This is an abbreviated version of a message sent privately:

As someone who for 40+ years has lived on the opposite side of the Gulf Coast, I follow the sage advice that used to be broadcast frequently every hurricane season: 

RUN FROM THE WATER AND HIDE FROM THE WIND.

Translation: If you're in the path of the storm surge, evacuate if you can do so safely. Otherwise, have your supplies ready and hunker down.

As to how to prepare and what supplies to have, there is some excellent information at https://www.ready.gov/ . The hurricane links are currently front and center on the main page of that site.

Everyone's situation is different, so if you're right on the water you'll probably want to evacuate, but if you're 50 miles inland like me, hunker down and let the people who need to evacuate have the roads.

Susan