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Preparing Your Home
- Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed during Hurricane Season (June - November). Do not trim trees after a hurricane watch or warning has been announced. Trimmings could become dangerous projectiles.
- If you have storm shutters, make sure they are county approved, and they work and fit properly. If you don't have shutters, or do not have the resources to install them, contact the American Red Cross for instructions on the correct way to install plywood coverings.
- Taping windows will not protect your home.
Review Your Insurance
- You should secure your insurance policy in advance. There are certain restrictions in which no application for insurance will be accepted or coverage increased once a tropical storm or hurricane is located within the boundaries of a determined "exclusion box" area on a hurricane tracking map.
- Speak to your agent and ask these key questions:
-- Do I have replacement value coverage on all property, including contents?
-- What is the deductible?
-- Are there any exclusions?
-- Does the policy cover flooding, wind and storm damage?
-- Does the policy cover relocation or temporary housing?
- Take photos of your home, inside and out, for documentation of its condition and contents.
- Make copies of your policies.
Family/Friends With Special Needs
- If the individual with special needs will not be staying with you and MUST evacuate, pre-register them NOW with a special needs registry maintained by your county's office of emergency management.
- Make a list of prescribed medicines and plan to have a 30-day supply available.
- If you or a family member receives home health care, or requires electricity for life support equipment, make emergency plans with the individual's physician.
- Purchase and set aside hurricane supplies
- Check the working condition of all emergency equipment such as generators, flashlights, battery-powered radios, etc.
- Make a list of all important belongings.
Your Pet
- Except for service animals, pets are not allowed in evacuation centers.
- Check with your vet or kennel in advance for pet accommodating in case of a hurricane.
- Check with family or friends who live in a secure area and ask if your pet would be welcome in their home during a hurricane.
- Make sure your pet's vaccinations are up to date and that the pet is tagged with your current address and phone numbers. You should have current photos of your pets.
- If you plan to stay in your home, keep enough pet food, water (one-half gallon per pet per day) and medications to last at least two weeks.
- Once the storm has passed, take precaution when allowing your pet outside. Downed power lines, contaminated food or water, and unfamiliar scents may pose dangers.
Protecting Your Business
- Make backup plans NOW by identifying and protecting vital records such as: articles of incorporation, computer software, accounts receivable, client records, tax records, other important personnel and administrative documents.
- Identify when employees will be released from work as well as when they are expected to return.
- You may want to follow the same return schedule as county and local government employees.
- Make sure your insurance coverage is up to date.
Protecting Your Boat
- Develop a plan well in advance! You can store a small boat with a trailer in a warehouse or your garage.
- If you leave your boat outside, attach the trailer tongue to a firm spot in the ground, deflate the tires, and lash the boat to the trailer. Place boards between the axle and frame to prevent damage to the trailer springs.
- If your boat is in a marina, read your contract carefully and check with the dockmaster for any new requirements.
- Your insurance policy should include adequate coverage for damage that your boat may cause to other property.
- Inventory all vessel equipment and keep a copy with your Hurricane Kit.
- Identify safe harbors. Take a test run to a safe harbor NOW, checking route conditions and travel time. Keep in mind that district canals are NOT to be used during a hurricane.
- Drawbridges DO NOT operate during evacuations.
- Do NOT, under any circumstance, plan to "ride out" the storm on your boat.
Inside and Outside Your Home
INSIDE your home:
- Establish a "Safe Room." This should be an interior room within your house, free of windows, or a room with very small windows, like a bathroom. Make sure your safe room has a clear pathway to an exit.
- Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings.
- Turn off your gas appliances at their individual inside valves.
- Freeze water in plastic jugs and use them to fill empty spaces in your refrigerator and freezer to help keep food cool.
- Prepare an emergency water supply for bathing and sanitary purposes by storing water in clean airtight containers, including your water heater and washing machine.
- Store valuables and personal papers in watertight containers and store them in the highest possible spot in your home.
OUTSIDE your home:
- Put up your shutters or install precut plywood (per county or American Red Cross instructions) over all windows and glass doors.
- Close all windows.
- DO NOT drain your pool. Add extra chlorine to prevent contamination, and turn off electricity to pool equipment.
- Bring all objects inside that can be blown away, including garbage cans, TV antennas, satellite dishes, lawn furniture, garden tools, and plants. Anchor objects that cannot be brought inside.
- If you don't have a garage or carport, park your car as close to the house as possible, away from trees.
- Fill your car's gas tank early. After a hurricane strike, gasoline may not be available due to power outages.
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Have a Two-Week Supply of the Following Ready to Go
- Water (one gallon per person per day)
- Nonperishable foods; canned meat, fish, fruit and vegetables
- Bread in moisture-proof packaging, cookies, candy, dried fruit
- Canned soups, juices, milk
- Powdered milk or single-serve drinks
- Cereal bars, peanut butter and jelly
- Instant coffee and tea
Additional Supplies
- Flashlight (one per person) and extra batteries*
- Portable battery-powered lanterns*
- NOAA Weather Radio
- Battery-powered radio or TV
- Battery-operated alarm clock
- Non-electric (non-cordless) home telephone (cordless phones won't work if the power's out)
- Portable cooler and ice
- Waterproof lighter
- Map of the area with landmarks shown
*If the electricity is off, use flashlights ONLY. Candles and oil lamps may cause a fire. Fire crews WILL NOT respond during a hurricane.
Cooking Equipment
- Sterno
- Portable camp stove or grill, and an extra propane tank
- Stove fuel or charcoal, lighter fluid
- Manual can opener
- Disposable eating utensils
- Disposable plates and cups
- Napkins and paper towels
- Aluminum foil
- Oven mitts
Medical Supplies
- First aid kit including pain reliever, antibiotic cream, antacids
- Prescriptions (one month's supply)
- Mosquito repellent
- Sunscreen (45 SPF recommended)
- Mosquito netting
- ABC rated fire extinguisher
- Bleach or water purification tablets
Baby Supplies
- Disposable diapers (one month's supply)
- Formula, food and medication
Documents
- Photocopies of prescriptions
- Photo identification
- Proof of occupancy of residence (utility bills)
- Medical history and information
- Water and fireproof container for document storage
- Backup disks of your home computer files
- Camera and film
- Pet picture and license documentation
- Cash
Personal Supplies
- Toilet paper
- Entertainment: books, magazines, card games, etc.
- Soap and detergent
- Toiletries
- Bedding: pillows, blankets, sleeping bag
- Changes of clothing
- Rain ponchos and work gloves
- Extra glasses or contact lenses
- Extra sets of keys
Pet Supplies
- Dry or canned food
- Water (half-gallon per day)
- Litter box supplies
- Traveling pet carriers
Necessities for After the Storm
- Tools: hammer, wrenches, screwdrivers, nails, saw
- Trash bags (lots of them)
- Cleaning supplies
- Plastic drop cloth
- Masking or duct tape (for packaging purposes)
- Outdoor extension cords
- Spray paint
- Auto tire patch kit
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| Emergency |
911 |
| Broward Emerg. Mgt |
954-831-3900 |
| Miami-Dade Emerg. Mgt |
305-468-5400 |
| FEMA |
800-621-FEMA |
| FPL |
800-4-OUTAGE |
| FL Hurricane Helpline |
800-22-STORM |
| Pet-friendly Shelter Reg. |
954-989-3977 |
| People's Gas emergency |
877-832-6747 |
| Broward Red Cross |
954-797-3800 |
| Miami/Keys Red Cross |
305-644-1200 |
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