And for everyone with pets:
If you are in a mandatory evacuation area or within close driving distance of the beach please do yourself, your family, your friends, and all the heroic first responders a favor and LEAVE. Evacuate. EVACUATE. Do not be like this man who said that staying in Port Aransas during Hurricane Harvey was the, “The dumbest thing I’ve ever done.” You do not have the right to get volunteer firefighters killed risking their lives to save you, just because you were too stubborn to evacuate when you had the chance. And if you are really stupid enough to try to ride out the direct hit of a powerful hurricane on or near the beach, please do not waste time reading my article, go make out your Last Will and Testament instead — at least you will be doing something constructive.
Now — about people further inland. Maybe you are not under a mandatory or voluntary evacuation. You do not live someplace that floods and the building you are in is sturdy and up to code. Even then, do not get cocky. Even under the best conditions a hurricane can be incredibly dangerous. Is it going to bring down that tree in your backyard and punch a hole through your roof? Is flying debris going to come through your window? Are you really okay with the possibility of being stuck in a large city for weeks without power and fresh water? (e.g. Hurricane Ike) You need to sit down and have an honest risk-assessment with yourself and your family and decide whether or not it is worth sticking around. And, if in doubt, assuming you can do so safely — in other words, you will not be stuck in a car on a freeway — when the storm hits, the right answer is always to leave. In the worst-case scenario, you are one less family first responders will need to rescue off a roof, and in the best-case scenario you are only out the cost of a night or two in a hotel room crashing at a friend or relative’s house. Yes, evacuating can be expensive, but unless you have a really low deductible it is probably still cheaper than replacing your vehicle if the engine gets flooded or a tree falls on it. And yes, cars get flattened all the time by trees during hurricanes. It happened to one of my neighbors when I was a kid.
Pro Tip —Do NOT try to fight rush hour traffic to get out of your city. If possible, and you have sufficient time, either wait until traffic dies down, or leave at a really odd time of night. For example, when I left Houston prior to Hurricane Rita, my roommates and I left late at night, after 10pm. So, instead of being stuck in traffic for six to eight hours, we were only stuck in outgoing traffic for a little over two hours. Time of day or night makes an immense difference. Load up on caffeine and energy drinks if you need to, and catch up on sleep when you reach your destination. — Bonus points for your sanity: if it is late enough that any children in your vehicle will sleep the whole time. Win/win.
Best of luck to all of you weathering storms this hurricane season. Stay safe. Be responsible.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is solely the author’s opinion and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek advice from the appropriate government officials or agencies. I do not accept liability for this article being accurate, complete or up-to-date or for the contents of external links. I distance myself expressly from the contents of the linked pages, over the structure of which I have no control. The author is known to randomly meow like a cat and blink into alternate dimensions without warning, and thus should probably not be taken seriously by anyone. 
This article originally appeared on Medium and is republished here with permission.