Join the City of West Palm Beach in Preparing for Hurricane Season

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA (June 1, 2022) – West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James and Emergency Manager/Assistant Fire Chief Brent Bloomfield urge residents to prepare for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season.  

Hurricane season, which occurs June 1 through November 30, is a period when tropical storms and hurricanes are more likely to occur. These storms have the potential to cause widespread devastation.

Consider these hurricane tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe:

• Know Your Risk: Find out how rain, wind, and water can impact where you live. This can help you start preparing now.
• Know your Evacuation Zone: You may have to evacuate quickly due to a hurricane. Knowing what evacuation zone in which you live will help you, should an evacuation order for your area be issued. An Evacuation Zone is an area that may be inundated by storm surge or a sudden push of water ahead of a storm on shore. Click here for the PBC Evacuation Zone Lookup Tool.
• Gather Supplies: Have enough food, water, and other supplies for every member of your family to last at least 72 hours. Consider what unique needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets or seniors and prescription medications.
• Make an Emergency Plan: Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands your hurricane plan. Complete a family communication plan.
• Check your Insurance Coverage: Review your policy, ensure you’re adequately covered, and understand exclusions. Contact your agent for any changes.
• Special Needs Shelter: Palm Beach County operates a Special Needs Program to provide for citizens with certain medical problems during an emergency. You must register with Palm Beach County in advance. Click here for information and to register. Please call (561) 712-6400 (TTY: 561-712-6342).
• Pet-Friendly Shelters: A pet-friendly shelter is available to Palm Beach County residents who reside in a mandatory evacuation zone, a mobile home, or sub-standard housing. You must register with Palm Beach County in advance. Please call (561) 712-6400 (TTY: 561-712-6342).
• Stay Informed: Know where to go for trusted sources of information during a hurricane event. In the event of an emergency activation for a hurricane, the city will post its updates on the wpb.org website. Sign up here for the Insider Newsletter, delivered directly to your inbox. Register for AlertPBC to receive emergency alerts.

The city’s online Hurricane Preparedness Guide, which features hurricane preparedness tips and other helpful information, can be found at wpb.org.

The state of Florida’s 2022 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which occurs through June 10, 2022, is an opportunity to purchase disaster relief items exempt from sales tax. Click here for a list of qualifying items.

“Have a plan to keep you and your family safe and to protect your property or business,” said Mayor James. “Take the time to know your evacuation zone and your flood zone. Build a hurricane kit, evaluate your insurance coverage, and stay informed. If you are a new resident, I especially encourage you to learn more. The key to staying safe is being prepared. The time to prepare is now.”

“By preparing now, planning and knowing what to do in the event of a hurricane, you, your business and our entire community can recover should a storm impact our area,” said Emergency Manager Bloomfield.

The City of West Palm Beach plans for disasters year-round. The City’s plan prioritizes public safety, public information, and a swift emergency response.

At a press conference, Mayor James and Emergency Manager Brent Bloomfield urged residents to prepare for hurricane season. Remarks were delivered in Spanish, also. Click here to watch video of the press conference.

To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, please visit: https://www.wpb.org/. To call the City of West Palm Beach, please dial: (561) 822-1200 (TTY: 800-955-8771).