Hurricane Preparation

Where will you go? What evacuation route will you take? What supplies, medications, and documents will you need? It's important to sort all of these details out well before a storm approaches.

Create a plan for you, your family and your business.

Get tips and templates from the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

If you live on a barrier island, low-lying area, or in a mobile or manufactured home, there is a good chance you will need to heed a mandatory evacuation notice in the event of a hurricane or strong tropical storm.

The reason for the mandatory evacuation is because these areas are most vulnerable during a strong storm. 

Even if you are not in a mandatory evacuation zone, you may wish to leave the area. Widespread damage and interruption of utility services are possible everywhere.

When considering whether to evacuate, do not look only at the forecast track on the map. Depending on the size of the storm the impacts may be felt for many miles beyond the track.

Please use your best judgment and do what you think will be best for you and your family. 

Mandatory Evacuations

Barrier Island Communities

If you live east of the Indian River Lagoon, then you are on a barrier island and within the mandatory evacuation zone. Barrier island communities include Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. A portion of the City of Melbourne is on the barrier island as well as Patrick Air Force Base and unincorporated Brevard County.

Storm Surge

Along the coast, storm surge is often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane. In the past, large death tolls have resulted from the rise of the ocean associated with many of the major hurricanes that have made landfall. Barrier island communities are particularly at risk of dangerous flooding due to storm surge.

Florida Hurricane Evacuation Zone Map

If you are not sure if you live in an evacuation zone, please see the Florida Division of Emergency Management's Know Your Zone map and webpage. 

Mobile and Manufactured Homes

Never ride out a hurricane in a mobile or manufactured home, even if it is not in an evacuation zone.

• Mobile and manufactured homes face the largest risk of damage from high winds.

• Florida law requires all mobile homes to be anchored. Ensure that tie-downs are secure, especially on older mobile homes or ones that have been moved.

Shelters

Shelter locations and opening times are specific to each storm and will be posted on the Brevard County Emergency Management website.

Brevard County will have general population, pet-friendly, and special needs shelters available across the county.

For a list of what to bring to a shelter, see Preparing to Go to a Shelter.  

Special Needs Shelters

Registration is required for special needs shelters. Special needs shelters are specifically assigned to clients so that there are enough supplies and medical professionals to help assist caregivers. If your medical equipment requires electricity, you have serious health issues, and/or you have a caregiver, and you have no other option for safe shelter, please visit Brevard County's Emergency Preparedness Plans for Individuals with Special Needs webpage for more information and to register. They may be able to assist you with finding transportation to a special needs shelter, as well.

Causeways

Causeways will not be closed prior to a storm's arrival. Residents will be provided every opportunity to evacuate before a storm.

It is unsafe to drive on causeways in tropical-storm-force winds (typically 45 miles per hour sustained winds). Once high winds arrive, residents will be encouraged to stay sheltered for the duration of the storm.

Before a Hurricane is in the Forecast

Hurricanes create a tremendous amount of debris that often takes weeks or months to collect. You can help reduce the amount of debris — and the time it takes for all of it to be collected — by keeping your yard and fence maintained before a storm is in the forecast.

Check Trees

• Remove any dead limbs, branches and palm fronds from trees.
• Trim them back if needed.

Check Fencing

• Older fences could be rotted or unstable and may be ripped from the ground in high winds. A dangerous warning sign is if the fence wobbles in relatively strong gusts.
• Perform regular maintenance. Look for loose or weak boards and nail or replace them as necessary.
• If your fence is beyond its years, it may be best to get a new one before you see a hurricane.

If a Hurricane or Strong Storm is in the Forecast

• Remove any loose objects that aren’t secured to the ground.

• Put lawn furniture into the garage and take decorations inside. Even trampolines can catch a strong wind and destroy your fence.

• Be sure to remove any flags or small flag poles — these can be especially dangerous.

• Check for and remove trash and yard debris on the ground that could get caught up in high winds and inflict injury to people or damage property. This sort of debris could also get caught up in storm drains and canals and increase the potential for flooding.

• Never stack tree trimmings, yard debris or any kind of trash on top of a stormwater inlet. These can wash into and clog the inlet, which could cause flooding on your street.

Sandbags

Not all homes need sandbags. If you are in a low-lying area that is prone to flooding, sandbags may be used to protect your home by placing them across doorways to prevent water from entering the building.

• Visit the Brevard County Flood Zone Map and plug in your address to determine whether you live in a flood zone.

Most home improvement stores carry sandbags. You can purchase them and keep them in your hurricane supply kit and then fill them with any kind of sand or dirt available on your property. Home improvement stores often also sell fill dirt as well. Do not use sand from the beach to fill sandbags.

Turn Off Automatic Sprinklers

Please turn off automatic sprinklers if a storm is in the forecast. This will help reduce the amount of water going into the stormwater drains and will help prevent flooding. 

Turn Off Water to Prevent Damage (If You Evacuate)

If you evacuate, shut off your house valve to protect your home. If you have a dock it is especially important that you shut off water to the dock if a hurricane is approaching. 

In the event of a weather emergency, the superintendent of Brevard Public Schools (BPS) is the only person who will give the directive that schools are to close due to extreme weather conditions. Should the district close, BPS will communicate the closure to parents, teachers and staff through their rapid notification system. This will come in the form of voicemail and email. Those who have registered their cell phone number will receive a text message.

• Follow Brevard Public Schools on X/Twitter (@BrevardSchools) Facebook (Brevard Public Schools Official), or Instagram (brevardschools).

• For more information, please see the Brevard Public Schools website.

If a hurricane is in the forecast, be prepared to be without utilities, including electricity and potable water, after the storm. Interruption in service could last for several days depending on how widespread and how severe the storm damage is.

Water Service

• If a hurricane is forecast to hit our area, the barrier island water system may need to be isolated from the main water system to protect the integrity of the entire utility system. If this happens, there will still be water service, but it will be limited to the amount stored in tanks on the barrier island. Barrier islands include all areas east of the Indian River including Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach (served by Cocoa) and Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic and Melbourne Beach (served by Melbourne).

• Local utility officials will evaluate the speed, direction, and intensity of the forecasted storm to determine if and when an isolation to the system is needed. Once the decision has been made, the message will go out through the multiple communication channels throughout the entire county and will be communicated to the news media.

• Water main breaks are highly likely on the barrier islands but can happen at any location where the storm hits.

• During a hurricane, all residents will be advised to be prepared for potential loss of water service and for the possible issue of a Precautionary Boil Water Notice once water service is restored. Prepare by storing water ahead of the storm.

Sewer Service

• Be prepared to be without sewer service and/or to strictly limit sewer usage after the storm.

• Electricity outages can mean the loss of power at some pump stations.

• Also, a heavy inundation of rainwater from a storm can also put strain on the system.

• After a hurricane, you may be asked to limit usage to sanitary use only — that means strictly limiting or not doing laundry, taking only very short showers, and limiting dishwashing or any other activity that sends a lot of water down the drain and into the sewer system.

Electricity

• If a hurricane approaches, be prepared to lose power for several days.

• FPL encourages customers to visit the FPL Storm Center page for tips on how to prepare. 

• Once the storm is over, visit the FPL Power Tracker for updates on power restoration. You can also follow FPL on Facebook (Florida Power & Light) and X/Twitter (@insideFPL) for updates. 

• You can download the FPL Mobile App to report or get the latest information on outages. Customers can also get on-the-go, instant and secure access to their accounts. The app is available for download in the iOS App Store and Google Play.

• Call 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243) immediately to report a dangerous condition such as a downed power line.

Your kit should contain enough food, water and medications to support yourself and your family for at least several days. If you have pets, include supplies for their needs as well.

See Ready.gov's Build a Kit page for lists of basic and additional supplies.

Information is critical before, during and after a disaster or emergency.

• Visit the City of Melbourne’s website home page for city updates during an emergency.

• You can also get updates on the city's Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) pages.

• Sign up for Code Red to receive emergency notices via phone, cell phone, text, or e-mail regarding the city's water service and precautionary boil water alerts. If you cannot register online, call (321) 608-5080.

• You can also get announcements on the Brevard County's Facebook page and Brevard County's X page. To get text alerts from the county, text the number 888777 with the message BrevardEOC. 
  

• 2-1-1 Brevard provides information and assistance in times of emotional, financial and community crisis day-to-day and before, during and after a disaster. 2-1-1 is an easy-to-remember number and provides access to trained specialists around the clock – 24-hours a day, 365 days a year

Ready.gov is a federal website providing helpful information about hurricanes and what do to before during and after a storm.

National Hurricane Center website provides storm tracking and forecasts.

Florida Division of Emergency Management is a state agency that plans for and responds to both natural and man-made disasters.