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Stay safe during a hurricane.

We're here to help protect you before, during and after a natural disaster.

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How to prepare for a natural disaster

We’ve put together a natural disaster action plan with tips to help you stay safe.

  • Create an evacuation plan.
  • Grab your emergency kit.
  • Gather important documents.
  • Photograph your property.
Check out action plan

What to do during a hurricane

What to do during a hurricane

Video Duration: 2 minutes 52 seconds

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If your area is in the path of a hurricane, USAA is here to offer support. The safety of you and your family is our top priority. In conjunction with IBHS (Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety), here are some tips. To stay safe, it's important to have a plan of action that covers the storm and afterwards.

Prepare Your Family and Home: Elapsed time 19 seconds [00:19]

Make sure you have a way to track the storm's movements. You'll want to choose reliable sources for getting your local forecast. You'll also need several ways to get storm alerts, such as from a weather radio or mobile device. It's a good idea to enable wireless emergency alerts in your cell phone's settings.

Pack your survival kit. This should have water, nonperishable food, essentials ranging from diapers to pet carriers, flashlights and device chargers as well as first-aid items and any medications.

If you have time, include copies of important documents and an up-to-date, written inventory of the items in your home.Use your smartphone to capture video or photographs of its interior.

Gather up loose outdoor items. You'll also want to secure things like patio furniture, trash cans and trampolines to the ground.

If it's safe to do so, check that your gutters and downspouts are clear and could divert rain away from your home. Are sandbags available? They can also help move storm water away.

Park your vehicles in a garage or carport. Close all the doors and windows in your home, including the garage door.

Were you able to install hurricane shutters for the season? Remember to close and lock them. Or, as a last resort, you can use plywood to protect windows.

What if You Need to Evacuate: Elapsed time 1 minute 47 seconds [01:47]

Plan your evacuation route and know your shelter destination. Share the plan with friends or loved ones, making sure you have their contact information.

Fill up your gas tank. You may want to have some cash on hand in case of power outages and if you need to leave your home quickly.

If you need to evacuate, unplug everything in the home except the refrigerator and freezer. Load the car. Once again, make sure that the doors and windows are closed. Then, follow your planned evacuation route, avoiding flood waters.

After the Storm: Elapsed time 2 minutes 20 seconds [02:20]

After the storm, wait until it's safe to go back home. If you need to file a catastrophe claim, USAA will be ready to help — every step of the way. To get started online, you can select the “File a claim” button on the top of this page. After filing, check your claims status anytime on usaa.com or through the USAA Mobile App.

For more guidance on staying safe during a hurricane, download our Hurricane Preparedness and Evacuation checklists on this page. Description of visual information: [USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its affiliates. Copyright ©2022 NC-0722] End of description.

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Hurricane safety tips

Be prepared to safely leave during a hurricane or other natural disaster with these tips from our evacuation guide.

Indoor safety

If trapped in a flooded building, move to the highest level but avoid closed attics. For high winds, go to a designated storm shelter or a windowless room on the lowest floor.

Outdoor safety

If there is a safe building nearby, get inside immediately. Avoid bridges over fast-moving water. Don't walk, swim or drive through floodwaters.

Pet evacuation

To make sure your pets are ready for evacuation, use our pet checklist. They should have food and medication. And try to update your livestock evacuation plan.

Read evacuation guide

More safety tips during a hurricane

Here are some tips to help you stay safe during a hurricane. For a complete list, review our checklist.

  • Close windows and doors to protect roof.
  • Cover windows with storm shutters or plywood.
  • Create a survival kit. Include things like water, flashlights and extra batteries.
  • Fill water bottles for drinking, bathtub and sinks for flushing or laundry.
  • Have enough fuel and use a portable generator safely outdoors.
  • In case of evacuation, keep your gas tank full and find an open shelter.
  • Charge your mobile device and sign up for emergency alerts.
  • Learn to use sandbags.
  • Move your vehicle to higher ground to help protect from flooding.
  • Put important documents in waterproof containers.
  • Secure outdoor items to prevent damage.
  • Unplug appliances to avoid power surges.

How to stay safe after a hurricane

If you’ve experienced storm damage, you probably have questions about the next steps. Always keep in mind that your safety comes first.

For help staying safe after a hurricane, check out these . 

Other safety tips

  • Communicate with family and friends via text or  social media because phone lines may be busy.
  • Be aware of sagging floors and ceilings. It means they are wet and may be heavy and dangerous.
  • Protect yourself from harmful bacteria, airborne inhalation hazards and electrical hazards. 
  • Protect yourself from infectious diseases by using insect repellent.
  • Prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Use generators, stoves and grills outside, away from windows and doors.
  • Use antibiotic ointment for abrasions or cuts and cover them up as best you can to avoid infections.
Coming home from a storm

Video Duration: 1 minute 3 seconds

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If you've suffered damage in a storm, you probably have questions about what to do next.

Keep in mind at all times that your safety comes first.

Please use caution before returning to the damaged area.

It's best to keep kids and pets away from the area until you've been able to inspect it.

If you can, protect your property from further damage.

Be sure to take photos of any damage before you remove debris or make repairs.

If you spot mildew on you walls or base boards, use a mixture of water and detergent to scrub it away.

Avoid making permanent repairs until your assigned claims adjuster has assessed the damage.

Finally, save your receipts for what you spend while you're displaced. This will make it easier to report your claim.

We're here for you around the clock to help you file your claim digitally or over the phone.

For more information, visit usaa.com/hurricanehelp.

End: Elapsed time 1 minutes 3 seconds [1:03]

What to do after a hurricane

Know your rights and protect finances.

If you use a contractor outside of our network, they may ask you to allow them to work directly with us on your claim. It can be convenient, but you may lose control of the claim.

Contact us before signing any documents with a third party.

Inspect property and assess damage.

If you find damage, take photos and file a claim. Check for water leaks, especially in ceilings. Save receipts for temporary repairs and avoid permanent repairs until your claims adjuster checks the damage. 

Check out more .

Property inspection tips

You may need to take action right away to avoid further damage to your property. Only do what you can do safely on your own. Consider hiring professionals for anything else.

  • Protect your property from further damage by covering roof openings, broken windows or doors with tarps or plywood, and save receipts for what you spend. You can submit your receipts to possibly get reimbursed as part of your insurance claim.
  • If you have standing water in your basement and can pump the water out yourself, make sure you do it gradually to avoid structural damage. If the water is pumped out too quickly, pressure from the wet soil outside could cause basement walls to collapse.
  • Damaged sewage systems are health hazards. Service damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits and leaching systems as soon as possible.
  • It's important to dry out your home, including furniture and drywall, as soon as possible to avoid mold. Mold cleanup can be difficult and dangerous. Even though your flood policy may not cover the cost, consider hiring an experienced professional certified by the National Environmental Health Association.
  • After wind and rain, your roof might be damaged and leaking. Insurance doesn't typically cover the cost of an independent inspection. But it may still be worth hiring a licensed contractor to inspect your roof right away.
  • If you don't have flood insurance, you may qualify for disaster assistance through FEMA. They may be able to provide disaster assistance for things like medical and dental expenses, childcare, essential household items, moving, storage, and some clean-up items.

File claims for vehicle damage.

If there’s damage, take photos before removing debris or making temporary repairs. For auto glass damage, file an auto glass claim. For other damage, file an auto claim. Save receipts for temporary repairs to get reimbursed.

Clean up water and mold.

Water can damage your property, so it's important to clean it up as soon as possible. Try to dry your home and belongings within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold. Review our water cleanup checklist.

Manage post-hurricane stress.

Recovering from a hurricane can be extremely stressful. These tips can help you and your loved ones know what to look for.To manage post-hurricane stress Taking things one step at a time can make the process feel more manageable.

How to file a natural disaster claim

Try to report your claim as soon as possible. This helps you get a contractor early, avoiding long wait times to hear from them.

Steps to complete How to file a natural disaster claim

  1. Report your claim

    Tell us what happened. Get started on usaa.com or the USAA Mobile App.

  2. Get more details

    We’ll review what happened and check what your policy covers. You can also add more details in My Claims Center.

  3. Evaluate the claim

    We’ll go over the details and figure out what to pay based on your coverage and deductible.

  4. Settle the claim

    If covered, we’ll make a payment to you or a third party.

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Related footnotes:

  1. Safety guidelines are not intended to be all inclusive, but are provided for your consideration. Please use your own judgment to determine what safety features/procedures should be used in each unique situation.

  2. Property and casualty insurance underwritten by United Services Automobile Association (USAA), USAA Casualty Insurance Company, USAA General Indemnity Company, Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company, NOBLR Reciprocal Exchange, based in San Antonio, Texas; USAA S.A. (Europe), and USAA S.A. UK Branch (United Kingdom) and is available only to persons eligible for property and casualty group membership. Each company has sole financial responsibility for its own products.

    Coverages subject to the terms and conditions of the policy.

  3. Membership eligibility and product restrictions apply and are subject to change.

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