Water
Portable Water Filter
Floods, outages, evacuation bags, and boil-water advisories.
View on AmazonWhat is coastal surge?
Storm surge is ocean water pushed onto land by storm winds. It is not the same as rain flooding, though both can happen together. Surge can arrive before, during, or after the storm center and can flood areas that are not directly on the beach.
The key danger is timing. Once water covers roads or wind closes bridges, evacuation becomes much harder. National Hurricane Center guidance treats storm surge as one of the most life-threatening hurricane hazards because moving water can rapidly make normal escape routes unusable.
Evacuation zones matter more than distance from the shoreline. A home several miles inland can still be in a surge zone if it is low-lying, connected to tidal water, or near bays, rivers, and canals.
The first-hour decision is whether to leave before routes fail. If local officials issue an evacuation order, leave promptly. If you wait until you see water, you may already be late.
Returning is also a safety decision. Surge water can leave contaminated debris, damaged roads, unstable structures, displaced wildlife, downed lines, and gas leaks. Re-entry should follow official guidance.
First-hour steps
- Check your evacuation zone and official local orders.
- Move inland and to higher ground before bridges, ferries, and low roads close.
- Pack medication, IDs, cash, chargers, pet supplies, water, and waterproof document copies.
- Tell a trusted contact your route and destination before leaving.
- Unplug electronics and lift valuables only if you can do so without delaying evacuation.
- Avoid elevators if water is entering a building; use stairs to move upward.
- Do not return until officials confirm roads, utilities, and buildings are safe.
What NOT to do
Do not stay because a previous storm was survivable.
Do not wait to evacuate until water is visible.
Do not enter attics without a roof escape option during rising water.
Do not walk or drive through surge water unless escape requires it.
Do not return early to check property before officials clear the area.
Do not assume inland areas are safe without checking the evacuation zone map.
