What's a building code?
Modern building codes ensure your home is built using the latest practices and standards. Use this tool to determine codes used in your community, and how to contact your local government if they don't.
If you are in an evacuation zone that is ordered to evacuate by local authorities or in a flood zone, you should evacuate no matter what. If you are not in any of these areas, then it may be safer for you to stay in your home. While it is the responsibility of the homeowner to know if their home is strong enough to withstand a hurricane, generally homes built after 2002 include features that make them more resilient to hurricanes. There are also improvements you can make to your home to strengthen it against future storms.
The greatest threat to life from a hurricane is storm surge flooding, so if you are in an ordered evacuation zone, low-lying flood area or in a mobile home, the life-safety risk of a hurricane will be greater than the risk of COVID-19 exposure. On the other hand, if you are not in an ordered evacuation zone, low-lying flood prone area, mobile home or unsafe structure, then it may be safer to stay in your home. Always heed the advice and orders of local officials during a storm.
The most important precaution you can take to reduce damage to your home and property is to protect the areas where wind can enter. According to recent wind technology research, it's important to strengthen the exterior of your house so wind and debris do not tear large openings in it.
Non-congregate sheltering will be used when possible. Overall, the CDC is encouraging every county to use smaller shelters of less than 50 people when possible. Regardless of the number of people in a shelter, the CDC and American Red Cross recommend a minimum of 60 square feet per person. The state is recommending that counties screen all clients before entering. If rapid testing is available, it should be used. The state also sent out a statewide survey to hotels to gauge how many businesses would be interested in providing non-congregate sheltering is a hurricane were to threaten a community. It's important to note, the 200 hotels who responded to the survey are not actively sheltering individuals. They expressed interest in providing sheltering during the upcoming hurricane season. All decisions regarding sheltering during a storm will be decided by local county emergency management. To view the list of hotels that expressed interest, please click here.