Hurricane Season Is Coming. Here's How to Prepare Before the Storm.
In South Florida, hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. That's six months of the year.
For most healthy adults, a storm means inconvenience. For older adults and people with disabilities, it can mean something much more serious — particularly if medications require refrigeration, mobility makes evacuation harder, or a power outage cuts off medical equipment.
The difference between a manageable situation and a dangerous one is almost always preparation done before the storm arrives. Waiting until a watch or warning is issued means competing with 8 million other people for supplies, gas, and time.
This checklist walks through what to do in the three windows that matter most: 30 days out, 7 days out, and 48 hours before landfall.
30 Days Out: Get the Foundation Right
These aren't storm tasks. They're year-round preparations that should be done before any storm is named.
Know your zone.
Florida's evacuation zones are A through F, with A being the highest-risk coastal areas. You can find your zone at floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone. Write it down. Know it before anyone tells you to leave.
Register for the Special Needs Registry.
If your loved one has a medical condition, disability, or functional need that makes evacuating independently difficult, register with your county's Special Needs Shelter program. This connects them with transportation assistance and a shelter equipped to handle medical needs. Each of our six counties has a registration process:
- Broward County: broward.org/emergency → Special Needs Registry
- Palm Beach County: pbcgov.org/publicsafety/dem → Special Needs Program
- Martin County: martin.fl.us/emergency-management
- St. Lucie County: stlucieco.gov/emergency-management
- Indian River County: ircgov.com/public-safety/emergency-services
- Okeechobee County: okeechobeecountyfl.gov/emergency-management
Register now, not when a storm is named.
Document medications.
Keep a current list of all medications, dosages, prescribers, and pharmacy contacts — in paper form, in a waterproof bag. Include refill information and the name of the prescribing doctor. If any medication requires refrigeration, know your plan for maintaining the cold chain during an outage.
Check insurance and documents.
Insurance policy, ID, Medicare/Medicaid cards, Social Security card, medical records, living will or healthcare proxy paperwork. Copies in a waterproof zip bag stored with go-bag supplies.
Know your caregiver's hurricane plan.
If your loved one has a regular caregiver, talk through the storm plan together: what's the protocol if a storm is approaching? When does the caregiver stop coming? What backup support exists? GSA Home Care clients should contact us directly to discuss continuity of care during storm season.
7 Days Out: A Storm Is Forming
When a storm enters the Gulf or Atlantic and begins tracking toward South Florida, this is your window.
Build your supply kit.
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day, minimum 7 days
- Food: non-perishable, easy to prepare, 7+ day supply
- Manual can opener
- 7-day supply of all medications
- Flashlights and extra batteries (or hand-crank)
- Battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio
- First aid kit
- Phone chargers and a backup power bank
- Cash in small bills (ATMs and card systems may go down)
Fill prescriptions early.
Don't wait. Pharmacies run out. If you're due for a refill within two weeks, fill it now. Most insurers will allow an early fill if a hurricane warning is possible.
Prepare the home.
- Bring in outdoor furniture, plants, and anything that can become a projectile
- Close hurricane shutters or install plywood if needed
- Check that all drains and gutters are clear
- Move important items to higher floors if flooding is a risk for your zone
Plan your communication.
Who do you need to reach before the storm? Who will check on your loved one? Establish a post-storm check-in plan with family members, neighbors, and the care team.
48 Hours Out: A Warning Has Been Issued
If you are in an evacuation zone: go.
Don't wait. Evacuation orders are issued in sequence — Zone A first, then B, and so on. If your zone is called, leave early. Traffic is always worse than you expect, and leaving too late is far more dangerous than leaving too soon.
If staying: last-minute checklist
- ✅ Full water supply assembled (bathtub filled as supplemental source)
- ✅ All medications gathered and accessible
- ✅ Phone charged; backup battery charged
- ✅ Flashlights in accessible locations
- ✅ Shutters or protection in place on all windows
- ✅ Important documents in waterproof bag
- ✅ Several days of food that doesn't need cooking
- ✅ Family check-in plan confirmed
- ✅ Special needs shelter or destination confirmed if evacuating
- ✅ Notify your care team of your plan
After the storm:
Don't assume it's safe immediately. Wait for official all-clear before going outside. Don't use generators, grills, or camp stoves indoors. Check for gas leaks before using appliances. If power is out and medications require refrigeration, contact your pharmacist immediately.
Resources: Florida Division of Emergency Management (floridadisaster.org); Know Your Zone (floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone); APD Emergency Preparedness (apd.myflorida.com/customers/disaster/); Ready.gov Special Needs Planning.
Want to talk through your family's hurricane plan?
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📍 Serving Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee counties.