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Hurricane evacuations: Don’t leave home without these items

Trooper Steve breaks down items to have packed, ready to go

ORLANDO, Fla. – It’s hard to feel comfortable leaving your home in any emergency situation, but planning for it can make it a bit easier.

[HURRICANE PREP: Mandatory vs. voluntary evacuations: What's the difference? | 5 tips to help protect your home, belongings during flood]

During hurricane season in Florida, you should be ready to leave your home at any moment, considering it's hard to know exactly when disaster could strike.

That's why you should leave well before a storm is expected to hit your area. Being prepared for that starts now.

[MORE: News 6 Hurricane preparedness checklist | These are the best hurricane kits money can buy]

To do that, News 6 Traffic Safety Expert Steven Montiero recommends you have the following items packed in your vehicle before you hit the road to evacuate:

  • Important documents (ID, medical records, hard and electronic copies of photos of each person in your family)
  • Cash
  • Reactive and proactive medicine
  • Enough gas to get to your final destination
  • Games (kid-friendly)
  • Snacks (healthy, energy-providing food)
  • First aid kit
  • Pet supplies
  • Pillow/blanket

Montiero recommends packing for seven days, whether it's for the road or for you to use while sheltering in place.

[WEATHER ALERTS: Who to follow during hurricane season | Get custom weather updates from News 6 meteorologists]

He said it’s also important to remember if you are evacuating, there’s a chance that you may not return to your home or that it may not be in the same condition you left it, depending on how hard it’s hit by a storm.

To learn more about evacuations and ways to prepare your home ahead of a storm, visit ClickOrlando.com/Hurricane.


About the Author
Steve Montiero headshot

Steven Montiero, better known as “Trooper Steve," joined the News 6 morning team as its Traffic Safety Expert in October 2017. A Central Florida native and decorated combat veteran, Montiero comes to the station following an eight-year assignment with the Florida Highway Patrol.

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