The frequency of natural disasters has increased by a significant amount over the last half decade. According to the nonpartisan nonprofit USAFacts, the United States averaged nine such events per year from 1980 to 2024. However, the annual average for the most recent five years is 23 natural weather disasters. And the trend goes back even further than five years, as USAFacts also notes that of the 10 years with the most natural disasters, nine were in the last decade.

Thankfully, storm tracking technology has advanced as weather-related disasters have increased, and such advancements have saved countless lives. When a potentially deadly storm is approaching, government officials typically order residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate. Such orders can be life-saving, but evacuating also can be stressful. As hurricane season approaches, people living in areas susceptible to hurricanes, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) notes includes coastal regions and islands in the Atlantic as well as islands in the Pacific, can consider these tips to make a potential evacuation less stressful.

Familiarize yourself with your evacuation route. The unknown contributes to the stress of a hurricane evacuation. While there’s no way to know if your property will be damaged during a hurricane, you can know the recommended evacuation route so getting there and getting away is second nature should you be ordered to evacuate. Local emergency management agencies typically map out evacuation routes and list that information on their websites. Prior to hurricane season, find your recommended route and even drive the route so everything is not new should you need to quickly get out of town.

Pack some entertainment, particularly for children. A mandatory evacuation can strike fear in anyone, and children might be particularly scared when forced to quickly leave their homes. Packing some entertainment in the car, including a tablet with downloaded movies (mobile networks might experience lost or reduced internet capabilities during a storm) kids can watch a movie, which might serve as a helpful distraction during the evacuation.

Evacuate early. Waiting until the last minute to evacuate can be incredibly stressful. Waiting until the last minute can create a sense that you’re trying to outrun a potentially deadly storm, which can lead to impulsive decision-making that puts you and those evacuating with you in danger. Waiting also increases the likelihood that the evacuation route will be slow-moving and populated with nervous and likely impatient drivers. Evacuating early can offer a calmness that is unlikely to manifest for those who wait until the very last minute to escape the eye of the storm.

Direct your focus toward things you can control. The American Psychological Association urges people to avoid worrying about factors they cannot control, such as the path of the storm and any potential property damage. Emphasize the things you can control, such as your own preparedness and how that’s helping to keep you and your loved ones safe.

A hurricane evacuation can be stressful. But those in the eye of a storm can embrace measures designed to instill a sense of calm during an evacuation.