Hurricane Prep and Recovery Plans

Hurricanes are devastating storm systems that must be taken seriously from the moment they develop. As Hurricane Helene demonstrated, these powerful systems can cause life-altering damage in many forms. While these powerful combinations of high winds and heavy rain are forces of nature that can’t be stopped, the havoc they wreak can be reduced before and after they reach land. This can happen through careful preparation and the implementation of a solid hurricane recovery plan.

To learn more, check out the infographic below, created by Augusta University Online, which offers a Master of Public Health program.

Chapter 1: The Impact of a Hurricane

The damage from a hurricane when it makes landfall can be brutal. Its impact can also affect communities and their residents in many ways.

Economic impact
- From 2020 to 2022, the U.S. had 60 weather and climate disasters that exceeded $1 billion in damage.
- From 1980 to August 2023, the estimated damage from U.S.-based weather and climate disasters totaled $2.6 trillion.
- In addition to hurricane damage, damage was caused by:
  - Flooding
  - Severe storms
  - Wildfires [NOAA Office For Coastal Management]
The human cost
- An average of about 100 Americans died from hurricanes each year from 2000 to 2021.
  - The highest number of fatalities occurred during the 2005 hurricane season. [Statista]
Infamous hurricanes
- Hurricane Andrew (August 1992)
  - Made landfall on the southern coast of Florida and the Gulf Coast of the United States
  - Caused significant damage to the Miami, Florida, area
  - Caused substantial damage to south-central Louisiana
  - Caused $27.3 billion in total damage
  - Caused 26 fatalities [National Weather Service 1]
- Hurricane Katrina (August 2005)
  - Made landfall on the northern Gulf Coast
  - Leveled the greater New Orleans, Louisiana, area
  - Inflicted damage in Alabama, Mississippi, and western Florida
  - Caused an estimated $108 billion in damages
  - Was the costliest hurricane in U.S. history
  - Caused 1,833 fatalities [National Weather Service 2]
- Hurricane Ida (November 2021)
  - Made landfall on the northern Gulf Coast, Southeast, and Eastern Seaboard
  - Caused catastrophic damage to southeastern Louisiana [National Weather Service 3]
  - Caused widespread damage in New York City, New York [NYC]
  - Caused $75 billion in damages
  - Caused 87 fatalities [Rainviewer]
- Hurricane Ian (September 2022)
  - Made landfall on the southeastern U.S. coastline
  - Battered South Carolina and North Carolina
  - Caused substantial damage to the Fort Myers, Florida area
  - Caused $50 to $65 billion in total damage
  - Caused approximately 160 fatalities [Britannica]
- Hurricane Helene (September 2024)
  - Made landfall on the southeastern U.S. coastline
  - Caused widespread flooding in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia
  - Inflicted significant damage in western North Carolina
  - Wind, rain-based flooding and storm surges in Mid-Atlantic states caused estimated losses of at least $11 billion
  - Caused approximately $47.5 billion in property losses across 16 states
  - Caused private market insured losses estimated to be between $8 billion and $14 billion [CNN]
  - Caused more than 230 fatalities
    - Deadliest mainland hurricane since Hurricane Katrina [ABC News]

Chapter 2: How to Prepare for a Hurricane

While hurricanes can be disastrous, their destruction can be mitigated through strategic, proactive planning by communities and individuals.

Community Hurricane Planning
- Establish a planning committee.
- Define the committee’s responsibilities.
  - Acquire an appropriate budget.
  - Take location into consideration.
  - Consider community demographics.
  - Develop communication strategies with residents.
- Build a hurricane preparedness plan.
  - Plan components
    - Emergency contact numbers
    - Evacuation maps
    - Designated shelter locations
    - Locations for emergency supplies
- Re-evaluate the plan.
  - Revisit the plan annually to see if any changes are necessary. [Associa]
Business Hurricane Planning
- Develop evacuation plans that include the following:
  - Plan activation conditions
  - Chain of command
  - Delegated emergency functions
  - Evacuation procedures, such as establishing exit routes
  - Methods to account for workers, visitors, and customers
  - Proper equipment
  - Periodic evacuation drills [Operational Safety and Health Administration]
Individual Hurricane Planning
- In the event of a hurricane, prepare to have essential items on hand, such as:
  - Emergency food and water
  - Emergency medicine
  - Safety and personal items
  - Emergency power sources
  - Fire extinguisher
  - Vital documents
    - Medical records
    - Passports
    - Personal identification
    - Wills
- Prepare a vehicle for a quick escape.
- Routinely check news outlets for hurricane updates.
- Contact hospital or first response units regarding any disabled family members or family members with special needs.
- Place pets in a safe place.
- Prepare the home for potential damage.
  - Keep the yard clear of debris.
  - Cover doors and windows.
  - Turn off power.
  - Check carbon monoxide levels. [Centers for Disease Control]
Benefits of Hurricane Preparedness
- Lower damage costs
- Protection of loved ones
- Guarantee of insurance policies being in place and up to date
- Greater peace of mind [Tidal Basin]

Chapter 3: How to Build a Hurricane Recovery Plan

Hurricane preparation can help mitigate damage, but it can’t stop a hurricane from coming. Therefore, having a plan in place to properly recover from a hurricane is crucial.

What’s a Hurricane Recovery Plan?
- A plan that concentrates on restoring and rebuilding communities and businesses after a hurricane
  - Can also apply to other natural disasters [InvenioIT]
- Key components of a recovery plan
  - Risk assessment
    - Evaluating the hazards potentially facing an organization
  - Business impact analysis
    - Assessing how the risks may impact key organizational aspects, such as
      - Finance
      - Operations
      - Reputation
  - Developing recovery objectives
    - Creating realistic recovery goals
    - Building strategies that meet these goals
  - Implementing data restoration strategies
    - Protect and restore on-site and cloud-based data
  - Building communication and notification strategies
    - Connecting with employees and customers about operational status and service restoration
  - Creating a list of roles and responsibilities
    - Designating people for specific tasks
    - Specifying duties associated with each task
  - Testing and Training
    - Developing plans to simulate recovery scenarios
    - Identifying and correcting any plan vulnerabilities [Realized Solutions]

Conclusion

A hurricane recovery plan is an essential part of any hurricane preparation strategy. Having one established can help spell the difference between a slow road and a fast lane to recovery.

Sources
https://coast.noaa.gov/states/fast-facts/hurricane-costs.html
https://www.statista.com/statistics/203729/fatalities-caused-by-tropical-cyclones-in-the-us/
https://www.weather.gov/lch/andrew
https://www.weather.gov/mob/katrina
https://www.weather.gov/lch/2021Ida
https://www.nyc.gov/site/cdbgdr/hurricane-ida/hurricane-ida.page
https://www.weather.gov/lch/2021Ida
https://www.britannica.com/event/Hurricane-Ian-2022
https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/07/business/property-damange-hurricane-helene-47-billion/
https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/hurricane-helene/?id=113931821
https://hub.associaonline.com/blog/how-to-prepare-your-community-for-a-hurricane
https://www.osha.gov/hurricane/preparedness
https://www.cdc.gov/hurricanes/safety/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/before.html
https://www.tidalbasingroup.com/national-hurricane-preparedness-week-2023/
https://invenioit.com/continuity/hurricane-disaster-recovery-plan
https://www.myrsi.com/7-components-disaster-recovery-plan/