Hurricane Debby Is Making Its Way Up the East Coast — How to Sleep Safely During Severe Weather

Summer time can mean lots of different things: it’s a break from school, it’s when you take that vacation you’ve been looking forward to all winter long, and for some of us…it’s hurricane season. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has defined this year’s hurricane season as spanning from June 1, 2024 to November 30, 2024. It also notes that this year is expected to be more active than usual, with NOAA predicting an 85% chance that this year’s hurricane season is “above-normal.” (1)

Right now, Hurricane Debby is making its way up the east coast, affecting communities in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and more. After making landfall in Florida earlier this week, Debby was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved over Georgia and South Carolina, but that doesn’t mean that the storm won’t still bring severe weather to communities in its path as it continues to move up the east coast.

When extreme weather rolls in, it can have an effect on how you’re sleeping. For example, the thunder from a storm could wake you up and interrupt your sleep. Anxiety over severe or extreme weather can also keep you from falling asleep and staying asleep. 

If you live in an area that is regularly affected by hurricanes, then you know how frightening some of these storms can be. We’ve gone ahead and rounded up some tips and tricks for sleeping safely and soundly during extreme weather this summer. 

Where Should I Sleep During a Hurricane? 

The National Weather Service recommends that the best thing to do to keep yourself and your family safe during a hurricane is to evacuate as recommended by your local authorities. 

However, you live somewhere that is currently experiencing a hurricane and you have not been ordered to evacuate or if you choose not to evacuate, you’ll want to be sure you are sleeping away from windows, usually in the center of a room. If you live in a multi-floor home, then you’ll want to sleep on the first floor of your home. (3)

Sleeping with a radio near by could also be useful, so you can continue to be informed about conditions throughout the night even if your power goes out. However, if the radio is consistently interrupting your sleep, you can move it away from your bed or turn it down enough to where you can fall asleep.

How Can I Manage Anxiety During a Hurricane? 

Hurricanes, or any extreme weather for that matter, can be really scary. The threat of destruction, flooding, or power outages on top of the intense conditions outside of your home can create anxiety that can make it hard to sleep.

Sleepopolis has a couple of general tips to help you manage anxiety while you’re trying to fall asleep. For example, you should try and make your pre-bedtime routine as peaceful as possible. Sleepopolis recommends doing some yoga and avoiding harsh blue lights before bed. 

You could also try the 4-7-8 breathing technique — where you breathe in through your nose for four counts, hold your breath for seven counts, and then exhale for eight counts. This technique can help you relax by helping activate your parasympathetic nervous system. 

Another good thing that you can do is practice good sleep hygiene even while you’re experiencing severe weather. If you find yourself waking up during the middle of the night and are unable to fall back asleep, try and avoid checking your phone and try to read, journal, or do something else calming with dim light to help coax yourself back to sleep. 

The NWS recommends being prepared ahead of a storm as a way to help manage anxiety during a storm. This could mean making a go-bag, making a plan for where you will evacuate to in the event of an emergency, and having several ways to receive information about the severe weather. (4)

As someone who has experienced several hurricanes, and a fair share of extreme weather I have some tips and tricks that have helped me manage my own hurricane anxiety. One of the most calming things I’ve done is make a super cozy space to ride out the hurricane. Doing this does a couple of things: it gives me a task to take my mind off of the anxiety, creates a space that felt safe and warm, and makes hunkering down a bit more fun and a bit less severe. 

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Mary-Elisabeth Combs

Mary-Elisabeth Combs is a Staff Writer at Sleepopolis covering all things Sleep news. Previously Mary was a writer for CNET, and she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in English. When she's not writing, she's probably knitting, reading or catching up on Formula 1.