Hurricane Preparedness and Sleep

By Rosie Osmun Certified Sleep Coach

Last Updated On June 17th, 2025
Hurricane Preparedness and Sleep

Key Takeaways

  • Sleep in the safest interior location. Choose an interior room on the lowest floor of your home, away from windows and exterior walls that could be damaged by flying debris or structural failure. Avoid upper floors where wind speeds are higher and roof damage risk is greatest, and never shelter in mobile homes or RVs during hurricane conditions.
  • Turn off main power before sleeping but prepare backup systems first. Shut off your electrical power at the main panel to prevent electrocution, fires, and appliance damage from flooding or storm damage, but only after you’ve fully charged all battery-powered devices like flashlights, weather radios, and phones since you’ll lose all electrical systems once the breaker is flipped.
  • Prioritize safety over perfect sleep during active storm conditions. Accept that you’ll only get 3-5 hours of broken sleep during the hurricane itself rather than your normal 7-8 hours, and consider sleeping in shifts with other adults so someone stays alert for emergency warnings. The goal is getting enough rest to make good decisions and stay healthy while remaining responsive.

When hurricane warnings flash across your screen, you probably think about stocking up on water, batteries, and canned food. Most people focus on the basics like securing their home and gathering emergency supplies.

However, one crucial aspect of hurricane preparation often gets overlooked: protecting your sleep. During powerful storms, getting quality rest becomes both incredibly difficult and absolutely essential for your health and safety.

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The howling winds, power outages, and constant worry can turn peaceful nights into sleepless struggles. Poor sleep during hurricanes doesn’t just leave you tired – it weakens your ability to make smart decisions, handle stress, and keep your family safe.

Your body and mind need rest to face the challenges that hurricanes bring, from the initial storm through the recovery process. Read on for expert tips and practical strategies that will help you and your family rest safely when hurricanes strike.

How Hurricanes Disrupt Your Sleep

Hurricanes attack your sleep from multiple angles, creating a perfect storm of sleep disruption. Understanding these challenges helps you prepare better and protect your rest when the storm hits.

Power Outages Leave You Without Fans or Air Conditioning

When the power goes out during a hurricane, you lose your main tools for staying cool and comfortable. Your air conditioning stops working right when you need it most, as storms often bring high humidity and heat.

Fans that normally provide gentle white noise and cooling airflow go silent, leaving you in hot, stuffy conditions. Without these familiar comfort systems, your body struggles to regulate temperature, making it nearly impossible to fall asleep or stay asleep.

The sudden change from your normal cool, circulated air to hot, stagnant conditions can leave you tossing and turning all night.

If you can, you might even want to turn off your power yourself as a precaution. Either way, having steps in place to sleep comfortably without power is a must.

Strong Winds and Rain Create Loud, Constant Noise

Hurricane winds don’t just whistle – they roar, howl, and create a constant wall of sound that can reach 100 decibels or more. Rain doesn’t gently patter on your roof during a hurricane; it pounds like a drum, creating sharp, unpredictable sounds that jolt you awake.

These intense noises trigger your brain’s alert system, keeping you in a state of hypervigilance when you should be resting. The sound levels during major hurricanes can be equivalent to standing next to a motorcycle or chainsaw.

Your nervous system interprets these loud, chaotic sounds as danger signals, making deep, restorative sleep nearly impossible.

Stress and Worry About Safety Keep Your Mind Racing

Your brain goes into overdrive during hurricanes, constantly processing potential threats and worst-case scenarios. Worry about your family’s safety, your home’s structural integrity, and what might happen next creates a mental loop that prevents relaxation.

Stress hormones Verified Source National Library of Medicine (NIH) World’s largest medical library, making biomedical data and information more accessible. View source like cortisol and adrenaline flood your system, designed to keep you alert and ready to respond to danger. This natural survival response directly conflicts with the calm, relaxed state your body needs for sleep.

Even when you’re physically exhausted, your racing thoughts about flood damage, falling trees, or evacuation routes can keep you staring at the ceiling for hours.

Emergency Alerts and Sirens Wake You Throughout the Night

Weather services send emergency alerts to your phone at all hours during active hurricane situations, creating sudden, jarring wake-ups. Tornado sirens, emergency broadcasts, and evacuation warnings pierce through the night, designed to grab your attention immediately.

These alerts often come with bright screen lights and loud, urgent tones that trigger your fight-or-flight response. While these warnings serve crucial safety purposes, they fragment whatever sleep you might achieve during the storm.

The anticipation of the next alert can also keep you in light sleep, preventing you from reaching the deep, restorative sleep phases your body needs.

Uncomfortable Temperatures Make It Hard to Stay Asleep

Without power, indoor temperatures can quickly climb to uncomfortable levels, especially in humid coastal areas where hurricanes typically strike. Your body naturally drops its core temperature to initiate sleep, but hot, muggy conditions prevent this natural cooling process.

Sweating and overheating cause frequent wake-ups as your body tries unsuccessfully to cool itself down. High humidity makes the air feel even hotter and creates a sticky, uncomfortable feeling on your skin.

These temperature disruptions don’t just make it hard to fall asleep initially – they cause multiple awakenings throughout the night, preventing you from getting the continuous rest your body needs to recover and stay strong.

Why Good Sleep Matters

Getting quality sleep during hurricanes isn’t just about comfort. No, it’s a critical safety issue. Your body and mind depend on rest to function properly when facing the extreme challenges that hurricanes bring.

Your Body Needs Rest to Handle Stress and Make Smart Decisions

Sleep directly affects your brain’s ability to process information and make good choices under pressure. When you’re well-rested, your prefrontal cortex (the part of your brain responsible for decision-making) works at full capacity.

During hurricanes, you face constant decisions about evacuation routes, shelter locations, and family safety that require clear thinking.

Sleep deprivation impairs your judgment, making you more likely to take dangerous risks or miss important safety cues that could protect your family.

Sleep Helps Your Immune System Stay Strong

Your immune system does most of its repair and strengthening work while you sleep, producing infection-fighting cells and antibodies. During hurricanes, you’re exposed to contaminated floodwater, mold, debris, and crowded shelter conditions that increase your risk of getting sick.

Hospitals and medical facilities often close or become overwhelmed during major storms, making it harder to get treatment if you do fall ill.

Just one night of poor sleep can greatly reduce your immune response, leaving you vulnerable to infections when medical help might not be available.

Well-Rested People React Faster

Sleep deprivation slows your reaction time and reduces your ability to respond quickly to sudden dangers. During hurricanes, you might need to react instantly to falling debris, rising water, or structural damage to your home.

Well-rested individuals can process visual and auditory emergency cues faster. Your physical coordination and balance also depend on adequate sleep. All critical abilities when navigating damaged areas, climbing stairs in the dark, or helping family members to safety.

Poor Sleep Makes Anxiety and Fear Much Worse

Lack of sleep amplifies your brain’s emotional responses, making normal hurricane stress feel overwhelming and unmanageable.

The amygdala, your brain’s fear center, becomes more reactive when you’re sleep-deprived, causing you to perceive threats as more dangerous than they actually are.

This heightened anxiety can lead to panic attacks, poor decision-making, and an inability to comfort scared family members who need your support.

Sleep helps regulate stress hormones like cortisol, and without adequate rest, these chemicals build up and create a cycle of increasing anxiety and sleeplessness.

Before the Storm Hits

Smart preparation can mean the difference between getting some rest and spending sleepless nights in discomfort and danger. Taking time to set up your sleep space properly before the hurricane arrives helps protect both your safety and your ability to rest.

Choose the Safest Room in Your House as Your Sleep Area

Pick an interior room on the lowest floor of your home, away from large trees and power lines that could fall during the storm. Avoid rooms with large windows, sliding glass doors, or skylights that could shatter from flying debris or pressure changes.

The center of your home typically offers the most protection from wind damage and the best structural support. Bathrooms and closets often work well because they have fewer windows and more walls for protection.

Make sure the room has enough space for all family members to sleep comfortably without feeling cramped. Consider the room’s ventilation and whether you can safely open a window for airflow when the storm passes.

Move Mattresses Away from Windows and Glass Doors

Even small pieces of flying debris can turn windows into dangerous projectiles during hurricane-force winds. Drag mattresses, sleeping bags, and bedding to interior walls or corners where broken glass cannot reach you while you sleep.

If you must sleep in a room with windows, position beds at least six feet away from any glass surfaces. Cover windows with plywood, storm shutters, or heavy blankets to reduce the risk of shattering and to block storm light that could disrupt sleep.

Remember that pressure changes during hurricanes can cause windows to break inward suddenly, even without direct impact from debris. Taking these precautions protects you from injury and helps create a more secure feeling that promotes better rest.

Gather Extra Blankets and Pillows for Comfort

Collect more bedding than you think you’ll need, since comfort items become even more important during stressful situations. Extra pillows can serve multiple purposes, such as supporting your body, muffling sounds, or creating barriers between family members sharing sleeping space.

Blankets provide warmth if temperatures drop after the storm, and they can also be used to block light or create privacy in shared areas. Choose lightweight, breathable materials that won’t make you overheat if the power goes out and temperatures rise.

Having familiar, comfortable bedding helps maintain some normalcy and security during an otherwise chaotic time. Store these items in waterproof bags or containers to keep them dry in case of roof leaks or flooding.

Set Up Battery-Powered Fans or Ventilation if Possible

Portable, battery-powered fans can provide crucial airflow when the power goes out, helping regulate body temperature for better sleep. Position fans safely away from water sources and ensure you have enough batteries to run them through several nights.

Small personal fans that clip onto furniture or hang from hooks work well in tight spaces and use less battery power. Consider manual fans or battery-powered fans with multiple speed settings to conserve power while still getting airflow.

If you don’t have battery fans, create cross-ventilation by safely opening windows on opposite sides of the room when wind conditions allow. Plan your fan placement in advance so you can set them up quickly in the dark if needed.

Create a Calm, Dark Space Using Blackout Curtains or Eye Masks

Darkness signals your brain to produce melatonin, the hormone that helps you fall asleep naturally, even during stressful situations. Heavy curtains in the bedroom, blankets, or towels can block emergency lights, lightning flashes, and early morning sun that might wake you prematurely.

Eye masks work well as backup darkness tools and take up almost no space in your emergency kit. Consider the psychological benefit of creating a cocoon-like environment that feels separate from the chaos outside.

Blackout materials also provide extra insulation and can muffle some storm sounds. If you’re sheltering with others, use sheets or blankets to create individual sleeping areas that give everyone some privacy and personal space for better rest.

Sleep Kit Essentials

Hurricane season demands careful planning for many necessities, but sleep preparation often gets overlooked until families find themselves exhausted and uncomfortable during the storm.

Building a dedicated sleep kit ensures you have everything needed for rest when normal comfort systems fail, making the difference between getting restorative sleep and spending miserable nights awake.

  • Battery-powered white noise machines or apps to block storm sounds – These devices create steady, calming sounds that help mask the unpredictable crashes and howling of hurricane winds, giving your brain something familiar to focus on instead of startling awake at every storm noise.
  • Comfortable sleeping bags rated for expected temperatures – Choose sleeping bags that will keep you warm, designed for your area’s expected temperature range during power outages, with good ventilation zippers that let you regulate warmth as conditions change throughout the night.
  • Extra pillows and blankets for each family member – Stock at least two pillows per person since they serve multiple purposes beyond head support, and include lightweight blankets that provide comfort without overheating.
  • Portable camping mattresses or air mattresses with manual pumps – Hard floors quickly become uncomfortable and prevent deep sleep, so portable mattresses with hand pumps provide essential cushioning when you can’t use electric inflators.
  • Eye masks and earplugs to help block out light and noise – High-quality earplugs can reduce storm noise by 25-30 decibels while eye masks provide portable darkness control, especially when sharing space with family members.
  • Flashlights with red filters to avoid disrupting sleep hormones – Red light doesn’t interfere with your body’s melatonin production like white light does, helping preserve your natural sleep cycle when you need to move around at night.

These carefully chosen items work together to create a portable sleep sanctuary that travels with you whether you stay home or evacuate.

Preparing your sleep kit before hurricane season starts means you can focus on safety instead of scrambling for comfort items when the storm approaches.

When Power Goes Out

Power outages during hurricanes eliminate your usual cooling and comfort systems right when you need them most. These strategies help you stay cool and comfortable enough to sleep without electricity.

Open Windows Safely for Airflow When Winds Die Down

Wait until sustained winds drop below 40 mph before opening any windows, as hurricane-force winds can create dangerous pressure changes inside your home. Open windows on opposite sides of your sleeping area to create cross-ventilation that moves hot, stagnant air out and brings cooler air in.

Check that the area outside each window is clear of debris that could blow inside, and be ready to close windows quickly if winds pick up again. Even a small breeze can make a significant difference in comfort when you’re trying to sleep in hot, humid conditions.

Use Wet Towels on Your Neck and Wrists to Cool Your Body

Place damp, cool towels on pulse points like your neck, wrists, and ankles where blood vessels are close to the skin surface. This technique helps lower your core body temperature more effectively than cooling your entire body with limited water supplies.

Refresh the towels every 30-60 minutes as they warm up and dry out from your body heat. The cooling effect can help trigger your body’s natural temperature drop that signals it’s time to sleep.

Sleep on the Lowest Floor of Your Home Where It Stays Cooler

Heat rises naturally, making upper floors significantly hotter than ground-level rooms during power outages. Basements stay the coolest, but avoid them if there’s any risk of flooding in your area.

Choose ground-floor interior rooms that don’t get direct sunlight during the day, as these areas retain less heat overnight. The temperature difference between floors can be 10-15 degrees, which makes a huge difference in your ability to fall asleep comfortably.

Drink Water During the Day but Limit Fluids Before Bedtime

Stay well-hydrated throughout the day to help your body regulate temperature, but stop drinking large amounts of water 2-3 hours before sleep. Dehydration makes it harder for your body to cool itself, leading to more restless sleep and frequent wake-ups from overheating.

Limit fluids before bed to avoid multiple bathroom trips that would fully wake you up and make it hard to fall back asleep. Keep a small amount of water nearby for sips if you wake up thirsty, but avoid drinking large quantities during the night.

Use Battery-Powered Fans Positioned Safely Away from Water

Place battery-powered fans at least three feet away from any water sources, wet areas, or potential leak spots to prevent electrical hazards. Position fans to blow across your body rather than directly on your face, which can dry out your mouth and throat during long periods of use.

Set fans on stable surfaces where they won’t fall if bumped in the dark, and keep spare batteries easily accessible for quick changes. Even small personal fans can provide enough airflow to make the difference between sleeping and lying awake sweating all night.

Calming Down for Sleep

Racing thoughts and hurricane anxiety can keep you awake even when your body is exhausted from stress and preparation. These mental techniques help quiet your mind and prepare your body for rest despite the chaos outside.

  • Practice deep breathing exercises to slow your heart rate – Try the 4-7-8 breathing technique by breathing in for 4 counts, holding for 7, then exhaling for 8 counts to activate your body’s natural relaxation response and lower your heart rate.
  • Try progressive muscle relaxation starting from your toes – Tense and release each muscle group from your toes to your head, holding tight for 5 seconds then noticing the relaxation that follows to release physical storm stress.
  • Write down your worries in a journal to get them out of your head – Keep a notebook nearby to capture anxious thoughts like “Is the roof going to hold?” without trying to solve them, just acknowledging and removing them from your mental loop.
  • Focus on what you can control rather than the storm outside – Make mental lists of things within your control like staying hydrated or checking supplies, redirecting energy from unchangeable situations toward positive actions you can take right now. If it helps, you can also journal these lists before bed.

These techniques work best when practiced regularly, so try them during calm weather to build the skills you’ll need during actual storms.

Remember that some anxiety during hurricanes is normal and expected. The goal is managing it enough to get the rest your body needs to stay strong and alert.

Strategies for Scenarios

Each phase of a hurricane brings unique sleep challenges that require different approaches and expectations. Adapting your sleep strategy to match your specific situation helps you get the best rest possible under changing circumstances.

During the Storm: Focus on Safety and Short Rest Periods

Prioritize safety over deep sleep when hurricane conditions are active, taking short naps between periods of monitoring weather updates and checking your home’s condition. Sleep in shifts if you have multiple adults so someone stays alert to listen for emergency warnings or changes in storm intensity.

Keep emergency supplies and flashlights within arm’s reach of your sleeping area so you can respond quickly if conditions worsen. Accept that you’ll get broken, light sleep during the most intense storm hours and plan to catch up on rest once the immediate danger passes.

In Evacuation Shelters: Bring Familiar Items and Create Personal Space

Pack comfort items like pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals from home to make the unfamiliar shelter environment feel more secure and comfortable. Use sheets, blankets, or personal belongings to create visual boundaries around your family’s sleeping area for privacy and noise reduction.

Bring eye masks and earplugs since shelters are typically bright and noisy with many people talking, crying, or moving around throughout the night. Follow shelter rules about lights-out times and noise levels while advocating politely for your family’s sleep needs with shelter staff if problems arise.

After the Storm: Deal with Cleanup Stress and Changed Routines

Expect your sleep to remain disrupted for several days or weeks as you process the stress of storm damage and adjust to changed living conditions. Maintain regular bedtimes even when your days are filled with cleanup work, insurance calls, and repair decisions that can feel overwhelming.

Take breaks from storm cleanup during the day to prevent physical and emotional exhaustion that can make sleep problems worse. Be patient with yourself and family members as everyone adjusts to new routines and processes the stress of hurricane aftermath.

During Extended Power Outages: Adjust to Natural Light Cycles

Go to bed earlier and wake up with natural sunrise and sunset patterns when you can’t control lighting with electricity. Use the natural darkness to your advantage by starting your bedtime routine when the sun goes down, even if it’s earlier than your normal schedule.

Avoid using bright flashlights or phone screens in the hours before sleep, as artificial light disrupts your body’s natural melatonin production. Take advantage of cooler nighttime temperatures by opening windows safely for airflow when outdoor conditions allow.

When Staying with Friends or Family: Maintain Sleep Boundaries

Communicate your family’s sleep needs and routines clearly with your hosts to avoid conflicts over bedtime schedules, noise levels, or sleeping arrangements. Bring your own bedding, pillows, and comfort items so you’re not completely dependent on borrowed supplies that might be uncomfortable.

Establish quiet hours and sleeping areas that work for both families, recognizing that everyone’s stress levels and coping mechanisms may be different. Express gratitude for the hospitality while politely advocating for sleep conditions that help your family rest and recover from hurricane stress.

Helping Children Sleep

Children often struggle more than adults with hurricane-related sleep disruption because they don’t fully understand what’s happening. Your calm guidance and familiar routines can help them feel safe enough to rest despite the scary sounds and unusual circumstances.

  • Keep bedtime routines as normal as possible – Maintain familiar activities like reading stories or brushing teeth even by flashlight, since routine provides children with predictability and comfort when everything else feels chaotic.
  • Let children sleep in your room if they feel scared – Set up individual sleeping spaces using pillows or blankets so children feel secure near you while still having their own area for better rest.
  • Use stuffed animals and comfort items to provide security – Pack favorite blankets, stuffed animals, or toys in your hurricane kit since these familiar items provide emotional comfort and remind children of safety during scary situations.
  • Tell calming stories or sing quiet songs – Choose gentle, familiar stories without storm themes and keep your voice soft to help children’s nervous systems calm down and focus on something peaceful instead of storm sounds.
  • Explain the storm in simple terms without creating more fear – Use age-appropriate language to describe hurricanes as big rainstorms that will pass by, comparing them to familiar sounds like washing machines while focusing on safety measures you’ve taken.
  • Stay calm yourself since children pick up on adult emotions – Children mirror your emotional state, so managing your own anxiety by taking deep breaths and speaking calmly directly helps them feel more secure and able to sleep.

Some regression in sleep habits is normal during stressful events, so be patient if children need extra comfort or wake up more often than usual.

Your consistent presence and calm energy are the most powerful tools for helping children feel safe enough to get the rest they need during hurricane situations.

FAQs

How many hours of sleep should I expect during a hurricane?

Don’t expect to get your normal 7-8 hours of continuous sleep during active hurricane conditions. Most people get 3-5 hours of broken sleep during the storm itself, with short naps between periods of checking conditions and staying alert for safety updates.

Focus on getting whatever rest you can rather than stressing about perfect sleep, since anxiety about not sleeping enough can make the problem worse. Plan to catch up on sleep once the immediate danger passes and conditions become safer for deeper rest.

Where is the safest place to sleep during a hurricane?

The safest place to sleep during a hurricane is in an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building, away from windows and exterior walls that could be compromised by flying debris or structural damage.

Choose a room like a closet, bathroom, or hallway in the center of your home, and avoid upper floors where wind speeds are typically higher and the risk of roof damage is greatest.

If you’re in a mobile home, RV, or poorly constructed building, evacuate to a designated hurricane shelter or stay with friends or family in a more substantial structure, as these housing types are extremely vulnerable to hurricane-force winds and should never be considered safe during a major storm.

Should I turn the power off before sleeping during a hurricane?

Yes, you should turn off your main electrical power before sleeping during a hurricane, as flooding and storm damage can cause dangerous electrical hazards including electrocution, fires, and damage to your appliances and electrical system.

However, keep essential battery-powered devices like flashlights, weather radios, and cell phones fully charged beforehand, since you’ll lose all electrical power including lights and communication devices once you flip the main breaker.

The safest approach to sleeping without power is to shut off electricity at the main panel before conditions become too dangerous to safely access it. But only after you’ve prepared all your battery-powered emergency supplies and have a clear plan for lighting and communication throughout the night.

Can I sleep in my car during a hurricane if my house feels unsafe?

Never sleep in your car during active hurricane conditions, as vehicles offer no protection from flying debris, falling trees, or flooding that can trap you inside.

If your home feels unsafe, go to a designated hurricane shelter, a friend’s safer home, or a sturdy public building rather than staying in your vehicle.

Cars can become deadly traps during hurricanes due to flying glass, crushing hazards, and the inability to escape quickly if conditions worsen.

Always choose substantial shelter with walls, proper drainage, and emergency communication capabilities over sleeping in any vehicle during storm conditions.

How do I deal with sleeping in a crowded evacuation shelter?

Bring your own pillows, blankets, and comfort items to make the unfamiliar shelter environment feel more like home and help you sleep despite the crowd.

Use earplugs, eye masks, or soft music on headphones to block out the noise and activity of other families trying to rest in the same space.

Create visual privacy around your family’s area using sheets or blankets, which helps establish boundaries and gives everyone a sense of personal space.

Be patient and understanding with other families who are also stressed and trying to sleep, remembering that everyone is dealing with the same difficult circumstances.

Should I take sleeping pills or melatonin during a hurricane?

Avoid taking strong sleeping medications during active hurricane conditions because you need to stay alert enough to respond to emergency situations or evacuation orders.

Natural melatonin supplements in low doses (1-3mg) can help if you’re struggling with anxiety-related insomnia, but don’t take anything that would prevent you from waking up quickly if needed.

Consult with your doctor before the hurricane season about safe sleep aids that won’t impair your judgment or reaction time during emergencies.

Stick to natural relaxation techniques like deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation as your primary tools for managing hurricane sleep anxiety.

What if my child refuses to sleep during the storm?

It’s completely normal for children to resist sleep during scary hurricane conditions, so don’t force the issue if they’re too frightened or anxious.

Let them rest quietly with comfort items and familiar activities even if they don’t actually fall asleep, since quiet time still helps their bodies recover from stress.

Stay calm and patient, offering reassurance and physical comfort like back rubs or hand-holding to help them feel secure.

Remember that children often sleep better after the initial storm excitement wears off, so focus on keeping them safe and calm rather than forcing immediate sleep.

What should I do if I can’t fall asleep because of storm anxiety?

Practice the calming techniques from this guide like deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, or writing down your worries in a journal to get them out of your head.

Focus on what you can control (like staying hydrated, checking on family members, or organizing your emergency supplies) rather than worrying about the storm itself.

Accept that some sleeplessness is normal during hurricanes and try to rest quietly even if you can’t fall fully asleep, since lying still helps your body recover from stress.

If anxiety becomes overwhelming, talk to other family members or shelter staff about your concerns rather than trying to handle intense fear alone.

How long will it take for my sleep to return to normal after the hurricane?

Most people see their sleep patterns start to improve within 3-7 days after the immediate hurricane threat passes, but full recovery can take 2-4 weeks depending on storm damage and ongoing stress.

Factors like power restoration, home repairs, insurance issues, and returning to work or school all affect how quickly your normal sleep routine returns.

Be patient with yourself and family members as everyone processes the stress and adjusts to changed circumstances that may last for weeks or months.

If sleep problems persist beyond a month or significantly interfere with daily functioning, consider talking to a healthcare provider about additional support for storm-related stress and sleep disorders.

Conclusion

Hurricane season doesn’t have to mean weeks of sleepless nights and exhausted days. By preparing your sleep space, gathering the right supplies, and learning effective calming techniques, you can maintain better rest even during the most challenging storm conditions.

Remember that good sleep isn’t a luxury during hurricanes. It’s a critical safety tool that helps you make smart decisions, stay healthy, and support your family through difficult times.

The strategies in this guide work best when you practice them before emergency situations arise, so your body and mind know what to expect when stress levels peak.

Don’t expect perfect sleep during major storms, but with proper preparation, you can get enough rest to stay strong and alert when your family needs you most. Hurricane seasons will come and go, but the sleep skills you develop will serve you through any emergency or stressful life situation.

Take time now to build your hurricane sleep kit and practice these techniques. Your future well-rested self will thank you when the next storm warning appears on your screen!


About the author

Rosie Osmun, a Certified Sleep Science Coach, brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the health and wellness industry. With a degree in Political Science and Government from Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Rosie's academic achievements provide a solid foundation for her work in sleep and wellness. With over 13 years of experience in the beauty, health, sleep, and wellness industries, Rosie has developed a comprehensive understanding of the science of sleep and its influence on overall health and wellbeing. Her commitment to enhancing sleep quality is reflected in her practical, evidence-based advice and tips. As a regular contributor to the Amerisleep blog, Rosie specializes in reducing back pain while sleeping, optimizing dinners for better sleep, and improving productivity in the mornings. Her articles showcase her fascination with the science of sleep and her dedication to researching and writing about beds. Rosie's contributions to a variety of publications, including Forbes, Bustle, and Healthline, as well as her regular contributions to the Amerisleep blog, underscore her authority in her field. These platforms, recognizing her expertise, rely on her to provide accurate and pertinent information to their readers. Additionally, Rosie's work has been featured in reputable publications like Byrdie, Lifehacker, Men's Journal, EatingWell, and Medical Daily, further solidifying her expertise in the field.

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