State of Connecticut CT Prepares - Connecticut’s Emergency Management News and Resource Center

Hurricanes

A hurricane is a big storm with thunder, lightning, and very strong winds. A hurricane can have winds of more than 75 miles per hour.

Hurricane Season in Connecticut is June 1 through November 30.

If there is a hurricane warning, take shelter right away or evacuate if you are told to do so by emergency officials. You can learn more about what to do before, during, and after a hurricane online on the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security website.

Before a Hurricane

  • Prepare an emergency kit.
  • Familiarize yourself with hurricane evacuation routes in your area. Determine where you would go and how you would get there if you needed to evacuate.
  • Trim trees and shrubs around your home to make them more wind resistant.
  • Clear clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
  • Bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans, and anything else that is not tied down.
  • Please find additional information for Before a Hurricane on the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security website.

During a Hurricane

  • Stay tuned to the radio and your local news station for official weather information.
  • Follow all instructions and advice given by emergency officials.
  • Stay indoors during a hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.
  • Close all interior doors.
  • Secure and brace all exterior doors.
  • Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level of your residence.
  • If you live in a mobile home, plan to leave. Mobile homes are unsafe in high winds.
  • Do not attempt to evacuate during the height of a hurricane. You are safer batten down in your home than out on the road where flying debris can be hazardous.
  • Please find additional information for During a Hurricane on the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security website.

After a Hurricane

  • Continue to listen for the latest updates on the radio and your local news station regarding extended rainfall and subsequent flooding after the hurricane has ended.
  • If you evacuated your home, only return when officials say it is safe to do so.
  • If you cannot return home and need to stay in a shelter, contact your local Emergency Management Office to find out about shelter locations near you.
  • Drive only if necessary avoiding flooded roads and washed out bridges.
  • Keep away from loose, damaged power lines and report them immediately to the Utility Company.
  • Stay out of any building if you smell gas, if floodwaters remain, or if your home was damaged by fire and the authorities have not declared it safe.
  • Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage both of the building and its contents for insurance purposes. If you have doubts about safety, have your residence inspected by a qualified building inspector or structural engineer before entering.
  • Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it is not contaminated.
  • Please find additional information for After a Hurricane on the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security website.