Hurricane Preparedness for Miami-Dade Residents: The Complete Guide

Hurricane Season in Miami: Be Ready Before the Storm

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 every year. If you live in Miami-Dade, you already know that — but knowing the dates isn't the same as being prepared. This guide is designed to walk you through every practical step for protecting your family, home, vehicles, and neighborhood before, during, and after a major storm.

Want a printable version? You can download the full PDF guide here. Otherwise, read through — and bookmark this page for next season.

Emergency Resources & Phone Numbers

Save these numbers in your phone before the storm. Once cell towers go down, you won't be able to look them up.

Emergency: 911
Miami-Dade non-emergency: 311 (or 1-888-311-DADE)
Miami-Dade Police non-emergency: 305-4-POLICE
FPL power outage: 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243)
AT&T outage: 1-800-288-2020
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
Florida price gouging hotline: 1-866-966-7226
T&S Roofing 24/7 storm response: 305-639-7663

Understanding Hurricane Categories

The Saffir-Simpson scale measures sustained wind speed — not storm surge, rainfall, or tornadoes, all of which can be just as destructive. Here's what each category means for your home:

Category 1 (74-95 mph) — loose shingles, downed tree limbs, power outages lasting hours to days
Category 2 (96-110 mph) — major roof damage, uprooted trees, extended power outages
Category 3 (111-129 mph) — devastating damage, structural roof failure possible, water and electricity unavailable for days to weeks
Category 4 (130-156 mph) — catastrophic damage; entire roofs can be torn off, most trees down
Category 5 (157+ mph) — complete roof failure on many homes, areas uninhabitable for weeks or months

Any storm Category 3 or higher is considered a major hurricane. Miami homes built to modern Florida Building Code can survive most Cat 3 events — but only if the roof is properly installed and maintained.

Protecting Your Home Before the Storm

Your house is your largest asset. Spend time on these exterior items before the forecast cone is over Miami:

Schedule a roof inspection in May — before hurricane season starts, not during it
Trim trees and remove dead branches — anything that could fall on your roof, car, or neighbor's property
Clean gutters and downspouts — clogged drainage leads directly to roof leaks
Inspect and install storm shutters or impact windows — check our impact windows guide
Secure loose roof tiles, flashing, and ridge caps — anything loose will become a projectile
Bring in all outdoor furniture, grills, and planters
Anchor or move garbage bins, sheds, and pool equipment
Reinforce garage doors — a failed garage door causes catastrophic internal pressure
Turn off propane tanks and disconnect grills
Photograph every room, the roof, and exterior — insurance documentation is critical
Fill bathtubs and large containers with water — for toilet flushing and cleaning if service is lost
Turn refrigerators and freezers to coldest settings — buys you extra hours if power fails
Know where your water, gas, and electrical shutoffs are

Protecting Cars and Motorcycles

Vehicle damage is one of the most common (and avoidable) hurricane losses. Don't leave your cars exposed:

Park inside a garage if possible
If no garage, park against the strongest side of the house — never under trees or palms
Fill the gas tank — gas stations lose power and run out quickly
Move cars to higher ground if you're in a flood zone
Charge all car batteries and keep jumper cables accessible
Cover motorcycles with a secured tarp and strap them down
Remove convertible tops and soft covers — they will shred in 80+ mph winds
Photograph vehicles inside and out before the storm — for insurance claims

Protecting Your Boat

Boat-owners in Miami have a special set of responsibilities. If you have a boat:

Remove it from the water when possible — dry storage is ideal
If left in a slip, double-up all lines and use chafe guards
Strip canvas, sails, and antennas — anything that catches wind
Charge batteries fully and secure them
Close all seacocks and remove drain plugs
Lash down fuel tanks and loose gear below decks
File a float plan with family or a neighbor
Photograph the boat and electronics — for insurance

Preparing the Interior of Your Home

Inside, your priorities shift from wind to water and safety:

Move valuables and electronics away from windows and to higher floors
Waterproof important documents — passports, insurance policies, deeds in zip-top bags
Charge all phones, laptops, and power banks fully
Set up a safe room — interior room with no windows, ideally a closet or bathroom
Close and lock all interior doors — helps equalize pressure and slow water spread
Unplug non-essential electronics before the storm arrives
Keep pets indoors with leashes, carriers, and ID tags ready
Fill prescriptions in advance — at least a 14-day supply
Keep cash on hand — ATMs and card readers won't work without power

Food, Water, and Disposal

Plan for at least 7 days without power, water, or grocery access. This is especially important after Category 3+ storms.

Food and water:

1 gallon of water per person per day — 7 days minimum
Non-perishable foods — canned proteins, peanut butter, crackers, dried fruit, energy bars
Manual can opener — easy to forget until you need it
Baby formula, pet food, and special dietary needs
Coolers and ice — freeze water bottles ahead of time for double-duty
Eat perishables first — before they spoil without refrigeration
Paper plates and plastic utensils — no dishwashing without running water
A camping stove or grill with propane — only use outdoors, never inside

Waste disposal:

Heavy-duty garbage bags and twist ties
Disinfectant wipes and bleach
Hand sanitizer and paper towels
Toilet bucket with sealable lid — if sewer service fails
Cat litter or sawdust — for odor control
Feminine hygiene and baby diapers — 7-day supply minimum
Plastic sheeting for blocking damaged areas

Build Your Community Before the Storm

Miami storms are neighborhood events — not solo missions. Connect before hurricane season:

Join Nextdoor for your neighborhood — real-time local updates during storms
Start a block group chat on WhatsApp or GroupMe — check on elderly neighbors, share power status, coordinate chainsaw work
Identify neighbors with medical needs — oxygen, dialysis, insulin
Agree on a post-storm check-in signal — a towel on the mailbox means "I'm OK"
Know who has generators, chainsaws, and trucks — everyone's strengths combined is how neighborhoods recover

7 Ways to Prep in 7 Days — Countdown Checklist

Once a storm enters the 7-day cone, work through this list daily:

Day 7: Review insurance policy, photograph home inside and out, fill prescriptions, review family communication plan
Day 6: Stock water (1 gal/person/day for 7 days), buy non-perishable food, manual can opener, backup cash
Day 5: Trim trees, clean gutters, secure outdoor items, buy/test batteries and flashlights
Day 4: Check storm shutters or install plywood, confirm generator runs, fill gas cans (safely stored outside)
Day 3: Fill vehicle gas tanks, charge all electronics and power banks, freeze water bottles
Day 2: Bring in outdoor furniture, grills, planters; secure garage doors; check on neighbors
Day 1: Fill bathtubs, turn fridge/freezer to coldest, unplug non-essentials, move to safe room if under mandatory evacuation

Your Disaster Kit Checklist

Every Miami household should keep a permanent disaster kit. Check it every May:

Water (1 gal/person/day × 7 days)
Non-perishable food for 7 days
Manual can opener
Flashlights + spare batteries (headlamps are even better)
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
First aid kit and 14-day medication supply
Multi-tool or utility knife
Phone chargers and high-capacity power banks
Cash (small bills)
Copies of insurance policies, IDs, deeds (waterproof)
Whistle — for signaling rescuers
N95 dust masks — for mold and debris cleanup
Work gloves, tarps, rope, zip ties
Pet food, leashes, carriers, vaccination records

After the Storm: Post-Storm Checklist

Once the all-clear sounds, work carefully. Post-storm injuries and insurance mistakes are extremely common.

Stay inside until local authorities give the all-clear — the "eye" is not the end of the storm
Wear closed shoes and gloves — nails, glass, and live wires are everywhere
Avoid standing water — downed power lines electrify it for yards around
Photograph all damage before moving anything — exterior, roof, interior, vehicles
Contact your insurance carrier immediately — file a claim as soon as cell service returns
Schedule an emergency tarping service — T&S Roofing can deploy within hours to prevent further interior damage (305-639-7663)
Check on elderly neighbors — especially anyone medically vulnerable
Do NOT use generators indoors or in garages — CO poisoning kills more people than the storm itself
Do NOT drive unless necessary — traffic signals are out and roads may have sinkholes
Report downed power lines to FPL (1-800-4-OUTAGE) — do not touch them
Boil water if advised — until the county lifts the boil-water notice

Miami-Dade 311 Services During & After a Storm

Miami-Dade's 311 service (or 1-888-311-DADE) handles non-emergency requests that are often critical after a storm:

Debris pickup scheduling
Downed tree removal on public property
Report traffic signal outages
Report flooded streets
Boil-water notice information
Shelter and food distribution locations
Animal control for displaced pets/wildlife

T&S Roofing's 24/7 Storm Response

We've been serving Miami-Dade and Broward since 2004 and have responded to every major hurricane event in that time — from Wilma to Irma to Ian. Our emergency tarping crews are on-call 24/7 during active storm seasons, and existing customers are prioritized.

If you've lost shingles, have interior water intrusion, or need documentation for an insurance claim, call T&S Roofing at 305-639-7663 or submit a request online. The sooner we can tarp a damaged roof, the less interior damage your insurance will need to cover.

Stay safe out there, Miami.