Hurricane Expert Shares 5 Important Safety Tips for 2026

Hurricane season starts on June 1, and the top hurricane expert in the United States wants families to get ready now. Michael Brennan leads the National Hurricane Center, which tracks dangerous storms. He shared five important safety tips with USA TODAY to help protect people when hurricanes come. These tips can help save lives and keep families safe during storm season.

Brennan and his team at the National Weather Service have a big job ahead of them. They need to give people correct information about hurricanes when there is a lot of confusing news on social media. The National Hurricane Center is part of a government group that studies weather and oceans. They have new forecast maps and better tools to help people understand hurricane dangers this year.

This will be Brennan's fourth year leading the hurricane center. He has learned a lot about what people need to know to stay safe. This year, he wants people to think more about what happens after a hurricane passes. Many people get hurt or die after storms because of power outages and dangerous conditions.

The first tip is to know your risk and have a plan. Brennan says people need to find out if they live in areas where storm surge or flooding could happen. Storm surge is when ocean water gets pushed onto land by hurricane winds. People also need to know if they live in places where they might be told to leave their homes.

The second tip is to have all the supplies your family will need. Brennan says every family needs an emergency supply kit with food that won't spoil and plenty of water. Families don't have to buy everything at once - they can get a few things each week. The kit should also include medicines and batteries for flashlights and radios.