Helene checklist: How to prepare for the hurricane

CNN
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If you haven't prepared yet, now is the time. Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall Thursday evening along Florida's Gulf Coast near Tallahassee and then turn north, maintaining hurricane and tropical storm-force winds and torrential rains as far north as northern Georgia and as far south as Tennessee. Up to 18 inches of rain is expected in the Carolinas, the National Weather Service said Thursday.

According to Brandon Miller, CNN's chief meteorologist, about 40 million Americans in five states are living under a direct hurricane or tropical storm warning.

Most areas will experience the brunt of the storm overnight. This requires special preparations.

“If someone goes to bed at 9 or 10 tonight, it might not seem so bad. It's just a little windy, maybe 20 to 30 mph wind and rain. But at 2 or 3 a.m., those winds will potentially reach 50 to 60 miles per hour, and that's why you need to prepare for that before you go to sleep,” Miller said.

Miller recommends turning up the volume on your phone or watch so you can hear any emergency alerts. It's also a good idea to make sure these devices are close to you and fully charged. Many areas are expected to experience power outages overnight and strong winds may prevent crews from beginning restoration work.

Heavy rains can wet the ground and strong winds can cause trees to fall. That's why it's a good idea to sleep in a part of your house away from tall trees if possible.

“This is something people can do: pick a room in their house that is most protected from falling debris and sleep there tonight,” Miller said. In the event the storm produces tornadoes, which is likely, Miller recommends sleeping on the ground floor, indoors, away from windows.

Here are some other things you can do now to prepare and keep your family safe:

Check the location of the nearest emergency shelters. The Red Cross keeps a map.
Pack a bag or box. Grab it when you need to leave the house quickly. Here's what should be inside.
Create digital copies of all important documents. It might be important to simply take a photo of your driver's license with your phone.
Secure outside items. Strong winds can turn outdoor objects into projectiles. Store garden furniture and place plants in it.
Stock up on non-perishable foods. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says to plan for a three-day supply of food per person and per pet.
Be prepared for how you will use this food. Choose staple foods that won't spoil in a power outage. Grind your coffee beans or get instant coffee. Buy long-life milk or individual spice packets. Consider using paper plates and plastic utensils.
Have a basic first aid kit on hand. The Red Cross has some recommendations on what should be included.
Also have tools ready. You may need a Swiss Army knife or Leatherman tool, a wrench or keys to turn off utilities, or a saw to work on tree branches.
Find your flashlights and insert new batteries.
Fully charge all phones, tablets and computers. Download movies and TV shows to a tablet to stay sane in the event of an extended power outage and heavy rains.
Have a backup power supply for your electronics, such as a power bank. Make sure you have charging cables for your devices in your car.
Fill your gas tank or charge your electric vehicle.
Prepare your generator. If you use a backup generator for power, make sure you have fuel and never use it indoors. Here you can find out more about the safe use of emergency generators.
Have a way to receive emergency information that doesn't need to be plugged in. FEMA recommends battery-powered or hand-cranked radios. If you have a low bandwidth connection, you can use CNN's Lite site.

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