Hurricanes And Tropical Storms

Planning and preparing before a hurricane strikes can help you manage the impact of high winds and floodwaters. Take the steps outlined below to keep you and your family safe while protecting your home and property. If you are a renter, talk with your landlord or property manager about additional steps you can take.

Protect Your Property
Minimize Financial Hardship
Organize Disaster Supplies
Plan To Be Safe
Prepare Your Business


Protect Your Property

One dollar invested in protecting your home can save up to six dollars in damage expenses. Wind, flood, and storm surge are three hazards that are common to coastal and river communities. Below are some things you can do to address these hazards:

Wind: ​

• Consider installing storm shutters for all large windows and glass doors
• Consider a new roof with hurricane-rated shingles
• Make sure roof is fastened to the structure with hurricane straps or clips
• Install head and foot bolts on double-entry doorways
• Use a security deadbolt with one-inch minimum bolt on all exterior doors
• Consider a hurricane-resistant or reinforced garage door

Flood and Storm Surge

• Keep gutters and drains free of debris
• Stockpile emergency protective materials
• Elevate water heater, electric panel, and heating/cooling systems if susceptible to flooding
• Dry Floodproofing, which means making a building watertight through the use of waterproof membranes, backflow valves, and other measures
• Wet Floodproofing, which means modifying uninhabited portions of your home to allow floodwaters to enter and exit

Minimize Financial Hardship

Financial preparedness is critical. Take time to organize your financial documents and keep extra copies with your supply kit.

Insure your property: Contact your insurance agent and ensure you are covered for hurricane related hazards. Floods are the most common and costly natural disaster, so it’s important to have the right coverage. Homeowners and renters insurance usually don’t cover flood damage.  Flood insurance must be purchased separately! PLEASE NOTE: a flood insurance policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase. Do not wait until the last minute to obtain this coverage!

• Protect your home or business with flood insurance: Call the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) at 1-800-427-4661 or visit fema.gov/flood-insurance to obtain insurance.  

Understand your flood risk 
Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United States. With many low-lying areas, the St.
Johns River, and other waterways, Duval County is always at risk for flooding regardless of whether
a tropical cyclone is affecting our area. 

• ​FEMA Flood Map Service Center
• City of Jacksonville's Geographic Information System

Make an inventory of your personal assets and keep it in a safe, dry place. If possible, take photos and video of your belongings and keep them with you during the event of an emergency.

Be sure that you keep cash on hand as power outages may prevent access to ATMs and may limit the use of credit/debit cards.

Organize Disaster Supplies

Your emergency supply kit should have enough supplies to last three days for every person in your family, including a plan for yearly maintenance. For a list of suggested items to include in your kit, visit this hyperlink.

Plan To Be Safe

Planning ahead is the best way to stay safe from disasters. Plan for all hazards that could affect you,
especially large-scale disasters like hurricanes. Every family is unique, so be sure to consider everyone’s needs. Get together with your family and review your plan every year. Some things to consider are:

• Who is your out-of-town contact?
• Does your plan incorporate your entire household?
• Have you shared your plan with others?

• What is your escape plan?
• Where will you meet?
• How will you communicate with your family in the event of an emergency

. Prepare Your Business

• Create a Continuity of Operations Plan (view our template at this hyperlink), and document employee responsibilities and roles before a hurricane strikes and review with each employee.
• Conduct a drill to ensure staff members comprehend their roles and test your emergency plans. Follow up with an after-action report and lessons-learned session.
• Contact your vendors to understand their preparedness plans and how a disaster will impact your supply chain.
• Move computers and other Information Technology (IT) systems away from large windows and doors.
• Relocate valuables and IT systems to the upper level of your facility or to a more secure location if needed.
• Ensure vital records are protected: analyze your off-site backup record storage, place valuable documentation and digital storage media in a waterproof, fireproof box.
• Explore purchasing a flood insurance policy for your business.

 

Below are some preparation tips when a hurricane or tropical storm is expected:

• Review your family emergency plan.
• Check for weather updates regularly on your TV, radio, or online.
• Bring loose, lightweight objects indoors, such as patio furniture and garbage cans.
• Purchase supplies to board-up windows if you do not have storm shutters.
• Refill prescription medications.
• Trim or remove trees that are close enough to fall and cause damage to your home or property.
• Anchor objects that are unsafe to bring indoors.
• Gas and service your vehicles.

If a storm is expected to impact the Jacksonville area and you are in a Mandatory Evacuation Zone, take action immediately. If you are not in a Mandatory Evacuation Zone, you may choose to stay in your home. Keep in mind; you may only need to travel a short distance to safely evacuate. Moving to a non-evacuation zone may be sufficient. To check what Evacuation Zone you are located in, visit this hyperlink. 

• Evacuating
• Transportation Assistance
• ​Evacuation Shelters
• Sheltering In Place

If You Decide To Evacuate
I-95 and I-10 are the main evacuation routes out of the county. Beaches residents and visitors should connect from the Wonderwood Expressway, Atlantic Boulevard, Beach Boulevard, and J. Turner Butler Boulevard to reach I-95 and I-10. Evacuation routes may be crowded, so plan ahead. Fore more information about Duval County Evacuation Routes, visit this hyperlink. 

Final actions if evacuating:

• Turn off propane tanks and gas.
• Turn off power at main electrical panel using the main switch to flip all circuit breakers to the "off" position.
• Turn off the main water valve at the street or inside your unit if an apartment or condominium.
• Secure all doors and windows.
• Take your emergency supply kit with you. 

Transportation Assistance
If you need transportation assistance to evacuate, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) will
suspend fares for evacuation routes. If you plan to evacuate, be ready to evacuate early as these services
will stop as conditions deteriorate.

• JTA will operate on a Sunday schedule for normal routes.
•  All fixed route bus and First Coast Flyer BRT stops will become evacuation pick-up points to transport individuals to hubs.
• Residents needing to evacuate can take any bus marked “Evacuation Shuttle” on a regular bus route before the announced cut-off time.
• Residents can also go to any one of the four designated pick-up locations to be transported to a transfer hub, where you will then change buses to be transported to a public shelter:
  • Fletcher High School
  • Mayport Middle School
  • Baldwin Middle-High School
  • Jacksonville Beach Elelmentary

More information about this service can be found at this hyperlink or by calling (904) 630-3100.

Evacuation Shelters
Evacuation shelters are a refuge of last resort and should only be considered if you need to evacuate
and have no other options. If you can safely shelter in place, stay with friends or family, or stay in a hotel, it is recommended that you do so.

If your only option is to stay at a shelter you should, bathe, and eat before securing your home and
relocating. Citizens are encouraged to bring their own food, pillows, and bedding. Do not bring any
valuables with you. Smoking and alcohol consumption are not permitted at any shelter. Additionally,
childcare is not provided at any shelter; you are required to supervise your children.

For additional information about Duval County Evacuation Shelters, visit this hyperlink. 


If You Decide To Stay
Keep in mind that you may not be able to leave your home for several days. Emergency responders
may not be able to get to you if conditions are poor. Frequently check for weather updates on your TV,
radio, or online.

Final actions if staying:

• Move your vehicle to higher ground, a garage, or another safe location.
• Fully charge your cell phone and other devices in case you lose power. 
• Turn your refrigerator and freezer to the coldest settings and only open when necessary.
• Close storm shutters and stay away from windows and exterior doors.

 

If you evacuated, wait for public officials to announce that it is safe before you return home. Each year, there are a significant number of injuries while cleaning up after a storm. Consider the following tips to stay safe after a storm.

• Avoid Driving: If you evacuated, wait for public officials to announce that it is safe before you return home. Each year, there are a significant number of injuries while cleaning up after a storm. Consider the following tips to stay safe after a storm.
• Avoid Floodwaters: Avoid driving or wading through floodwaters as they may be electrically charged, contain dangerous debris, or be covering places where the ground has washed away.
• Check for Danger: Check the outside of your home for loose powerlines, gas leaks, or structural damage. Do not enter a building until it has been inspected.
• Protect Yourself: Wear appropriate protective gear, such as gloves and masks, to shield yourself from debris and airborne hazards.
• Prevent Further Damage: Do what you can to prevent further damage to your home, such as placing a tarp over a hole in the roof or covering a broken window.
• Avoid Electrical Equipment: Do not use electrical equipment if it is wet or if you are standing in water. 

For additional information about what to do after a storm, visit our Recovering from a Disaster page. 

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based only on a hurricane's maximum sustained wind speed. This scale does not take into account other potentially deadly hazards such as storm surge, rainfall flooding, and tornadoes.