Hurricane Preparedness in Florida
Understanding hurricane risk (see the flood-hurricane-risk topic) is one thing; actually preparing for it is another. New Florida residents should treat hurricane preparedness as a normal, recurring part of homeownership here, not a one-time task -- the practical steps below are worth doing before hurricane season starts each June, not once a storm is already approaching.
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Learn moreKnow your evacuation zone -- it is not the same as your FEMA flood zone
Every coastal Florida county assigns evacuation zones (commonly labeled A, B, C, and so on) based primarily on storm-surge risk, set and published by the county emergency management office -- this is a distinct designation from a FEMA flood zone, which is set by FEMA and used mainly for insurance purposes. Zone A is typically the highest-risk, lowest-lying, most storm-surge-exposed designation and the first ordered to evacuate. Look up your specific address on your county emergency management website as one of your first tasks after moving in, and don't assume your FEMA flood zone tells you your evacuation zone.
Build a real supply kit before the season starts
Florida's Division of Emergency Management recommends keeping at least seven days of supplies on hand -- food, water, medications, and batteries -- for a home you plan to shelter in, plus a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days as a baseline. A basic kit should also include a first-aid kit (with essential personal medications, not just generic supplies), several flashlights with fresh batteries, and a multi-tool. Build this kit in the spring, before storms are actually forming, rather than trying to shop for it during an active watch when stores are picked over.
Pack a go-bag in case you need to evacuate
Separate from your at-home supply kit, keep a portable go-bag ready with a few days of clothes, medications, water, snacks, copies of important documents (ID, insurance policy, deed/lease), and hygiene items. Include paper maps of your evacuation route as a backup -- cell networks and GPS can become unreliable during a major storm, and paper doesn't need a signal.
Get your insurance documentation in order before storm season, not during it
Photograph or video your home's interior and exterior, and your major possessions, before hurricane season starts, and store copies somewhere accessible outside the home (cloud storage, a relative out of state) in case you need to file a claim after a storm. Understand your policy's hurricane deductible specifically -- Florida homeowners policies commonly apply a separate, percentage-based hurricane deductible (rather than the flat-dollar deductible used for other claims), which can mean a meaningfully larger out-of-pocket amount than homeowners moving from other states may expect. Confirm this figure with your agent rather than assuming your general deductible applies.
Generator and shutter decisions are worth making before, not during, hurricane season
Impact-rated windows or storm shutters and a documented wind mitigation inspection can both reduce storm damage risk and lower your homeowners insurance premium (see the homeowners-insurance topic) -- but ordering and installing them takes time, and demand (and pricing) for both shutters and generators spikes sharply once a storm is actively approaching. If you're considering a whole-home or portable generator, research permitting requirements and installation lead times well before June, since licensed installers get booked out fast once storm season is underway.
Key takeaways
- Look up your county-specific evacuation zone (set by county emergency management, based on storm surge) as soon as you move in -- it is a different designation from your FEMA flood zone.
- Florida's Division of Emergency Management recommends seven days of home supplies and at least one gallon of water per person per day for three days; build your kit before storm season starts, not during an active watch.
- Photograph/video your home and possessions and store copies off-site before hurricane season; ask your agent specifically about your policy's hurricane deductible, which is commonly a separate, percentage-based deductible rather than a flat dollar amount.
- Shop wind mitigation upgrades (shutters, impact windows) and generator installation well before June -- demand and pricing spike once a storm is actively approaching, and installers get booked out fast.
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