- U.S. Route 460 West
- Route 10 West
** The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is NOT an evacuation route. For closure information, visit www.cbbt.com.
Eastern Shore
All Eastern Shore residents will use U.S. Route 13 North toward Salisbury, Maryland.
Get Hurricane Ready
Prepare for hurricane season: Getting your home hurricane ready
Prepare for hurricane season: Generator safety
Prepare for hurricane season: Important phone numbers
Prepare for hurricane season: What food and tools to have ready
Prepare for hurricane season: What clothing and documents to have ready
Prepare for hurricane season: What to do with your pets