Before Hurricane Matthew Hits: Emergency Evacuation Tips

By Joshua Green

Updated: Sep 4, 2025

4 min read

Fact-checked by Martin Panayotov

Reviewer & editor

National Hurricane Center: Hurricane Matthew
We humans may feel more and more powerful as our collective dreams are becoming both more beautiful and audacious with each decade – we have conquered the Moon and now have our eyes on colonizing the Red Planet. At times of great triumphs of the human spirit, we do feel like we could achieve anything… until we are shown, time and time again, just how powerless we are against the forces of nature here on our own planet.

And as those forces of nature are raising their voices, we are forced to flee again from devastation, to evacuate our homes and hometowns, to organize an emergency move as quickly as we can to avoid massive destruction.

Right now, faced with possibly the strongest storm in a decade, we have to think lighting fast and organize an emergency move without any delay in order to escape the destructive power of Hurricane Matthew.

Read on quickly to learn the emergency evacuation tips when facing a major storm.

Hurricane Matthew: What we know right now

Hurricane Matthew, a very powerful storm with maximum sustained winds exceeding 110 miles per hour, hit Haiti, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and other parts of the Caribbean not two days ago (Tuesday), caused massive destruction and killing hundreds of people in its path. The actual death toll could end up being much higher as aid teams are struggling to reach the affected areas.

The killer storm has already reached Southeastern United States and is moving north-northwest parallel to the east coast at the speed of 13 m.p.h. and with winds of around 120 miles per hour.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the powerful hurricane has weakened to Category 3 but many officials still consider it “extremely dangerous“.

Jacksonville is currently subjected to heavy rains and winds due to the violent storm. Hurricane Matthew is expected to reach the states of Georgia and South Carolina sometime Friday.

All residents living along the coastal areas who did not evacuate are strongly urged to remain in shelters as “the worst is yet to come”.

Emergencies were declared in the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. More than 2 million people were urged to evacuate and schools closed down in preparation for the incoming deadly storm. Around 8,000 National Guard soldiers were placed on alert by the governors of the above-mentioned states.

Mandatory evacuations began in certain Florida counties on Wednesday as the fast approaching Hurricane Matthew is expected to be the most powerful storm to hit the United States in more than a decade (since Hurricane Wilma in 2005).

The residents in the soon-to-be-affected states, especially in Florida, are scrambling to make final preparations by stocking up bottled water, bread, canned food, peanut butter, flashlights, and batteries. Supermarket shelves are being emptied fast as residents are bracing for the devastating storm.

Major airlines have canceled their Thursday flights through the three big South Florida airports in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach.

President Obama postponed a scheduled visit to the state of Florida and urged residents to not underestimate the incoming hurricane and to be ready to flee with little warning. He added, “This is a serious storm. You can always rebuild, you can always repair property. You cannot restore a life if it is lost.”

Emergency evacuation tips: How to prepare for Hurricane Matthew?

Hurricane Matthew Florida 2016 — Hurricane Matthew is predicted to reach the east coast of Florida in less than 24 hours. Are you ready for it?

A deadly storm is going to make landfall in the United States very soon and we are once more powerless to stop it. The best we can do is to prepare for its brutal force by moving away from its intended path – that is, to evacuate.

As mandatory evacuations are under way in specific areas in Florida, here are the top emergency evacuation tips, or how to do an emergency move from your home in order to execute the three tasks that can be the difference between life and death – 1) prepare, 2) evacuate, and 3) shelter.

Hurricane safety is something that should be taken very seriously from the very beginning. This way, you, your family, your pets and your property will be well prepared for the incoming storm.

Prepare an emergency supply kit

The very first thing you should do? Prepare an emergency supply kit (also known as a hurricane supply kit). Here’s what your emergency kit should include:

Bottled water – make sure the water supply will be enough for at least three days per family member. One gallon per person per day should be okay;

Non-perishable canned food – bread, soups, cereals, nuts, crackers, peanut butter, jam, energy bars, and other suitable dry goods. Don’t forget to include foods for babies, infants or pets, if applicable. Take a can opener too;

Blankets, sleeping bags and a change of clothes for each family member as well;

Prescription medicine and first-aid kits with essential first-aid supplies such as pain relievers, sterile bandages, antiseptic lotion, allergy meds, a thermometer, and so on;

Toiletries – toilet paper, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, etc.;

Basic tools – a pocket knife, a hammer, a pair of pliers, duct tape, flashlights and spare batteries, nylon rope, matches in a waterproof box.

Find here the full list of essential items to include into your hurricane supply kit.

What else to take with you while evacuating from Hurricane Matthew

In addition to the emergency supply kit, there are some things that you should never forget to take with you no matter how little time you have until your Hurricane Matthew evacuation takes place. Such essentials included but are not limited to:

Valuables. Leave no truly valuable items behind – take all the cash you have, bank cards, jewelry, watches, expensive electronics (if small enough to fit into your evacuation vehicle), collectors’ items (valuable coin or stamp collections, etc.), family heirlooms, artwork, and anything else small enough to take with you and priceless enough to leave to Fate;

Important documents. Make sure you take your personal documents (IDs, passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, social security cards, diplomas, etc.), financial documents (banking information, investment papers, tax records, etc.), insurance documents, medical records, and of course – home deeds and other property records.

Portable safe. If you have a portable safe that contains all of your valuables and important documents, then that’s easy – just grab it and don’t let it go until it is safely in your car.

Pets. Yes, you’ll be in a great hurry to leave your home before the powerful storm hits your area, but you must never leave your dear pets behind as they are part of your family. Use their transportation carriers, make sure they have identification secured on them, and take suitable food and water for your dear animal friends.

What to do before evacuating from Hurricane Matthew

How to prepare for Hurricane Matthew? — You must prepare properly for the arrival of Hurricane Matthew.

Forecasters warn that Hurricane Mathew could become a Category 4 storm as it nears the Southeastern coast of the United States. And if that worst-case scenario does happen, then things will quickly become life-threatening.

It’s time to evacuate or find shelter depending on your exact location along the Hurricane Matthew path.

Get ready to evacuate along the planned evacuation route;

If mandatory evacuation is in effect in your area, you must evacuate immediately;

Start early to avoid being on the road when the storm hits and to jump-start the traffic jams that are sure to form up. Keep in mind that everybody in your area will be evacuating at roughly the same time as you will;

Follow the above tips to prepare a hurricane emergency kit;

Make sure you leave nobody and nothing valuable behind;

Turn off the main water valve, switch off the electricity and stop the gas supply;

Move prized possessions that you cannot take with you to higher ground – that is, to the top floor of your home to protect them against possible damage from water (flooding);

Close all blinds and draw the drapes in each room;

Secure any loose objects inside your home such as furniture pieces, potted plants, etc.;

Board up your windows with suitable boards (plywood boards are usually okay);

Lock all the windows and doors while you’re leaving your property;

If possible, fill up the tank of your car or take additional fuel for the trip ahead in jerrycans;

Have your cell phone handy with a spare replaceable battery, if possible;

Load the emergency supply kit and all valuables in your vehicle, get everybody aboard and follow the approved evacuation route out of your area.

Also, check out life-saving advice from Ready.gov – Evacuating Yourself and Your Family

Emergency movers: a good way to save your stuff

It may not be too late to get in touch with professional emergency movers to help you move out much more quickly and take more household items out of harm’s way. It’s worth giving this option a try in order to save as much of your stuff as possible.

The best professional movers will be quick to respond and they know how to handle emergency moves. Plus, last minute movers are properly insured so that your belongings will be in safe hands.

Find the contact information of top rated professional moving companies:

We will continue to watch closely the hurricane situation as it unfolds and will add Hurricane Matthew updates for you.

Come back for more relevant information and tell us your Hurricane Matthew survival stories.

Hurricane Matthew Watch: