Before a Storm

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Home Preparation

Protect areas where wind can enter. Windows and doors should be secured with County-approved storm shutters. One option is to board up windows with 5/8-inch plywood. Tape does NOT prevent windows from breaking. Protect electronics with surge protectors and waterproof coverings. Bring in lawn furniture or other outdoor items not tied down that could become airborne. Withdraw cash from the bank and get fuel for your car, generator and other gas-powered tools.  Watch this 1.5 minute video to learn more.

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Financial Preparedness

Know what you should do to ensure that your finances are prepared in the event of a disaster.  Download the Emergency Financial Preparedness toolkit below to help you organize your financial information before and after a disaster. Keep several copies in safe places that you can access easily and, in the face of a disaster, keep a copy of this toolkit with you at all times.

Construction sites

In the event of a tropical storm warning or hurricane watch, licensed contractors are REQUIRED to secure their work sites. Potentially hazardous objects must be fastened down or removed.  This includes all loose items, including but not limited to:

  • Construction Shacks & Other Non-secured Structures
  • Temporary Toilets
  • Roofing Tiles & Insulation Boards
  • Trash
  • Equipment
  • Patio Furniture & Other Outdoor Items
  • Project Openings
  • Temporary Electrical Poles

Tree Pruning

Properly pruning trees and shrubs before a hurricane approaches can reduce the debris generated during a storm. 

Do not begin any pruning during a Hurricane Watch or Hurricane Warning!

Proper tree pruning also increases the likelihood that a tree can weather a storm. Make sure to consult or hire a certified and licensed arborist prior to pruning trees. Get more hurricane tree pruning tips here or call 3-1-1.


Water

Keep aluminum/plastic containers handy and fill them with potable water once a warning is announced. Plan for about one gallon per person per day. In addition, keep other containers two-thirds full with potable water and keep them in your freezer for ice after a storm.


Gasoline Storage and Generators

Store fuel in an approved container, holding five gallons or less, in a cool, dry, ventilated and secure area, away from appliances. Keep it out of the reach of children. Generators must only be operated outside of inhabited structures in a well-ventilated area away from windows, doors, vents or other openings. They should not be operated on the balcony of a multi-unit structure.

Trash pickup

Dispose of household and yard trash before a storm:

If you must dispose of trash or bulky waste—including tree trimmings—weather conditions will determine whether Neighborhood Trash and Recycling Centers are open. Call 311 for information. Secure your trash and recycling carts in a garage, utility shed or covered patio before the storm arrives. If you do not receive waste collection services from Miami-Dade County, contact your city for information about waste removal services before and after a storm.

Public Transit

Metrobus, Metrorail and Metromover services, as well as County transportation facilities, may shut down at sustained 39 mph winds.  

Palmetto Bay transit services may also shut down in response to an impending heavy storm.  Please download the Palmetto Bay Connect app to make sure you receive the latest news directly from the Village.

Driving Before A Storm

Local law enforcement agencies will issue advisories regarding when roadways and bridges will be locked down. Bridges generally go into lockdown at least eight hours before winds of 39 mph are expected. Expressway tolls may be lifted to ease traffic flow. Call 311 to report any traffic signs, traffic signals or street lights damaged due to a storm.

Travel

For seaport and airport passenger information, contact your local carrier or call 311 for the latest news about closures.

Boats

If you own a boat, remember to secure it. Use double lines at a marina or consider dry-dock storage. Never try and ride out a hurricane in your boat. Marinas will close when winds reach a sustained 39 mph. Biscayne National Park tows all boats to the Everglades and closes at least 24 hours before the landfall of a tropical storm or hurricane. Once evacuations have started off the barrier islands, Intracoastal Waterway bridges will only open infrequently until lockdown.