Hurricane Information

Be Prepared South Palm Beach!

The Atlantic Hurricane Season is yearly from June 1 to November 30.  As residents of South Florida and South Palm Beach, it’s important to be prepared every year.

While the Town continues to take precautions against COVID-19, we must also prepare for Hurricane Season.  Here are some tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe:

• Know your risk:  Find out how rain, wind and flooding can impact where we live so you can start preparing now.
• Know your evacuation zone:  You may have to evacuate quickly due to a hurricane.
• Gather supplies: Have enough food, water, and other supplies for every member of your family to last at least 72 hours.  Consider what unique needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets or seniors and prescription medications.  In addition, it is recommended that you add two cloth face coverings per family member and cleaning items to your kit, like soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, or general household cleaning supplies to disinfect surfaces.
• Make an emergency plan: Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands your hurricane plan.  Discuss the latest CDC guidelines on COVID-19 and how it may affect your hurricane planning.  Complete a family communication plan.
• Stay informed:  Know where to go for trusted sources of information during a hurricane event.  Visit the Town of South Palm Beach website www.southpalmbeach.com for regular updates.  Sign-up for the Town’s Emergency Notification System called Blackboard by contacting Town Hall at 561-588-8889. 
• Check your insurance coverage:  Review your policy, ensure you are adequately covered and understand exclusions.  Contact your agent for any changes.
• Special needs shelters:  You must register with Palm Beach County in advance.  Please call (561) 712-6400 (TTY (561) 712-6342)

Special Needs Residents

• Notify your health agency where you will be during a hurricane and when care can be re-established.
• If you are home-bound and under the care of a physician, but not a home health agency, contact your physician.
• If you require oxygen, check with your supplier about their emergency plans.
• If you evacuate, remember to take medications and prescription numbers, written instructions regarding your care, name, and numbers of physicians and pharmacies, insurance and Medicare cards, your bedding and your walker, wheelchair, canes or any special equipment.
• Label all your special equipment with your name and contact information.
• If you require hospitalization, you must make prior arrangements through your physician, including securing any documentation that the hospital may require prior to admitting you at the time of the storm.

Note:  A caregiver should never drop an elderly and/or frail person at a medical facility without assuring that they will be admitted, which may require written documentation and prior arrangement with a physician and the hospital.

Before the Storm

If you are elderly, in poor health, or have special needs, it is recommended that you evacuate. If you live on an upper floor of a building and are dependent upon an elevator, you should plan to evacuate since power outages can affect your building’s elevator system. Many elevators do not have generator power, and those that do have generator power may not have enough fuel for a prolonged outage. 

There are approximately (15) shelters throughout Palm Beach County. Consider staying with friends or relatives outside the area. Shelters are often crowded and uncomfortable by their very nature but should be used if you have no other option. If you go to a shelter, be prepared for an extended stay.  Do not proceed to a shelter until the media has announced that it is officially open.

If you must evacuate

• Have a good meal before you get on the road or go to a shelter.
• Evacuate as soon as possible, preferably during daylight. Roads and bridges frequently become crowded and traffic moves slowly. Be sure to take a map if you are going to an unfamiliar area.
• Unplug appliances and turn off the electricity and the main water valve. This will reduce potential damage to your appliances and the risk of fire from power surges. If you have natural gas, check with your natural gas supplier for information. 
• Tell someone outside of the storm area where you are going. 
• If time permits, and you live in an identified surge zone or area prone to flooding, raise furniture, photographs and other irreplaceable items to a higher place. 
• Bring pre-assembled emergency supplies 
• Remember – firearms, explosive devices, intoxicating beverages, and illegal drugs are not allowed in shelters. 
• Only service animals such as guide dogs for the visually impaired, not pets, are allowed in shelters. If you bring a service animal to be sure to bring food, water, bowls and any other necessities they require. 
• Important documents such as birth or marriage certificates, social security cards, passports, immunization records, checkbooks, and bank account files, wills, vehicle titles, insurance policies, stocks, bonds deeds, computer backup disks, etc. should be copied and secured. Take a complete set with you when you evacuate.

Storm Categories

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale (The Saffir-Simpson Scale is based on sustained winds. Sustained wind is a 1-minute wind average measured at about 33 feet above the ground).

Category One Hurricane: Winds 74-95 mph

Storm surge is generally 4-5 feet above normal. Building damage primarily as a result of fallen trees and other debris. Expect damage to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees as well as poorly constructed signs. Expect coastal road flooding and pier damage.

Category Two Hurricane: Winds 96-110 mph

Storm surge is generally 6-8 feet above normal. Building damage sustained as a result of debris as well as considerable damage to roofing materials, doors, and windows to buildings. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before the arrival of the hurricane center.

Category Three Hurricane: Winds 111-129 mph

Storm surge is generally 9-12 feet above normal. Some structural damage, as well as damage, sustained. Expect considerable damage to roofing materials, doors, and windows to buildings. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs destroyed. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 3-5 hours before the arrival of the hurricane center. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures and larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 feet above mean sea level may be flooded. Evacuation in low-lying areas likely.

Category Four Hurricane: Winds 130-156 mph

Storm surge is generally 13-18 feet above normal. More extensive structural damage, with some complete roof structure failures. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before the arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 feet above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas.

Category Five Hurricane: Winds greater than 157 mph

Storm surge generally greater than 18 feet above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 feet above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within miles of the shoreline may be required.

Source: National Hurricane Center

Note: Even a low category storm, depending on a number of factors, can cause considerable damage to your home and property. Always be prepared for a higher category storm that is predicted as the intensity of a hurricane can change up or down within hours, and winds may be significantly higher at the upper levels of multi-storied buildings. Storm surge varies by the intensity of the storm, as well as by tide and coastline factors. In general, it can range from 4-5 feet to over 18 feet and is an extremely dangerous aspect of the storm.

Note: Emergency vehicles will be taken off the road when the maximum sustained winds exceed 39 mph. They will not resume services until the windfall below 39 mph.

Family Disaster Supply Kit 

Perishable items should be changed or replaced every six months.