North Carolina Storm Prep Checklist

North Carolina households can face hurricanes, tropical storms, thunderstorms, winter weather, and utility outages. The right plan depends on your location and household, but the same principle applies everywhere: prepare while ordinary services are still available.

Use official local instructions first. Ready.gov's hurricane guidance and power outage guidance are useful starting points, and local emergency management alerts should guide evacuation and shelter decisions.

Before severe weather

• [ ] Make a household communication and evacuation plan.
• [ ] Sign up for local emergency and utility alerts.
• [ ] Charge phones, power banks, laptops, and other essential electronics.
• [ ] Test backup equipment according to its instructions.
• [ ] Confirm that charging cables match the devices you need.
• [ ] Gather water, nonperishable food, medication, flashlights, a radio, batteries, first-aid supplies, and items specific to children, older adults, pets, or disabilities.
• [ ] Secure outdoor objects and address hazardous limbs through the appropriate property owner or utility.
• [ ] Review insurance documents and photograph important property before damage occurs.

Ready.gov's basic kit guidance recommends at least one gallon of water per person per day for several days. Adjust the kit for your household and local instructions.

When an outage is possible

• [ ] Finish charging every stored battery.
• [ ] Put phones in low-power mode and download information needed offline.
• [ ] Fill vehicle fuel or charge levels before demand increases, if it is safe to do so.
• [ ] Put flashlights and charging equipment in known, accessible places.
• [ ] Identify a safe location with power, heat, or cooling if your home becomes unsafe.
• [ ] Review plans for medical devices and refrigerated medicine with the relevant medical professional.

During an outage

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed and follow current food-safety guidance.
• Reserve phone power for alerts, essential communication, directions, and emergency calls.
• Use stored batteries for the devices they are designed to support.
• Never use a fuel-burning generator, grill, or vehicle in a home, garage, or other enclosed space.
• Stay away from downed lines and report them to the utility or emergency services.
• Follow evacuation orders and local official updates.

Match the backup to the load

A phone power bank can support communication and compatible small USB devices. It cannot power refrigeration, a well pump, HVAC, or a home.

For personal charging, see how to keep your phone charged during an outage and the SideKick PowerBank. For larger household needs, consider a professional whole-home backup assessment.

After the storm

• Avoid damaged buildings, floodwater, downed lines, and damaged trees until officials say the area is safe.
• Photograph damage before cleanup when it is safe to do so.
• Discard food or medicine when official safety guidance says it is no longer safe.
• Recharge and restock anything used from the emergency kit.
• Record what worked and update the plan before the next event.