Florida outage prep for hurricane season: know your zone, stock seven days of supplies, use Alert Florida, and run generators safely.
- Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and storm surge is the leading cause of hurricane deaths, so know your evacuation zone first.
- Florida guidance recommends at least seven days of food and water per person.
- Run generators outdoors only and avoid floodwater and downed lines.
Florida is the state most people picture when they think of hurricane outages. Wind, storm surge and flooding can damage lines and keep power off for days, and heat and humidity make a long outage uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous. The good news is that Florida's emergency management office has clear, practical advice, and most of it is simple to follow before a storm is on the map.
Season basics
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity from mid-August to mid-October, according to Florida's Division of Emergency Management. Storm surge is the leading cause of hurricane related deaths in the United States, according to the National Weather Service, with inland flooding from rain the second leading cause. Your power may be the smaller concern if you live in a surge zone, so evacuation comes first.
Know your zone and your home
Learn whether you live in an evacuation zone, and whether your home can withstand strong winds and heavy rain. If no evacuation order applies and your home is sound, you may shelter in place. If an order covers your zone, leave. Most people only need to travel a short distance to reach a safer inland location or shelter, so plan a route, a destination and a backup. Include children, older adults and pets in the plan.
The state also runs a Special Needs Registry for people who need help evacuating or sheltering. Register early, not after a storm forms. Our hurricane power outage checklist gives a step-by-step timeline.
Alerts and information
- Alert Florida. Sign up for state emergency alerts, as the state recommends.
- FloridaDisaster.org. The official state site has a supply kit checklist, the Florida Hurricane Guide and links to your county emergency management office.
- Radio. Keep a battery or hand-crank weather radio for power and cell outages. See the radio guide.
- Your utility. Find your electric company's outage map and number now. Many Florida cities run their own municipal utilities, so check your bill.
More on tools in alerts and outage reporting.
What to stock
Florida's guidance recommends at least seven days of non-perishable food and water per person. Plan about 4 litres (1 gallon) of water per person per day. Add medicine, batteries, important documents, cash and pet supplies.
- Water and no-cook food for a week. See how much water to store.
- Prescriptions, a first aid kit and any medical device backup. See CPAP and medical devices.
- Fuel: keep vehicle tanks at least half full all season. If you drive an electric vehicle, follow the manufacturer's advice and keep the battery in a healthy charge range.
- Waterproof bags for documents, and photos of key papers on your phone.
Use the 72-hour checklist as a base, then extend it.
After the storm
Stay inside until officials say it is safe. Avoid floodwater, since it may hide debris, contamination and live electrical hazards. Never walk or drive through it. Stay away from downed lines and assume they are live.
Heat is the other danger without air conditioning. Open shaded windows when it is cooler outside, drink water often, use damp cloths and check on neighbours. See the heat wave outage guide.
For quiet backup power for phones, lights, a fan and medical devices, start with the outage planner and the power station hub.
Before the season begins
The best time to prepare is before June 1, when shelves are full and prices are calm. Review insurance, photograph your belongings, trim dead branches near the house and clear gutters. Test your radio, flashlights and carbon monoxide alarm. Refresh stored water and swap out expired food and medication. Check the evacuation route and, if your plan involves leaving, fill the tank early and agree on a destination with family. Talk through the plan with children and make sure everyone knows where documents and the go-bag are kept. Doing this once a year turns a stressful week into a manageable one.
Quick answers
How many days of supplies should Floridians keep?
Florida's emergency management office recommends at least seven days of non-perishable food and water per person.
Where do I get Florida emergency alerts?
Sign up for Alert Florida, and use FloridaDisaster.org and your county emergency management office for local information.