Do you have to leave your home in a hurricane? How to find out about orders in Florida
The tropics are waking up. And that means we should wake up, too.
While we keep a wary eye on the systems tracked by the National Hurricane Center, it’s time to prepare for the worst. Like knowing about evacuation orders.
Will you have to leave your home? When? And where will you go?
Here are the emergency websites, phone numbers and social media accounts you should save in South Florida for evacuation zones and other vital information:
(If you want to read about a specific county or topic, click from the options below. If not, just scroll to read the full article.)
What do you want to know?
Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County’s Office of Emergency Management supports the community’s disaster preparedness and has a variety of useful resources including hurricane preparation guides and information on emergency evacuations, Red Cross shelters, storm surge.
For tropical storm and hurricane specific information, including on evacuation zones, visit miamidade.gov/hurricane
Phone: Call 311 for general information and to report problems including price gouging, downed traffic signs and street lights. You can also sign up to receive emergency alerts by email or text. Text “Join MDC” to 34292. If you want to opt out later, you will need to text “STOP” to 34292.
If you feel your life is in danger, call 911. If you cannot call, text 911. If texting, enter 911 in the “To” field, then enter your location and a short description of the emergency and hit send. Do not send pictures, videos, emojis, group messages, slang, abbreviations or web links.
App: You can download “ReadyMDC” to your Apple or Android smartphone for “up-to-the minute hurricane info.”
Emergency evacuation assistance program:
If people need assistance with evacuation and sheltering because they require special transportation, have no transportation or have medical needs that prevent leaving the area on their own, they are encouraged to register with the county by calling 305-513-7700. You should not wait until an evacuation order is given to request being added to the registry as resources are limited.
The county says residents in assisted living facilities or nursing homes don’t qualify for this program because those businesses must have their own emergency plans.
Shutter installation assistance:
The county has a year-round first-come, first-served paint and hurricane shutter loan program that helps homeowners with a “low to moderate” household income to have the exterior of their home painted or accordion hurricane shutters installed. Keep in mind that a lien will be placed on your home.
Seniors and adults with disabilities who already have shutters (that were obtained from Miami-Dade County) and need help installing them ahead of a storm can also request help through Miami-Dade’s Residential Shuttering Program, which operates during hurricane season (June 1-Nov. 30). If a storm is approaching, you will receive a phone call to find out if you need help.
To learn about both programs, visit the county’s website.
X (formerly Twitter):
Miami-Dade County @MiamiDadeCounty
Miami-Dade Emergency Management @MiamiDadeEM
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava @MayorDaniella
Miami-Dade police @MiamiDadePD
TIP: Check to see if your city’s mayor, commissioners and police department are active on social media. If they are, it’s a good idea to follow them. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez’s X name, for example, is @FrancisSuarez and Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber’s is @MayorDanGelber. Miami and Miami Beach police can be found on X at @MiamiPD and @MiamiBeachPD.
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Broward County
Broward County’s Office of Emergency Management supports disaster preparedness and offers useful resources including hurricane prep guides and information on emergency evacuations, Red Cross shelters, storm surge.
For hurricane information, including evacuation plans and maps, visit broward.org/hurricane
Phone: Call 311 for general information. You can also sign up to receive emergency alerts by phone, text or email. Sign up at https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085614962#/login
If you feel like your life is in danger, call 911. If you cannot call, text 911. If texting, enter 911 in the “To” field, then enter your location and a short description of the emergency and hit send. Do not send pictures, videos, emojis, group messages, slang, abbreviations or web links.
If you only want emergency notifications, you can text “AlertBroward” to 888777. You will then need to provide your ZIP Code.
Emergency evacuation assistance:
Broward County recommends that those who are at higher risk of needing help due to disability, frailty or health , regardless of age, and choose to stay during a hurricane or other emergency should sign up for their “Vulnerable Population Registry.”
Residents should register in advance (don’t wait for a storm to be in the forecast) either online or by calling 311 because resources are limited. You can also preregister to request transportation to a shelter by calling 954-831-3902 or TTY 954-831-3940.
Learn more at broward.org/atrisk
X:
Broward County Office of Emergency Management @ReadyBroward
Broward County Mayor Lamar Fisher @LamarPFisher
Broward Sheriff’s Office @browardsheriff
TIP: Check to see if your city’s mayor, commissioners and police department are active on social media. If they are, it’s a good idea to follow them. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean J. Trantalis is on X at @DeanTrantalis. Fort Lauderdale police can be accessed at @ftlauderdalepd.
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Monroe County
Monroe County’s Office of Emergency Management supports the community’s disaster preparedness and has resources including hurricane prep guides and information on emergency evacuations and Red Cross shelters.
Evacuation maps and info: https://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/897/Evacuation-Information
Phone: 305-294-4641.
To sign up for emergency alerts, visit: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085614966#/login
If you feel you’re in danger, call 911. If you cannot call, text 911. If texting, enter 911 in the “To” field, then enter your location and a short description of the emergency and hit send. Don’t send pictures, videos, emojis, group messages, slang, abbreviations or web links.
Special Needs Registry: Those with a disability who may need assistance in leaving during a hurricane or other disaster can preregister with the county’s Special Needs Registry Everbridge Application Portal. This may take time so don’t wait until the last minute because the Department of Health medical staff will need to review applications.
X:
Monroe County BOCC @monroecounty
Florida Keys Sheriff @mcsonews
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School Updates
If a storm is forecast to hit South Florida while class is in session, parents and students should check email, their school website and social media for information on closings and openings.
▪ Miami-Dade Public Schools
Website: http://www.dadeschools.net/
X: @MDCPS
Superintendent José Dotres @SuptDotres
Miami-Dade schools police: @MDSPD
▪ Broward County Public Schools
Website: https://www.browardschools.com/
Superintendent Peter Licata @SuptlicataP
▪ Monroe County School District
Website: https://www.keysschools.com/
X: @keysschools
▪ Archdiocese of Miami
Website: https://www.miamiarch.org/
Superintendent Jim Rigg: @RiggJim
College and university students should check their email, monitor local news and their school’s social media accounts.
Statewide
▪ National Hurricane Center will provide information on wind speed, the storm’s development and its potential track.
Website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
▪ National Weather Service will provide various forecast information including rain chances and potential hazards. Input your ZIP Code for the most accurate forecast.
Website: https://www.weather.gov/
X: @NWSMiami is for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. @NWSKeyWest is for the Florida Keys.
▪ Gov. Ron DeSantis on X: @GovRonDeSantis
▪ Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody on X: @AGAshleyMoody
To report price gouging, call 866-9NO-SCAM or report it through the free “No SCAM” app available for Apple and Android smartphones.
▪ Florida Division of Emergency Management:
Website: www.floridadisaster.org.
X: @FLSERT
Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie on X: @KevinGuthrieFL
Power, TV, phone and Internet
▪ Florida Power and Light
Website: fpl.com/storm
X: @insideFPL
To report or check the status of an outage, visit: https://www.fpl.com/my-account/web-outage.html#wors/mainTab/phoneTab
To report a dangerous condition such as a downed power line, call 800-468-8243. If you are in danger, call 911.
▪ Florida Keys Electric Cooperative
To report or check the status of an outage, visit: fkec.com/outage-center/. You can also report an outage by calling 305-587-9256 or 800-858-8845. You can also text 451-83.
To report a dangerous condition such as a downed power line, Florida Keys Electric Cooperative says to call 911 and then to call the utility at 305-587-9256.
▪ Keys Energy Services
To report or check the status of an outage, visit keysenergy.com.
To report a dangerous condition, such as a downed power line, call 305-295-1010. If you are in danger, call 911.
X: @KeysEnergy
▪ Xfinity
To report or check if a service outage has been reported in your area, sign into your account and check the Status Center.
TIP: Once the storm is over, if you’re in need of internet, you can find a nearby Xfinity hotspot to use. Xfinity also has a website with other useful information for when a storm hits at xfinity.com/Response.
▪ AT&T
To report or check if a service outage has been reported in your area, sign into your account online at att.com or use the myATT app.
TIP: Once the storm is over, if you’re in need of internet, you can find a nearby AT&T hotspot to use.
Other websites, phone numbers to know
▪ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
Website: www.fema.gov
X: @fema
App: Download the free FEMA app on your Apple or Android phone for real-time alerts, emergency shelter locations, disaster recovery centers.
▪ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline — People in emotional distress or who are considering suicide can call 800-273-8255 for free 24/7 confidential support. Starting on July 16, 2022, people can call 988 for the helpline. For Spanish, call 888-628-9454. For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 800-273-8255.
It’s also a good idea to write down the phone numbers of family members and put the paper in your hurricane kit, just in case something happens to your phone.
