2024 hurricane season looms in Louisiana

It's hurricane preparedness week in Louisiana and across the nation, and with forecasters predicting an "extremely active" 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, it's never too early to make sure you're ready for the big storm.

Hurricane season starts June 1, and researchers at Colorado State University said in early April that warmer than normal temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean and the expected return of La Niña conditions will likely contribute to an active season.

Here are some key steps you can take to prepare now.

Update your hurricane kit

It's time to go through your hurricane kits to make sure your paperwork is up to date and emergency food is still edible. Generally, it's best to use up last year's supplies early in the season and replace them with fresh food, water and batteries.

Emergency officials recommend keeping water on hand for at least three days. Budget a gallon of water per person a day.

Here are the must haves in every hurricane kit:

Cash or extra checkbooks. If the power is out, ATMs and credit card processors will be down. Battery- or solar-powered phone chargersBattery-powered or hand crank radioList of necessary phone numbers, including neighbors Important documents such as birth certificates, insurance policies, school records, mortgage records, medical information and pet vaccination recordsBasic first aid kitSanitation and personal hygiene items such as wet wipesBatteriesBottled water and nonperishable foodFlashlights Trash bagsUtensils and bowls or plates A quality manual can openerPet food Bug sprayMedications. Get three-month refills of prescriptions and larger quantities of over-the-counter drugs for pets and people.

What to put in a hurricane prep kit: Know the essentials

If you're not sure what kinds of food to stock up on, here's a list of more than 60 nonperishable food items that are great in an emergency.

Protect your home

Hurricane-force winds and flood waters can cause serious damage to your home during a storm. But there's a few things you can do to prepare a head of time.

Here's some tips from FEMA on weather-proofing your home.

Cut down weak branches or trees in your yardInstall storm shuttersReplace old garage doors and tracksMake an needed roof repairsWeatherstrip doors and windowsClear gutters and check for any gutter leaksReplace batteries in carbon monoxide alarms

It's also a good idea to take photos of your home ahead of a storm for insurance purposes in case your property is damaged in a hurricane.

Plan a route

If there's an evacuation, what route will you take out of town and where will you go? Study the area's evacuation maps and contraflow plans and plot a course.

Determine where you'll likely go, whether it's to stay with family, friends or a hotel out of town. Do some research on hotels, motels and AirBNBs along the way, especially if you need pet-friendly ones.

If you have a car, get an oil change now. Keep jumper cables and a spare tire in the car. If you don't have a vehicle, you can sign up for evacuation assistance through your parish or city government.

Plan for your pets

Thousands of pets were left behind during Hurricane Katrina, and many residents stayed endured the storm and its aftermath after refusing to leave without their pets. So whether you're evacuating for a storm or riding it out, you need to make sure you have a plan for your pets. Here's what you'll need:

Vaccination requirements vary by state and are often required at hotels, shelters and boarding facilities. Make sure your pets are up to date on their vaccinations as soon as hurricane season starts. Keep their vaccination and medical records somewhere safe. Pets often get lost in storm chaos. Make sure their ID tags are easy to read and up to date, get them microchipped if you can, and have current photos on hand in case your pets go missing. Hotels, airlines and bus lines usually require that pets are contained to a pet carrier. Carriers should be large enough for pets to stand up, turn around and lie down.

Check out our full guide to evacuating with a pet for more information.

First hurricane season?

If it's your first hurricane season, welcome to Louisiana! You can find our comprehensive hurricane guide for beginners here.