11 Things You Should Never Do During a Hurricane

Hurricanes have a special talent for turning “normal life” into a chaotic reality show: the lights flicker, your phone battery drops from 42% to 3% in what feels like one dramatic gust, and suddenly you’re negotiating with a cooler like it’s a long-term roommate. In the middle of all that, the most dangerous mistakes aren’t always the dramatic ones they’re the “eh, it’ll probably be fine” decisions.

This guide is your do-not-do list for hurricane survival: the stuff that gets people hurt, traps families in bad situations, or turns a manageable storm into a life-altering mess. I’ll keep it real, specific, and (when appropriate) slightly funnybecause fear doesn’t need help, but clarity does.

Quick reality check: what a hurricane can do (even when it doesn’t “look that bad”)

Hurricanes aren’t just wind. They’re a combo platter of hazards: storm surge and coastal waves, heavy rainfall and inland flooding, tornadoes, rip currents, and long power outages. That matters because the “safe” choice in one neighborhood might be the worst choice five miles away. Your job is to follow official instructions and avoid the classic mistakes that show up every single storm season.

Table of contents

1. Ignore evacuation orders or storm surge warnings
2. Go outside “just to check” (especially during the eye)
3. Drive through floodwater or around barricades
4. Walk or wade in floodwater (yes, even “shallow” water)
5. Shelter in the wrong spot (windows, big rooms, or the “glass vibe” corner)
6. Open windows to “equalize pressure”
7. Tape an X on your windows and call it hurricane-proofing
8. Use generators, grills, or camp stoves indoors (carbon monoxide risk)
9. Use sketchy electricity tricks (wet cords, backfeeding, “it worked last time”)
10. Climb into a closed attic to escape rising water
11. Leave pets outside, loose, or “they’ll be fine”

11 Things You Should Never Do During a Hurricane

1) Never ignore evacuation orders or storm surge warnings

If local officials tell you to evacuate, treat it like a fire alarmnot a suggestion. Evacuation orders are often tied to storm surge risk, and storm surge can push water inland fast and hard. The scariest part is how normal it can look right before it isn’t.

People skip evacuation for understandable reasons: traffic nightmares, pets, money, fear of looting, “my house made it through the last one,” or a relative who says hurricanes are “overhyped.” But storm surge doesn’t care about family group chats.

Do this instead:

• Leave early if told to evacuateroads get worse, not better.
• Go to a safer inland location (friends/family, a hotel, or an official shelter).
• If you can’t evacuate, move to your safest interior space and keep monitoring official alerts.

2) Never go outside “just to check” (especially during the eye)

Hurricanes love tricks. One of the biggest: the calm period when the eye passes over. It can feel like the storm is “done,” but the dangerous winds returnoften from the opposite direction and can ramp up quickly. Also: flying debris doesn’t send a warning text.

Going outside during high winds is how people get hit by branches, metal roofing, signs, and all the random items that turned into airborne projectiles. Even after it looks calmer, hazards can still be activedowned lines, unstable trees, hidden flooding.

Do this instead:

• Stay indoors until officials give the all-clear.
• If you must move around the home, do it quickly and away from windows.
• Keep shoes ondebris on the floor is a sneaky injury-maker.

3) Never drive through floodwater or around barricades

“I’ve got a truck” is not a superpower. Driving through floodwater is one of the most common ways storms turn deadlybecause you can’t see what’s under the water. The road might be washed out. A ditch can become a surprise swimming pool. And moving water can push a vehicle off the road.

The National Weather Service’s “Turn Around Don’t Drown” message exists for a reason: it only takes a small amount of rushing water to cause a huge problem. And barricades? They’re not decorations. They’re a polite, government-issued “Nope.”

Do this instead:

• Stay put unless you’re evacuating under official guidance.
• Choose higher routes and avoid low-lying roads, bridges, and underpasses.
• If you hit water on the road: turn around, find another route.

4) Never walk or wade in floodwater (yes, even “shallow” water)

Floodwater is not just “water that’s in a weird place.” It can hide sharp debris, open manholes, downed electrical lines, and contaminated runoff. It can also move faster than it looksespecially near drains, ditches, and flowing streets.

And if you’re thinking, “I’ll just step outside for a second,” remember: one misstep on unseen debris can cut you, and floodwater plus cuts is not a combo anyone wants.

Do this instead:

• Stay out of floodwater entirely whenever possible.
• If water is rising inside, move to a higher levelthen signal for help as needed.
• Keep kids and pets far away from any standing or moving water.

5) Never shelter in the wrong spot (windows, big rooms, or the “glass vibe” corner)

During the storm, your safest place is typically a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level that is not at risk of flooding. Big open rooms (like living rooms with large windows) give wind and debris more chances to cause injury. Windows and glass doors are the obvious danger zone.

If you’re in a multi-story building and you’re not in a surge/flood area, you generally want to be low enough to avoid wind exposure but high enough to avoid rising water. That’s why local guidance mattersyour exact risk depends on where you are.

Do this instead:

• Pick a “safe room” ahead of time: interior, small, few/no windows.
• Bring essentials in: water, snacks, meds, flashlights, phone chargers, and a battery radio.
• Keep helmets handy for kids (bike helmets work) if winds are extreme and debris risk is high.

6) Never open windows to “equalize pressure”

This myth just won’t quit. Opening windows doesn’t protect your house; it invites wind and debris inside. In strong storms, wind-driven rain can turn your living room into a splash zone, and wind entering your home can increase damage. The safest move is to keep windows closed and stay away from them.

Do this instead:

• Keep windows and exterior doors closed.
• Stay in your interior shelter area during peak winds.
• If you have shutters or pre-installed storm protection, use it (before conditions worsen).

7) Never tape an X on your windows and call it hurricane-proofing

It feels productive. It looks “prepared.” It also doesn’t stop windborne debris from breaking glass. And depending on the situation, it can create larger, more dangerous shards if the window fails. If you don’t have shutters or proper window protection, the best “during the storm” defense is distance: stay away from glass and shelter inside.

Do this instead:

• Use proper window protection (shutters/panels) before the storm if you have it.
• During the storm, stay far from windowscurtains and blinds closed.
• Focus on safety, not aesthetics. Hurricanes don’t grade your tape lines.

8) Never use generators, grills, or camp stoves indoors (carbon monoxide risk)

When the power goes out, people get creative. Unfortunately, carbon monoxide (CO) is a silent, invisible hazard that can build up fast in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces. Running a generator in a garageeven with the door open is not safe. Neither is using charcoal grills or camp stoves indoors for cooking.

If you remember one thing from this entire article, make it this: fuel-burning equipment belongs outside, far from doors, windows, and vents.

Do this instead:

• Run generators outdoors only, well away from the home, with exhaust pointed away.
• Use battery-powered lanterns/flashlights for light.
• Keep a battery-backed CO alarm if possible, and take alarms seriously.

9) Never use sketchy electricity tricks (wet cords, backfeeding, “it worked last time”)

Hurricanes and electricity are a terrible duo. Water conducts electricity, and storm damage can create hidden hazards: wet outlets, frayed cords, downed lines, and damaged breakers. One especially dangerous move is “backfeeding” (plugging a generator into a wall outlet) to power the house. It can energize lines you don’t control, endangering utility workers and neighborsand it can start fires.

Also: if you’re standing in water, do not handle electrical equipment. That’s not a “be careful” situation; that’s a “don’t do it” situation.

Do this instead:

• If flooding is present, avoid electricity and follow official guidance about shutting off power.
• Plug appliances directly into a generator or use heavy-duty outdoor-rated cords (dry and intact).
• Stay far away from downed power linesassume they’re live.

10) Never climb into a closed attic to escape rising water

This one is deeply counterintuitive: when water rises, people go up. But a closed attic can become a trap if floodwater keeps rising. Rescue teams may not see you, and you may not have a way out. If you’re trapped by flooding, the guidance you’ll often hear is: go to the highest level you can safely reach, avoid a closed attic, and only go onto the roof if necessarythen signal for help.

The goal is to stay alive and visible, not wedged in a place that turns into a sealed box.

Do this instead:

• Move to higher ground early if officials warn of flooding or storm surge.
• If trapped, go to a higher level with a way to be seen and to exit if needed.
• Call for help when you can and conserve phone battery (low-power mode is your friend).

11) Never leave pets outside, loose, or “they’ll be fine”

Pets don’t understand evacuation zones, storm surge maps, or why the backyard suddenly looks like a swimming pool. During hurricanes, animals can panic and bolt, get injured by debris, or be swept away by water. The safest choice is simple: keep pets inside with you, under direct control, and include them in your plan.

Also, if you’re evacuating, don’t wait until the last minute to figure out where your pet can go. Many shelters and hotels have specific rules. The earlier you plan, the fewer “surprise problems” you’ll have when time matters most.

Do this instead:

• Bring pets indoors early and keep leashes/carriers ready.
• Pack pet food, meds, and vet records in a waterproof bag.
• Choose a pet-friendly destination before the storm arrives.

In-the-moment hurricane survival: a simple “do this instead” cheat sheet

• Follow official instructions. Evacuate when told. Shelter smart when told to stay.
• Stay inside. Avoid windows. Don’t go out during the eye. Wait for the all-clear.
• Respect water. Don’t drive through it. Don’t walk in it. Don’t assume it’s shallow.
• Avoid carbon monoxide. Generators and grills stay outsidefar outside.
• Don’t gamble with electricity. Water + wires is a hard no.
• Keep your crew together. Family communication plan, pets included.

Real-world hurricane experiences (the kind people don’t forget)

If you’ve ever talked to someone who’s lived through a major hurricane, you’ll notice something: they don’t usually start with the wind speed category. They start with the moments. The sound of something heavy scraping across the roof. The sudden quiet that felt “safe” until a neighbor yelled, “Get back inside!” The weird realization that your flashlight batteries are the wrong sizeagain.

One common story is the “quick outside check” that turns into a near-miss. People step onto the porch to look, and a trash can rockets past like it’s late for an appointment. Or a tree limb snaps without warning. Survivors often say the storm’s danger feels obvious in hindsightbut in the moment, curiosity can feel harmless. That’s why the rule “stay inside until the all-clear” matters. It removes the decision fatigue.

Another experience that comes up a lot: water that rises faster than expected. Someone notices a little seepage under a door, thinks it’s manageable, and then the street becomes a moving river. This is where people learn the hard lesson that floodwater isn’t just a “car problem”it’s a “whole neighborhood” problem. The folks who do best are the ones who moved early, stayed out of water entirely, and didn’t try to drive through it. The phrase “Turn Around Don’t Drown” isn’t dramatic; it’s practical.

Carbon monoxide scares show up in hurricane stories more than people realize. After a long outage, someone runs a generator too close to the house, or in a garage because it’s raining, and suddenly people feel dizzy and sick. The danger is that it can feel like stress, fatigue, or “storm flu”until it becomes an emergency. Families who had CO alarms (and listened to them) often say those alarms were the MVP of the whole week.

And then there are the “myths we believed” moments: the taped windows, the cracked window for “pressure,” the assumption that inland means safe, the plan to “ride it out” with no supplies. Hurricanes have a way of revealing which habits are real preparedness and which ones are just hurricane-themed décor. The good news is you don’t need perfectionyou need a few smart rules and the humility to follow guidance.

Finally, people often mention petsbecause pets change your decision-making. Many families admit they delayed leaving because they didn’t know where their animals could go. Others remember the relief of having a carrier ready, tags updated, and a pet-friendly place lined up. The storm is stressful enough without adding “Where’s the cat?” to the plot. If there’s a lesson here, it’s that hurricane safety is about removing avoidable problems before they become emergencies.