Amy’s Hurricane Tips for Visitors and Locals Alike

Central Florida, while known for its beautiful beaches and vibrant theme parks, is also susceptible to hurricanes. Whether you’re a visitor on vacation at the parks, beaches, or a long-time local resident, it’s crucial to be well-prepared during hurricane season. Here are some essential tips to keep you safe and informed before, during, and after a storm.

Tips for Vacationers in Central Florida During a Hurricane

1. Stay Informed: Before your trip, monitor local news and weather reports. Apps like Weather.com or local TV station apps provide timely updates on storm developments. We always recommend Denis Philips who is based in Florida. He is accurate and doesn’t sensationalize the storm.
2. Plan Your Stay: Choose accommodation with solid construction and emergency plans in place. Many hotels have procedures for hurricanes, so ask about them upon check-in. If you are staying at Disney, it’s is generally very safe and they typically don’t lose power. Be sure you have a hotel room throughout the entire storm as changing rooms for a split stay will likely not be possible. Head to the front desk of your resort for any questions related to this.
3. Pack Essentials: Bring a travel emergency kit, including a flashlight, batteries, a portable phone charger, bottled water, non-perishable snacks, and medications. It is wise to get food for your room ahead of time in case you are unable to go out.
4. Know the Evacuation Routes: Familiarize yourself with local evacuation routes and locations of shelters, just in case you need to relocate.
5. Consider Trip Insurance: Look into traveler’s insurance that covers natural disasters, especially if you plan trips during hurricane season (June-December). This provides some assurance and protection if your travel plans are disrupted.

Tips for Locals Living in Central Florida During a Hurricane

1. Create a Hurricane Kit: Assemble a kit with essentials like water, non-perishable food, medications, first-aid supplies, flashlights, and batteries. Make sure you have enough supplies for several days.
2. Water: You should have a water supply for drinking, but it also helps to fill up any extra containers you have from your faucet ahead of the storm to have additional water for hand washing, teeth brushing, etc. You probably have tons of containers in your home that can hold water, including your bath tub.
3. Secure Your Home: Protect windows with storm shutters or plywood, bring in outdoor furniture, and secure loose items that might become projectiles.
4. Plan for Power Outages: Have a backup power source, such as a generator, and ensure you have enough fuel. Stock up on battery-powered lights and charge electronic devices. There are amazing rechargeable lightbulbs you can buy on Amazon. We use a brand called JackonLux. These are normal looking bulbs that charge whenever they are in use in a lamp. In the event of power failure, they continue to stay on as long as they are plugged into the lamp with the lamp plugged into the wall. Basically like a potato clock, you just have to complete the circut. I can also do this with my hands and it’s fun to pretend I’m magic.
5. Stay Connected: Keep a list of emergency contacts and know how to contact local authorities. A battery-powered or hand-crank radio can be a valuable source of updates if internet and TV systems are down.
6. Prep Any Fences Ahead of Time: Through our experience with two hurricanes in 2022 while living in Florida, we realized we have to take extra steps to ensure the safety of our privacy fence. We now remove all caps from the top of the fence poles to allow air to better flow through and prevent them from blowing away and getting lost. We also detach the gate from its hinges and place it in the garage. When we didn’t do this previously, despite having a pad lock, our gate was ripped from its hinges and became an added expense to replace. Hopefully our mistake is a learning experience for someone else.
7. Develop an Evacuation Plan: Plan multiple evacuation routes and coordinate with family members about where to meet if separated. Know where nearby shelters are located. If you have pets, look into pet friendly hotels like Rosen Hotels which also have reduced hurricane rates and several locations in Central Florida. Each county also has a number of pet friendly shelters.
8. MOST IMPORTANT: Don’t break into your hurricane snacks too soon. We keep having to remind our boys of this, especially Emerson.

By taking the time to prepare, you can navigate hurricane season with more confidence and safety, whether you’re visiting or calling Central Florida home. Stay alert, stay safe, and most importantly, never underestimate the power of preparation.

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