Mississippi State Department of Health

Hurricanes and Storms: Plan Ahead for Safety

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Severe weather readiness should begin long before the event occurs. Early preparation can prevent illness and injury, and save lives.

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Plan Ahead

Assemble a disaster supply kit and ensure that you have water and food supplies for three days.
More information →

Medical Preparation

If you have important prescriptions or a chronic illness such as heart or kidney disease, you'll need to take extra steps for safe care in an emergency.

Pets and Evacuation

They're part of your family, too! The Mississippi Board of Animal Health has a guide to ensuring your pet's health and safety if disasters threaten your home.

Power and Cooling Loss

Power outages after a hurricane can mean an extended time without air conditioning. Be prepared to seek a local general population shelter/cooling center until power is restored.

Food Safety

If flooding occurs:

If power/refrigeration is lost:

Floods and Drinking Water Safety

Even a brief loss of water pressure means that your water supply could become contaminated by groundwater. Flood water and storm surges can also contaminate water supplies.

Know Your Water Safety

Boil-water notices: Familiarize yourself with how your local water supplier communicates boil-water notices after a storm or hurricane. There may be several alternatives to be aware of, especially if power is unavailable.

Loss of water pressure: If you receive an official boil-water or water safety notice, or if you notice an interruption significant drop in pressure in your water service, follow the steps below before you drink water or use if for cooking.

Water Disinfection

  • Vigorously boil water for at least a full minute before using.
  • Or disinfect with two drops of unscented chlorine bleach for each quart of clear water, or four drops of bleach for each quart of muddy or dirty water. Let the water stand at least 30 minutes before using.

Flood Water Safety

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, tasteless gas, and is highly poisonous. Take the following precautions to help prevent carbon monoxide poisoning:

MEMA Hurricane Guide

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has assembled a comprehensive hurricane guide, including maps, evacuation information, and important contacts.

Cleanup After a Storm

Storm debris poses its own risks to safety and health. Protect yourself during your cleanup with this information from the CDC.

More Resources



Links referenced on this page
Plan Ahead    https://icongr.am/material/clipboard-check-outline.svg?color=ff0000
More information →    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/44,4799,122,218,html ok
Medical Preparation    https://icongr.am/material/information-outline.svg?color=008844
Medical Preparation: What You Need to Know    http://msdh.ms.gov/page/44,29003,122,218.html ok
Pets and Evacuation    https://icongr.am/material/information-outline.svg?color=008844
Pet Evacuation and Sheltering    https://www.mbah.ms.gov/emergency-programs/evacuation-transportation-sheltering/
Power and Cooling Loss    https://icongr.am/material/lightning-bolt.svg?color=ff0000
shelter/cooling center    https://www.msema.org/shelters-and-safe-rooms/
Find shelters and safe rooms in Mississippi    https://www.msema.org/shelters-and-safe-rooms/
More about heat-related health risks    http://msdh.ms.gov/page/43,3942,98,261.html ok
Food Safety    https://icongr.am/material/fridge-outline.svg?color=ff0000
Floods and Drinking Water Safety    https://icongr.am/material/water-pump.svg?color=ff0000
More about flood water, drinking water, and private wells    http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/index.cfm/44,402,122,292,html ok
Carbon Monoxide    https://icongr.am/material/alert-rhombus.svg?color=ff0000
MEMA Hurricane Guide    https://icongr.am/material/information-outline.svg?color=008844
View the MEMA Hurricane Guide    https://68rd9e.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/Hurricane-Guide-2024-web-version.pdf
Cleanup After a Storm    https://icongr.am/material/broom.svg?color=f99000
Full cleanup information    https://www.cdc.gov/natural-disasters/safety/index.html

Find this page at https://msdh.ms.gov/page/44,2620,122,292.html

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