Hurricane Preparedness in Florida: Zone, Plan, Kit and Evacuation

The five steps recommended by Florida emergency management, in plain language.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and September is historically the most active month. These are the five steps from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

1. Know your zone and your home

Find your evacuation zone at FloridaDisaster.org/Know. Decide whether your home can withstand the storm or whether you need to evacuate. Evacuation orders are issued by zone, and many people outside the zone do not need to leave.

2. Make a plan

• Agree on where your household will go and how you will contact each other.
• Plan for pets, older relatives and people with medical needs.
• Use FloridaMakeAPlan.com for a customized plan.

3. Build a kit

Stock seven days of supplies for every person in the household:

• Water and non-perishable food.
• Medications, first aid supplies and copies of important documents.
• Flashlights, batteries, a battery or hand-crank radio and phone chargers.
• Cash, since cards may not work when power is out.
• Items for babies, pets and anyone with special needs.

Disaster supplies such as batteries and generators are permanently exempt from sales tax in Florida.

4. Keep your vehicle ready

Keep your gas tank at least half full throughout hurricane season so you can leave quickly.

5. Evacuate strategically

Moving tens of miles inland, to higher ground or just outside an evacuation zone may be enough to get out of harm's way. You do not always need to travel far. Sign up for AlertFlorida for local emergency alerts.

Special needs registry

If you need 24-hour care or have electrically powered medical equipment, register with your county's special needs registry before a storm. County shelter and contact information is on FloridaDisaster.org/counties.

After the storm, find open hospitals, health departments and city offices by ZIP code on Spiral Search.