Hurricane Preparedness
Updated: May 2, 2023
ATTN RESIDENTS: Broward County homeowners and renters affected by the April 12-14 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding are eligible to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.
Assistance can include financial help with temporary lodging and home repairs, as well as other disaster-related expenses.
How To Apply: Residents who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362. The helpline is available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Learn more at https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230429/broward-county-residents-can-apply-fema-assistance.
Town of Davie Hurricane Guide:
Hurricane season is from June 1 to Nov. 30, 2023. Be ready for worst-case scenarios if a hurricane decides to visit our Town. Have a plan, know important hurricane facts, storm terminology and how to prepare - no matter the storm category. Learn more on our Hurricane Guide jam-packed with helpful tips and resources.
English | Español | ADA text available upon request
Don't forget to register to receive emergency alerts from the Town of Davie and keep current on all severe weather information, utility disruptions and public safety announcements.
Storm Preparedness:
- General Supplies
- First Aid Supplies
- Food and Water Supplies
- Pet Supplies
- Preparing for Children's Needs
- House Preparations
- Have a Plan
General Supplies
In the event of a hurricane, have access to the following helpful supplies:
- Battery powered radio
- Camp stove or other emergency cooking equipment (please ensure that there are no gas leaks before using this equipment)
- Can opener (nonelectric)
- Cash or travelers checks
- Duct tape, glue, staple gun
- Extra batteries
- Fire extinguisher and first aid kit
- Flashlights
- Paper plates, plastic utensils, napkins, and paper towels
- Plastic trash bags
- Tarpaulins and plastic sheeting
- Tools to make basic repairs
Need a checklist? View and print our complete Emergency Kit Checklist which can help with planning and storm preparedness shopping.
First Aid Supplies
Build a basic first aid kit and include these emergency essentials:
- 2 to 4-inch sterile gauze pads
- Antiseptic, cleaning agents
- Latex gloves
- Medical adhesive tape
- Mosquito repellent
- Nonprescription drugs (aspirins, antibiotic ointment)
- Prescription drugs
- Scissors, tweezers, pins, needles
- Soap in a sterile container
- Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
- Sunscreen
- Thermometer
- Hand sanitizer
Food and Water Supplies
Plan to have enough food and water for four to five days.
Water
- Save enough water to last for a minimum of 72 hours.
- Have one gallon of water per day for each person.
- Do not drink water from the faucet until you have been officially notified that it is not contaminated.
- If you must use tap water, do one of the following:
- Use water purification tablets.
- Apply 8 drops of unscented household bleach per gallon.
- Boil it.
Note: If you plan on using the bleach, consult your physician to ensure that you do not have a condition that this would affect.
Food
Without electricity, food in the refrigerator will spoil. Do not eat it. Have access to the following:
- Canned juices
- Granola bars
- Instant coffee, tea, cocoa
- Special foods for individuals with special diets
- Sugar, salt, pepper, spices, and bread (staples)
- Sweetened cereal, candy (stress food)
- Undamaged commercial canned goods, i.e., ready-to-eat canned, meats, fruits, and vegetables
Pet Supplies
The following are examples of supplies to have available for your pet in a hurricane situation:
- Cleaning supplies and trash bags
- Food and water (large dogs need 1/2 gallon of water per day)
- Kitty litter
- Make sure your pet is wearing its animal license tag
- Medical records
- Photo of your pet for identification
- Rabies certificate with current animal license
- Tattoo number or microchip
- Treats
Pet-Friendly Evacuation Shelters
A pet-friendly shelter operated by the American Red Cross and the Broward County Humane Society is available to residents with pets who either live in an evacuation area or in a mobile home anywhere in Broward County. Preregistration is required. Call 954-989-3977.
Preparing for Children's Needs
If there are children in your household, be sure to have the resources listed below on hand to help prepare for any storm.
Supplies
Make sure you have enough:
- Canned juices, i.e. apple juice
- Diapers
- Formula
- Powdered milk
- Wipes
Bottle Nipples & Pacifiers
Remember, bottle nipples and pacifiers that need to be cleaned should be done so by fresh water. Plan to have extra water to do this. Otherwise, have an extra supply of bottle nipples and pacifiers to replace the soiled ones. Do not wash these items with possibly contaminated tap water; instead, opt to dispose of them.
House Preparations
- Clear your gutters so that they will be able to perform optimally.
- Bring in items around your house that may become missiles during a storm: potted plants, lawn furniture, trashcans, etc.
- Practice putting up your shutters to ensure that they all fit and that everything is in working condition.
- Prune your trees long before there is any threat of a storm. Consult an arborist or tree-care specialists that has a Broward County Tree Trimming License for more information.
Have a Plan
Formulate a plan for before, during, and after a hurricane. Be sure to review your plan with your family to keep everyone well informed.
Before the Hurricane
- Purchase all the food and water you will need to ride out a storm. Have it stored and ready for an emergency.
- Make sure you have all other supplies and tools you may need.
- Make sure you have enough supplies for your baby or child.
- Make sure you have all the supplies and food you will need for a pet. Also, make prior arrangements to board your pet with a kennel, friend, or family member in case you have to evacuate to an emergency shelter. They will not accept pets.
- Prepare your home. Make it storm proof.
- Have an evacuation plan. Know to where you will evacuate if you must, and make prior arrangement, i.e., registering with the evacuation site.
- Fill up your car with gas. Acquiring fuel after a hurricane may be difficult.
- Make sure you have enough cash to get you through a few days. Accessing your money at the bank may be difficult after a hurricane.
- Have a first aid kit.
- Have emergency lighting: flashlights (extra batteries).
- Turn refrigerators and freezers to highest settings.
- Call family or friends and let them know what your plans are.
- Cover windows with storm shutters or plywood.
- Make sure your battery operated radio works (extra batteries).
During the Hurricane
- If you are staying at your home, take shelter in a room or closet located in the center of your home.
- Stay away from windows and exterior doors.
- Stay calm; storms can take several hours to pass.
- Monitor the storm via battery operated radio.
After the Hurricane
- Assess your situation. Check for damage around your house.
- If there are downed power lines, do not go near them.
- Stay on firm ground, and avoid flooded areas. Flooded areas can have hidden dangers, including charged power lines. Also, moving water can knock you off your feet.
- Drive only if you must.
- Do not drive into flooded areas.
- Call to report emergencies.
- Beware of animals, snakes, and insects that have sought shelter on higher and drier ground.
- If you evacuated your home, be very cautious when returning.
- Do not use tap water until you are certain it is not contaminated.
- Monitor the news to receive any pertinent public information.
Hurricanes and Horses
The Town of Davie is proud of its rural character and equestrian lifestyle. Davie is home to thousands of horses and we want to help you keep them safe in the event of a hurricane.
No one can guarantee where your horse will be safe. The decision is yours. If you cannot make your property safe because of the condition of the barn, trees, power lines, low lying land prone to flooding, or the general condition of the neighboring properties, plan on evacuating your horse at least 48 hours before the storm.
Preparing for Your Horse's Needs:
Do’s and Don’ts for Hurricane Horse Preparedness
- Do discuss your hurricane plans with your own veterinarian.
- Do make an advance plan.
- Do prepare ahead of time.
- Don’t wait until the last minute.
- Don’t just wait to be rescued.
Advance Preparations for Horses
Preparations can be made before hurricane season (or now):
- Buy 55-gallon garbage cans with lids for water storage - 10 gallons per day per horse, 1 week’s supply
- Buy and keep on hand large (55-gallon), heavy duty garbage bags for waterproof storage of hay and grain
- Buy ankle ID bands and dog tags, engraved with your name, address, and a cell phone number or out of area number of a friend (the phone lines may be down)
- Buy extra water buckets - 3 per horse
- Buy plywood and store for boarding up windows
- Horse trailers - Plan a safe location for trailer storage, buy camper tie-downs and store
- Make sure your horse has a current coggins and is up-to-date on all inoculations
- Organize an emergency repair kit: Chain saw and fuel, hammer, nails, screws, screwdrivers, spare fence boards and posts, etc.
- Organize an individual evacuation plan for your horse - Make arrangements with a friendly farm on higher ground, find a trailer buddy if you don’t have your own transport
- Practice loading your horse in a trailer
- Prepare first aid kit – discuss with vet
- Stalls - Extra sand on dirt floors (flooding), get rubber mats for concrete floors (your horse could be standing there for a long time)
- Strengthen barn - Add hurricane straps to roof beams, add screws to nailed joints
- Yard/paddock cleanup - Remove all debris that could become flying missiles in a windstorm
Register for the Town's Horse Release Program
The Town provides temporary emergency housing for Davie residents and those boarding horses within Davie in the event a Category 3 or Category 4 storm threatens the area.
Register for the Horse Release Program
Horses must be preregistered prior to bring them to the hurricane site and space is limited. Owners are encouraged to visit the site prior to completing the registration form to determine whether you feel it's safer than your current situation. Once a hurricane warning is issued, the Town's designated site will open for use.
Before a Storm
The following are steps to take when a storm is approaching to prepare your horse(s):
- Administer tranquilizer in recommended doses in small amount of grain to horses confined indoors, if needed
- Board up barn windows
- Braid dog tags to top of horse’s tail and attach ankle ID tag
- Buy 2 weeks supply of hay and grain, store inside in high and dry place, seal in garbage bags
- Don't trailer a horse after the winds reach tropical storm force (40 mph)
- Don't tranquilize horses left outside
- Don't let your horse stand in water
- Don't feed moldy hay or grain
- Fill up garbage cans (indoors, barn/garage) with water and fill all water troughs
- Fill water buckets - 3 per horse
- Give extra hay - At least 3 pads
- If you have not done some of the advanced preparation, do it now
- Leave barn circuit breakers on during storm
- Move horse trailer to safe location and tie it down
- Put all tools and loose objects indoors
- Put extra bedding in stall
- Put repair kit, first aid kit and coggins (your horse may not be rescued without it) in a secure place
- Turn off circuit breakers to barn
After the Storm
After the storm, take the following steps to attend to your horse's needs:
- Prioritize your horse’s medical needs.
- Clear up debris to make access to road.
- Do not turn on circuit breaker unless you are sure all electrical wiring is intact.
- Give hay and water as needed - no grain unless horse can be turned out.
- If the barn is flooded, evacuate your horse to higher ground. Hurricane post-evacuation sites typically include:
- C.B. Smith Park
- Markham Park
- Tradewinds Park
- Designated Town park through the Horse Refuge Program
- Make necessary repairs to barn and paddock area so that area is safe
- When your horse and barn is safe and secure, see if your neighbors need any help
For Rescue After the Storm
Contact Broward County Emergency Operations Center at 954-831-3900.
First Aid Kit
Take into consideration the following items when building a first aid kit for your horses:
- Antiseptic/antibiotic ointment
- Banamine paste for colic
- Bute paste for swelling/pain
- Elasticon/vet wrap/tape for wounds
- Gauze/cotton padding (diaper or sanitary pad)
- Leg bandages - Quilts and wraps for leg protection
- Scissors
- Tranquilizers - Ace granules can be given orally (30 minutes ahead of time) when calm
Additional Hurricane Resources:
Preparedness
- Florida Division of Emergency Management's Plan and Prepare Guide
- Hurricane Preparedness - National Hurricane Center
- My Safe Florida Home Program
- Generator Safety Tips
- Emergency Kit Checklist
- Get a Plan. Family, business and special needs plans available.
- Ready: Prepare, Plan, Stay Informed
Programs
- Florida Special Needs Registry
- Special Needs Shelters
- Vulnerable Population Registry
- Horse Release and Refuge Program
Communications Information
Protecting Your Home
- Florida Division of Emergency Management's Hurricane Home Retrofit Guide
- FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program
Food and Water Distribution Locations
Medications
- Early prescription refills are permitted during a state-declared State of Emergency. Learn more at the Florida Department of Health.
Mental Health Resources (Call or text 24/7)
- National Disaster Distress Hotline for death or hard of hearing.
- American Red Cross Disaster Distress Helpline: 800-985-5990.
- Florida 211: 2-1-1 or 352-332-4636.
- The Lifeline and 988: 9-8-8 or 800-273-8255.
Price Gouging Hotline
- Florida Attorney General's Price Gouging Hotline: 866-966-7226.
Evacuations and Shelters
Business Resources
- Generator - Ready Businesses in Broward County
- Florida Department of Economic Opportunity's FloridaDisaster.biz
- U.S. Small Business Administration's Disaster Assistance
Broward County, State and Federal Websites