We all know that living in Florida means enjoying beautiful beaches and sunshine, but it also requires respecting the power of the Atlantic hurricane season. From June 1 to November 30, being prepared is not just essential—it’s a way of life. Over the past five years (2021–2026), Florida has experienced significant tropical activity, including several major hurricanes that affected the Big Bend and Gulf Coast regions.
To ensure you and your household are prepared for whatever the season brings, here is a bullet-style guide to the essential steps every Floridian should take. No matter how long you’ve lived in Florida, there’s always something new to learn or that needs to be updated. Who knows, there may be a thing or two on the list you hadn’t considered before and may want to implement sooner rather than later.
- Build a Comprehensive Supply Kit
Unsurprisingly, keeping a hurricane-ready supply kit on hand is nothing new if you have read other hurricane preparedness guides, but emergency management experts now recommend preparing at least a week’s worth of supplies, instead of the traditionally suggested three days. This change is because post-storm recovery of infrastructure like roads and power lines can take a week or more. During hurricanes, widespread panic often leads people to rush out and gather supplies en masse. However, preparing your kit ahead of time can help reduce the stress and chaos during these situations.
- Hydration and Nutrition: Stock one gallon of water per person (and pet) per day. Focus on nutrient-dense, non-perishable foods like nut bars, canned proteins, and dried fruits.
- Pro Tip: As long as you don’t have a peanut allergy, peanut butter is one of the best staple foods to keep on hand. Just two tablespoons provide enough energy to get through a meal during an emergency.
- Power Essentials: Invest in high-capacity portable power banks for phones as well as flashlights (have extra batteries on hand). A battery-powered or hand-crank NOAA weather radio is also vital for staying informed if the internet goes down.
- Documentation: Keep physical copies of insurance policies, IDs, and medical records in a waterproof “go-bag.”
- Miscellaneous Items:
- First-aid kit (include any prescription medication you may need), personal hygiene items, and sanitation items
- Manual can opener, lighter or matches, and cooler and ice packs
- Disposable dinnerware, including paper plates, napkins, plastic silverware, and cups
- Books, magazines, and games for recreation
- Special needs items: pet supplies and baby supplies, if applicable
- Pro Tip: Buy 5-gallon buckets with fitted lids from stores like Home Depot or Walmart. They are ideal for storing electronics, batteries, chargers, important documents, medicines, and food. Ensuring the lids are securely closed also makes the buckets float.
- Fortify Your Home
Waiting until a watch is issued before securing your home can cause long lines and supply shortages. It’s advisable to begin these maintenance tasks early. Additionally, designate a shelter area in your home for emergency supplies to avoid frantic searching. Once your supplies are prepared, resist the urge to raid them. Use them as needed and replenish after hurricane season.
- Inspect Openings: Check the seals on your windows and the bracing on your garage door. The garage door is often the most vulnerable point for structural failure in high winds.
- Landscape Management: Trim back any tree limbs that overhang your roof or power lines. Clear your gutters and downspouts to ensure heavy rainfall drains away from your home’s foundation.
- Inventory Your Assets: Walk through your home with a camera and record a video of your belongings. A timestamped record of your home’s condition and assets makes the insurance claim process significantly smoother.
- Pro Tip: Taping your windows is unnecessary because it won’t prevent them from blowing out. This is especially important for apartment residents. Additionally, removing the tape may create more issues.
- Understand Your Evacuation Zone
In Florida, evacuation orders are based on zones rather than cities or zip codes. These zones, typically labeled A through E, are assigned according to a home’s risk level for storm surge.
- Find Your Zone: Check your county’s emergency management website to determine exactly which zone you are in.
- Plan Your Route: If you live in an evacuation zone, decide ahead of time where you will go. Whether it is a friend’s house inland or a hotel in another region, having a plan helps prevent panic when the “blue lights” of an evacuation order begin. And make sure your tank is full well in advance of an approaching storm. Most people wait until the last minute, rush to get extra gas for their cars and generators, and, as a result, gas stations can run out early.
- Pro Tip: Avoid driving through flooded streets, even if you’re familiar with the area. Just a few inches of water can cause a vehicle to lose control. Even worse, sinkholes can form on flooded roads, often going unnoticed.
- Smart Financial Prep
Use Florida’s sales tax holidays to prepare for disasters. During these periods, you can buy expensive items like generators and impact-resistant windows, as well as essential supplies such as batteries and flashlights, without paying state sales tax. Also, keep a small amount of cash on hand; during power outages, credit card readers and ATMs may be inoperable.
- Stay Informed, Not Overwhelmed
During storm season, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of social media weather forecasts. To stay safe, rely on trusted sources such as the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and your local Emergency Management Office. Understanding the difference between a Watch, which indicates conditions are possible within 48 hours, and a Warning, which signifies expected conditions within 36 hours, will help you plan your final preparations more accurately.
By taking these steps now, you’ll be prepared to face the season with confidence, knowing you’re ready to protect your home and loved ones. Stay safe, Florida!
Final Pro Tip: Even after a hurricane has passed, danger persists. Exercise extra caution during cleanup, avoid hazards such as flooded areas, fallen power lines, debris, and displaced animals, and follow instructions from local authorities as the situation improves. Never walk or drive through floodwaters, which can be deeper or more treacherous than they appear. Additionally, if there’s a power outage and you’re using a generator, be cautious of carbon monoxide risks; always operate generators outdoors and away from windows and doors.
DID YOU KNOW?
Hurricane names are chosen randomly and then rotated and reused every 6 years. If a hurricane is catastrophic, severely deadly, and costly—such as Charley, Katrina, or Irene—it’s officially retired because its use is inappropriate and can be confusing when naming future storms.