Find out everything you need to know about preparing for a hurricane or tropical storm in our resource guide, from what supplies to get, to how to stay safe and what to do after a storm.
It's not too early to prepare yourself and your home for a hurricane. The best time to get ready is before a storm is approaching.
What supplies do you need for a storm? Food and water are only the beginning to building your emergency supplies. Here are other things you should assemble.
Forecasters expect a slightly below-average Atlantic hurricane season in 2023.
Get enough nonperishable foods now to last for two weeks. Then put them in a box and leave them alone. Note: Canned and other prepared foods that are salty or dry or high in fat or protein might make for good provisions, but they’ll also make you thirsty.
Make sure you have at least 1 gallon of drinking water per person/per day, for one-week minimum. Water for two weeks is ideal. Figure another 1 gallon per person/per day of water for washing hands, flushing toilets and for pets. Have extra water for infants, youngsters, nursing mothers and the elderly. Read more tips regarding water and ice.
Tropical storm watches and warnings. Hurricane watches and warnings. Here's what to do if one is issued in your area.
Should you tape your windows? What about cracking a window open to relieve pressure? Can you differentiate myths from facts?
A generator can help your family and keep food safe, but they can be dangerous. What precautions should you take?
Yes. Trim your trees early in the season, before storms threaten. Don't leave branches by the street if a storm is approaching; they could become deadly missiles.
Make a plan early to decide where your boat will go. Whatever you do, don't try to ride out a storm on a boat.
Shutters require regular maintenance. Do a trial run now to make sure everything is working. Need more wing nuts? Get them now.
Should you throw your patio furniture in the pool? Here's how to get your pool ready for a storm.
Shelters should be a last resort. If you live in the hurricane evacuation zone or a mobile home, you must evacuate when the evacuation order is issued. Your first choice should be to stay with a friend or family member living close by but is not in a flood-vulnerable area.
From identification and insurance papers to water, here’s a list of supplies to take to a shelter. Note: Do not bring pets (except for service animals), alcoholic beverages, smoking materials, heavy luggage or several pieces of luggage, valuables or weapons.
Looking for a hurricane shelter in Florida? Find a shelter in this list created from information available across the state. Note: In the event of a storm, please contact your local county’s emergency services for a list of the most up-to-date open shelters.
If roads are already jammed, go back home or to a shelter. If the storm is 24 hours from landfall or closer, it’s too late to try to leave town.
You should not stay home if you live in an evacuation area, you live in a manufactured home, your home is of substandard construction, or your home is located in an area that is prone to severe flooding.
As homeowners struggle with higher rates, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that creates a $2 billion fund to help insurers. The bill has been criticized that it helps insurers more than it helps policyholders.
Who should you call in the event of an emergency? Here's a list of resources, no matter where you are in Florida.
Experts caution it's misleading to consistently tout one model over another. Models have different purposes, and how they arrive at their end result is through a carefully chosen set of equations that differs depending on the programmer. Read more about what forecasters say about tracking a storm’s path.
If you’re unclear on what certain meteorological terms mean, you’re probably not alone. Here are explanations of words you might hear this hurricane season.
Learn more about climate patterns that can affect droughts, hurricanes, torrential rainstorms, and even the fish you eat for dinner.
Should you evacuate with your pet? What supplies do you need? Should they be left in a safe spot in your home? Here's how to protect your pets.
It might be difficult, if not impossible, to find shelter for your animals in the midst of a disaster, so the key is planning ahead. Don’t leave your pets at home, especially if you live in an evacuation area.
From medications and medical records to a 14-day supply of food and water, here’s a list of what you should include in your pet’s hurricane supply kit.
If a storm is threatening, schools will close, especially since many schools are used as shelters. Here's how you can stay informed.
Some schools have alerts that send information via text to student and staff phones. This story has a list of phone and web contact information for school districts and colleges in the area.
Do not leave your home or shelter until emergency officials tell you it’s safe. Downed power lines, debris and animals driven out by high water can make conditions dangerous.
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