Hurricanes are some of the most powerful storms that can hit Florida. Although they can be nerve-wracking, scary, and all the other emotions, it is important to be prepared and plan ahead when the season comes around.
If you are traveling during hurricane season in Florida, then it's important to know when hurricane season for Florida is, check the weather regularly, and stay up to date on new weather pattern developments and possible formations of storms.
A little background on the importance of planning ahead: when my family moved back to Florida towards the end of the summer season, we were soon faced with a possible hurricane in Southwest Florida.
Not having a full inventory of supplies led to more stress and long lines at the store for last-minute shopping (if it wasn't already sold out).
Now we have a process of buying items during Florida's Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday and we stock up on a few items. This helps cut down on panic buying and buyer remorse.
Hopefully, this article will encourage you to prepare early so that you have supplies on hand for your family and your home.
Table of Contents:
When is hurricane season for Florida?
Hurricane season in Florida is from June 1st to November 30th.
The most active weeks for hurricanes are in August to October, but hurricanes have been known to hit during other parts of the year too. November and December can both be active months for storms coming ashore in Florida.
It's important to note that February through April tend to be quieter months for hurricanes because of cooler waters and less wind shear (which tends to slow down or dissipate storms).
Hurricanes can cause storm surges, strong winds, and heavy rainfall, which then leads to flooding and power outages that lead to serious damage to homes and businesses.
Hurricane season is a time when people need to be prepared for anything that comes their way.
2022 Hurricane Season for Florida Predictions based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA):
NOAA is predicting 14-21 named storms with winds (winds of 39 mph or higher)
6 to 10 of the named storms could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher)
3 to 6 of the named storms could become major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher)
Where do hurricanes hit in Florida?
The short answer is that all of Florida can be hit by a hurricane. Yes, even Central Florida can receive high winds and rain from hurricane bands.
Areas along the Florida coast such as the Panhandle, Southwest Florida, Miami, and the Keys are extremely vulnerable to Hurricane flooding and damage.
The coastal areas are vulnerable to storm surges, especially the Florida Keys.
If you live in a hurricane-prone area (which is all of Florida), you should be aware of what to do before and during a storm.
How to prepare your family for hurricane season:
Preparing your family for hurricane season is one of the most important parts of prepping. This is when you will want to get a list together and go over inventory and note items that you need to have on hand.
Think about food that can easily be prepared such as canned food. If your power goes out then your refrigerator will go out too (unless you have a backup generator and even that is run by gas which can run out too).
However, you will want to consider purchasing food items that don't have to be kept cold and that can easily be prepared. We keep a few containers of freeze-dried food on hand at all times. This is our favorite brand that we've tried and highly recommend.
When packing an emergency kit consider including: clothes, food, water, medicine, and copies of important documents. We keep an emergency family binder that has important documents stored so I can grab the binder if we are in a hurry.
The American Red Cross suggests having two emergency kits packed and ready. One for staying at home and one for evacuating. I always review their list of items because they are the most comprehensive that I have seen on the web.
You will also want to have a first aid kit, flashlight, and batteries, radio, cell phone charger. I have this hand-crank solar-powered radio that comes equipped with a charger and flashlight. I hope I don't have to use it but it's nice to have on hand.
"When packing an emergency kit, include clothes, food, water, medicines, and copies of important documents."
Games are definitely not a necessity but when you have children, you might want to consider keeping card games, books, and other games that don't require electricity or wifi. My family enjoys this magnetic board game and this license plate game for road trips.
If you have a pet(s), don't forget about their food, medications, water, bedding, etc. If you have to go to a shelter then consider bringing a pet carrier too.
How to prepare your home for hurricane season:
You may be wondering how you can prepare your home. Here are some tips:
Make sure your roof is in good shape and that gutters are clear of debris, as a leaky roof can lead to flooding in your home.
Shutters are the most effective way to protect your home from hurricane winds and are easy to install. They'll help keep out water as well, which can cause damage to the interior of your home even if it doesn't get damaged by storm surge or high winds.
If you don't have shutters, you can board your windows with plywood.
If you have trees near your house, inspect the limbs to see if anything needs to be trimmed; they could fall on the house during a storm.
Get rid of any old boards or nails sticking out from around window and door frames; these could be dangerous if they cling during a storm and get blown into another room with high-velocity winds.
Secure loose items, whether it is outside or inside. You will want to bring in patio furniture, umbrellas, pool equipment, lawn equipment, etc.
Traveling to Florida during hurricane season:
Here are a few tips for traveling to Florida during the hurricane season:
Start checking the weather every day prior to your trip. I suggest at least three weeks out to begin monitoring the weather every day. Have weather alerts set up on your phone for the destination that you are headed to.
If you plan on traveling during hurricane season, then double-check cancellation policies for airlines, rental cars, hotels, cruises, activities, etc.
Consider checking with the hotel regarding their evacuation plan and evacuation routes.
If you are traveling to Florida during the hurricane season, then you might begin to notice the handy evacuation route signs that are posted along the Florida roadways.
Have a backup plan ready in case you need to cancel your trip to the Sunshine State.
I would also get familiar with weather terms such as tropical depression versus tropical storm.
More information about how to prepare before, during, and after hurricane season for Florida:
Taking these measures will ensure you are ready for hurricane season in Florida.
As you can see, hurricane season is something that affects all Floridians and Florida travelers. Whether you live in Jacksonville, Orlando, or visiting Florida, there are steps you can take to prepare for a potential hurricane. By following these tips and making sure your family is ready for anything, we hope that everyone stays safe throughout Florida's hurricane season!
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Hello! I'm Tiffany, a creative travel writer, mother to three awesome kids, and Floridian. We like to visit beautiful Florida beaches, Florida State Parks, and of course Disney! I like to write about our travel adventures and provide tips to other families traveling or relocating to the Sunshine State.