You don't own the roof, but you do own your plan. Here's how to get ready if you rent, or if you've just moved to South Florida and have never lived through a storm season.
If you're searching for a hurricane prep checklist for renters in Florida, you've probably noticed that most hurricane advice assumes you own the house: install shutters, trim the trees, replace the roof. As a renter, your job is different. You can't harden the building, but you can know your zone, protect your belongings, understand what your landlord is responsible for, and have a plan you can follow without stress. This guide breaks it all down for South Florida renters and anyone new to the area.
Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30, with the heaviest activity typically in late summer and early fall. The best time to prepare is before the season starts, but if you're reading this mid-season, every step below is still worth doing today.
This is a general planning guide, not official emergency guidance. In an actual storm, follow your county's emergency management orders.
The Quick Answer
Know your zone. Find out whether your address is in an evacuation zone and whether it's in a flood zone, because they're different things.
Sign up for alerts. Register with your county's emergency notification system.
Get renters insurance. It covers your belongings and, in most policies, extra living costs if your unit becomes unlivable. Flood is usually excluded, so ask about separate flood coverage.
Talk to your landlord. Ask who handles shutters, when they go up, and who to contact after a storm.
Build a kit and a plan. Water, food, medications, documents, cash, and a route out.
Step 1: Know Your Evacuation Zone and Flood Zone
An evacuation zone is an area that could be hit by storm surge, the wall of water pushed ashore by a storm. A flood zone reflects risk from heavy rain, poor drainage, and tides. They're separate maps, and you should check both.
- In Palm Beach County, you can look up your evacuation zone by entering your street address in the county's lookup tool.
- In Broward County, evacuation plans are tied to storm strength. A weaker storm triggers evacuations for mobile homes, waterfront and low-lying areas, and anything east of the Intracoastal Waterway. A stronger storm adds everyone east of U.S. 1 (Federal Highway).
- Ask your landlord or property manager directly whether your unit is in an evacuation zone.
Not being ordered to evacuate doesn't mean your building is safe. Hurricane winds can cause serious damage in places that aren't threatened by surge.
If you're still choosing where to rent, our Pros & Cons of Moving to South Florida covers hurricane season and insurance costs honestly, so you can weigh them early.
Step 2: Sign Up for Alerts
Don't rely on social media for storm updates. Register with your county's official alert system so warnings reach your phone by text, call, or email. Palm Beach County's system lets you choose which locations and weather types to follow, including your home, workplace, or your kids' schools. Make sure alerts are on for your own address.
Learn the lingo if you're new:
- A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions are possible in your area, typically within about 48 hours.
- A hurricane warning means those conditions are expected, typically within about 36 hours.
- Tropical storm winds arrive well before the center of a storm, so your window to prepare closes when the wind starts.
Step 3: Get Renters Insurance (and Understand What It Doesn't Cover)
Your landlord's insurance covers the building, not your furniture, electronics, or clothes. Renters insurance covers your belongings, and it's usually inexpensive compared to other insurance.
What to look for:
- Personal property coverage for your belongings.
- Additional living expenses coverage, which can help pay for temporary housing if your unit becomes uninhabitable.
- Flood exclusions. Most renters policies don't cover flood damage. If you live on the ground floor, near water, or in a low-lying area, ask about separate flood coverage.
- Waiting periods. New flood policies typically don't take effect immediately, often only after about 30 days, so don't wait until a storm is in the forecast.
- Hurricane deductibles. Ask whether your policy has a separate, higher deductible for named storms.
An insurance agent can walk you through your options. This guide isn't insurance advice.
Step 4: Talk to Your Landlord and Read Your Lease
Many renters never ask these questions until a storm is on the way. Ask now:
- Who installs shutters, and when? If the building has storm shutters or panels, find out who puts them up and on what timeline.
- Who handles outdoor items? Balcony furniture, grills, and plants can become dangerous projectiles.
- What's the evacuation or shelter plan for the building?
- How do you report damage after a storm, and who do you contact first?
- What happens if the unit becomes unlivable? Ask how your lease treats rent, repairs, and temporary relocation.
- Does the building have a generator or elevator plan? In taller buildings, elevators may be out of service for days after a storm.
Save your landlord's emergency contact information in your phone and on paper. Take photos or video of your unit's condition when you move in, since that record helps if there's a dispute about damage later.
Step 5: Document Your Belongings
Before a storm threatens, walk through your home with your phone and record every room, closet, and appliance. Open drawers and cabinets, and capture serial numbers on electronics. Upload the video to cloud storage. A time-stamped record makes insurance claims much easier to support.
Also gather important documents and keep them in a waterproof container, with digital copies in the cloud:
- IDs and passports
- Your lease and renters insurance policy
- Medical information and prescription lists
- Bank and emergency contact information
Step 6: Build Your Hurricane Kit
Aim for at least three days of supplies, and ideally a week, since help can take longer to reach you than expected.
- Water: One gallon per person per day, plus water for pets.
- Food: Shelf-stable, no-cook food, plus a manual can opener.
- Medications: At least a week or two of every prescription, plus a basic first aid kit.
- Power and light: Flashlights, extra batteries, and charged power banks.
- Cash: Small bills, since card readers and ATMs often fail without power.
- Hygiene and comfort items, including a battery or hand-crank radio.
- Pet supplies: Food, water, medications, and vaccination records.
- Important documents in a waterproof bag.
Buying early matters. Stores can run low on water and batteries once a storm is in the forecast.
Step 7: Plan Your Evacuation
If you live in an evacuation zone, in a low-lying area, or in a mobile or manufactured home, you may be ordered to leave. Have a plan before that happens.
- Choose a destination inland, with a friend, family member, or hotel outside the evacuation zone.
- Learn your routes and have a backup.
- Keep your car's gas tank full once a storm is forecast, since gas stations can run short as a storm approaches.
- Pack a go bag with clothes, medications, documents, chargers, and pet supplies.
- Know where pet-friendly shelters are. Shelter options for pets are limited, and some require proof of vaccination and registration, so check your county's rules ahead of time.
- Leave early. Traffic builds fast after an evacuation order.
Step 8: If You're Staying Put
If you're not in an evacuation zone and your building is considered safe to shelter in:
- Go to an interior room on the lowest level that isn't threatened by flooding, away from windows and glass doors.
- Close curtains and blinds, move furniture and valuables away from windows, and keep pathways clear.
- Don't tape your windows. It doesn't prevent breakage and can create larger, more dangerous shards.
- Charge devices early and conserve phone battery.
- Stay out of floodwater. Even shallow moving water can be dangerous and may hide debris or downed power lines.
- Don't use elevators during a storm.
- Never run a generator indoors or near windows. Carbon monoxide is a serious risk after storms.
Step 9: After the Storm
- Wait for the all-clear from local officials before going outside or returning home.
- Document damage with photos and video before cleaning or moving anything.
- Notify your landlord quickly and ask about repair timelines and whether your unit is safe.
- Make temporary fixes only if safe, such as placing buckets under leaks, and keep receipts.
- Contact your insurer promptly, and keep a log of every call, claim number, and representative's name.
- Be patient with utilities. Power, water, and internet restoration can take days.
A Simple Timeline
Before the season (by June): Learn your zone, buy renters insurance, sign up for alerts, record your belongings, and start building your kit.
When a storm is about 5 days out: Review your plan, prescriptions, and supplies.
About 72 hours out: Fill your gas tank, get cash, charge devices, and confirm your evacuation status.
About 48 hours out: Secure or bring in outdoor items, confirm shutter plans with your landlord, and fill containers with water.
After a watch or warning: Follow your county's instructions, and leave early if ordered.
Tips for New Residents
Don't wait to get settled. Learn your zone and register for alerts in your first week.
Don't assume you can ride it out. Even if you've lived through hurricanes elsewhere, South Florida's storm surge, flooding, and recovery timelines are specific to this region.
Ask neighbors. People who've lived here through past storms know which streets flood and which stores have supplies.
Know your neighborhood. Our guides to moving to Palm Beach County and moving to Fort Lauderdale cover what to expect when you settle in. Not sure if South Florida is right for you? Try our relocation quiz.
Part-time resident or snowbird? Our Snowbird Season Prep Checklist for Part-Time South Florida Homeowners and our Snowbird Checklist for opening your South Florida home cover storm prep from the homeowner side.
FAQ: Hurricane Prep for Florida Renters
Do renters need hurricane preparation in Florida? Yes. Even if you don't own the building, you're responsible for protecting your belongings, knowing your evacuation zone, and being able to leave quickly if needed.
Does renters insurance cover hurricane damage? Renters insurance typically covers wind damage to your belongings, but most policies exclude flood. Ask about hurricane deductibles and separate flood coverage.
Is my landlord responsible for storm shutters? It depends on your lease and the building. Ask your landlord who installs shutters and when, and get the answer in writing if you can.
What if my apartment becomes uninhabitable after a storm? Contact your landlord and your insurance company right away. Renters insurance with additional living expenses coverage can help with temporary housing. Review your lease for rent and repair terms.
How do I find my evacuation zone? Enter your address in your county's evacuation zone lookup tool, or ask your landlord or county emergency management office.
How much water should I store for a hurricane? Plan on one gallon per person per day, plus pet water, for at least three days and ideally a week.
When should I leave if there's an evacuation order? As soon as possible, since traffic builds quickly after an order is issued.
What should I do if I'm new to Florida? Learn your zone, register for alerts, buy renters insurance, and put together a basic kit in your first few weeks.
Let SoFlo Coastal Group Help You Make the Move
Whether you're renting, buying, or still deciding where in South Florida to settle, our team can help you find a neighborhood that fits your lifestyle, budget, and comfort level with storm season.
📲 Call/Text: 732.754.9323 🌐 Visit: soflocoastalgroup.com 🏡 Browse homes: Home Search 📸 Instagram: @melissa.buy.sell.invest
Melissa Naman, REALTOR® Founder, SoFlo Coastal Group Helping you buy, sell, and invest across Palm Beach and Broward County.
