Hurricane Safety and Preparedness
Hurricane season begins June 1st and ends on November 30th, with the peak months for hurricane and tropical storm development being August and September.
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew served as a catalyst for change in the preparation for, response to, and recovery from major hurricanes. The lessons learned from Andrew have spawned stricter building codes and provided our responders with better equipment and training to respond to this type of catastrophic event.
Even with the increased construction standards and level of response, it does not preclude residents and business owners from being properly prepared in the event of a storm.
The Delray Beach Fire-Rescue Department is tasked with the responsibilities of Emergency Management functions for the City of Delray Beach. We are confident that our responders are highly trained for and capable of responding to such an event, however there is still some responsibility that each and everyone of us needs to bear in the event of a storm.
We've assembled the following to assist you with guidance in preparing for such emergencies.
Preparing for the Storm
Safely Storing Your Generator and Its Fuel
Delray Beach Emergency Radio: 1620 AM (official source of information during and after emergencies -- operated by the City of Delray Beach)
Hurricane Information Line: (561) 243-7840 (provides updated messages from the City of Delray Beach during a potential storm impact)
Hurricane Planning for Businesses (provided by Palm Beach County)
Weather Forecasts, Imagery, and Analysis
Latest Storm Advisories from the National Weather Service (NOAA)
Local Forecast, South Florida Radar Loop, Watches & Warnings, Storm Prediction Center, Southeastern Radar Loop (best long-range view)
National Weather Service Radio for Palm Beach County: 162.475MHz
More Resources
Hurricane Preparedness 2011. Your guide on what to do before, during, and after the storm.
Crown Weather Services Tropical Weather, Tropical Weather Discussion
Other Agencies
Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
American Red Cross, Palm Beach County Chapter
Utilities
After the Storm
• Use extreme caution. There may be dangerous situations all around you.
• Always supervise children.
• Do not drink the tap water until officials have announced it’s safe.
• Avoid driving if possible because of debris and road blockage.
• If power is out, gasoline will be in short supply and filling stations will have long lines.
• At intersections with stop lights out, treat it as a 4-way stop and use extreme caution.
• Phone lines and cell towers will be damaged or overloaded. Try making calls at “off peak” times
