A guide for hurricane season in the Wilmington area: Supplies, shelters, evacuations and more

Wilmington StarNews
·2 min read
Johnnie Mercers Pier in Wrightsville Beach was pounded by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Johnnie Mercers Pier in Wrightsville Beach was pounded by Hurricane Ian in 2022.

It's never too early to prepare for hurricane season.

And as the Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1, here are things to know to stay safe in the Wilmington area.

Evacuations

Twenty coastal counties in North Carolina have established predetermined evacuation zones to simplify the coastal evacuation process in the event of an emergency. Everyone living or vacationing in North Carolina's coastal areas should know your zone.

Evacuations: Preparing for a hurricane -- What you need to know about evacuations

Hurricane kit

Everyone usually remembers food and water, but what about medicine, insurance policies (home and auto), and other important documents?

Here is a list of supplies and documents you should have ready in your "go bag" or supply kit, according to FEMA and the American Red Cross.

Supplies: Are you prepared for a hurricane? Here's a list of supplies to have in your hurricane kit.

Pet friendly shelters

If you need to evacuate and want to take your pets with you, several emergency management services will open emergency shelters at local schools if a hurricane should hit.

Shelters: Where to find pet friendly hurricane shelters in the Wilmington area

Hurricane watch or warning?

Living in coastal North Carolina, most people know when hurricane season begins. But it's also important to know the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning.

Watch or warning: What's the difference between a hurricane watch and warning?

Here's more on the difference.

Wilmington's worst storms

Take a look back at hurricane activity for the worst storms to ever hit the Wilmington area. Names such as Hazel and Florence will forever be etched to the region.

Also check out the list of names for the 2023 hurricane season.

Worst hurricanes: What are the 5 worst hurricanes to ever hit the Wilmington area?

2023 names: Here's the list of names for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.

Up-to-date weather

There are several webcams following weather on the coast. Here are a few of them.

You can also follow a storm from its beginnings to now with this storm tracker.

Weather webcams: Check the latest weather conditions via these webcams along the NC coast

Track the storm: See where the storm is in real time

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What to know about hurricane season in the Wilmington NC area