How do I prepare for a hurricane in Florida?
Preparing for a hurricane comes down to four things: build a supply kit, protect your home and its openings, secure your important documents, and have a plan for whether you'll stay or go. The key is to do it before a storm is named — the families who struggle are the ones starting at the store the day a watch is issued, when water, batteries, plywood, and contractors have already run out. Below is a Florida-specific checklist you can work through in stages.
Table of contents
- Build your supply kit
- Protect your home and openings
- Secure documents and take inventory
- Make your plan: stay or go
- Get the big jobs done early
- FAQ
Build your supply kit
A supply kit is the foundation, and Florida's emergency officials recommend building toward seven days of essentials, since help and power can be slow to return after a major storm. The core list, drawn from the state's disaster supply checklist:
- Water: at least one gallon per person per day, several days' worth (more is better), plus extra for pets.
- Food: non-perishable items that need no cooking, and a manual can opener.
- Medications and first aid: a week of prescriptions, plus a stocked first-aid kit.
- Power and light: flashlights, plenty of batteries, a battery or hand-crank radio, and charged power banks.
- Cash: ATMs and card readers go down when the power does.
- Documents and comfort: copies of key papers, hygiene items, and supplies for infants, seniors, or special needs.
Build it in the spring and keep it stocked — don't disassemble it after a near-miss.
Protect your home and openings
A home's weak points in a hurricane are its openings — windows, doors, and the garage door. Covering them is what prevents wind and water from getting inside and pressurizing the structure:
- Windows and doors: Deploy hurricane shutters or impact protection. If you're relying on panels, make sure the hardware is organized and labeled by opening well ahead of time.
- The garage door: Often the largest and most vulnerable opening; a wind-rated door or bracing helps.
- The yard: Bring in or secure anything that can become a projectile — furniture, grills, plants, trash cans.
- Trees: Weak and overhanging limbs should be trimmed in spring by a tree service, not the week of a storm.
- Power: If you rely on a standby or portable generator, service it and stock fuel before the season — and never run a portable unit in a garage or near windows.
Secure documents and take inventory
Before a storm, gather your insurance policies, IDs, deeds, and medical and prescription information into a waterproof container, with a backup stored digitally or with someone out of the area. Then walk through your home with your phone and photograph or video everything — rooms, belongings, the roof, major systems. If you ever file a claim, that pre-storm record is the documentation adjusters want, and it's far easier to capture now than to reconstruct later.
Make your plan: stay or go
Decide your plan before the season, not during a warning. Know your evacuation zone and your route, identify where you'd go, and make arrangements for pets, since many shelters have restrictions. When a storm threatens, follow the orders from local emergency management — they're based on your specific zone and the storm — rather than guessing. The federal Ready.gov hurricane guidance is a good companion for building the plan.
Get the big jobs done early
The recurring theme: the substantial work — shutters, generator installation, tree trimming, a roof inspection — should happen in the quiet spring months when crews are available and not slammed. Once a storm is in the cone, installers are booked solid and you're competing with the whole region. The Storm Prep & Recovery hub gathers the local companies for each of those jobs so you can line them up before June.
FAQ
What should be in a hurricane supply kit? At least several days of water (about one gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit, a battery or hand-crank radio, cash, and chargers. Florida officials suggest building toward seven days.
How much water should I store for a hurricane? At least one gallon per person per day for several days, and more if you can, plus extra for pets. Water service and quality can be disrupted after a major storm.
When should I prepare my home for a hurricane? Do the big jobs — shutters, generator, tree trimming, roof inspection — in spring before the season, and final property prep when a storm enters the forecast. Installers and supplies run out fast once a system is named.
What documents should I protect before a hurricane? Insurance policies, IDs, deeds, and medical and prescription information, plus photos or video of your home for claims. Keep copies in a waterproof container with a backup stored digitally or out of the area.
Should I evacuate or shelter in place? Follow the orders from your local emergency management officials, based on your evacuation zone and the specific storm. Know your zone before the season so the decision is already made.