Boca Raton Urges Residents To Prepare Early As Hurricane Season Begins

BOCA RATON, FL — Boca Raton residents are being urged to prepare early for hurricane season, with the city releasing its Be Prepared Boca Hurricane Preparedness Guide and regional water managers reminding South Florida homeowners that flood control starts well before a storm is in the forecast.

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins Monday, June 1, and runs through Nov. 30. According to the City of Boca Raton, the city’s coastal location makes it vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes, including flooding on the barrier island and in some inland areas near canals. The city also warns that strong winds, hazardous conditions and widespread power outages can affect the entire community during a major storm.

The city’s guidance centers on three basic steps: make a plan, build a kit and stay informed.

Boca Raton’s Office of Emergency Management says every household and business should have a hurricane plan that accounts for evacuation zones, shelter options, pets, medical needs, property protection and post-storm communication. Residents are encouraged to know whether they live in an evacuation zone by using Palm Beach County resources at ReadyPBC.com.

For residents who can remain home, the city advises sheltering in place only if the home is structurally sound and not in a mandatory evacuation zone. The city recommends identifying a safe room inside the home, securing windows and doors, moving outdoor items indoors and keeping flashlights and batteries accessible.

If evacuation is necessary, the city advises residents to leave with enough time to travel safely and to evacuate tens of miles, not hundreds, when possible. The city also reminds residents to take pets with them or make a plan for their care before a storm approaches.

Boca Raton’s hurricane kit checklist calls for at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum seven-day supply, along with additional water for pets and sanitation. The city also recommends a battery-operated radio, flashlight or lanterns, extra batteries, solar cellphone charger, first aid kit, medications and 7 to 14 days of nonperishable food that requires no preparation.

The guide also lists supplies for sanitation, tools, important family documents, babies, pets and vehicles. The city notes that many storm-related items became permanently tax-free in Florida as of Aug. 1, 2025, including essentials such as batteries, portable generators and fire extinguishers.

Flooding is also a major part of hurricane preparation in South Florida.

According to the South Florida Water Management District, flood control across the region is an interconnected system and a shared responsibility among the district, county and city governments, local drainage districts, homeowners associations and residents. The district operates the regional flood-control system, including primary canals and natural waterways that connect to local drainage systems and neighborhood networks.

SFWMD says residents can help reduce flood risk by making sure neighborhood drainage gates, ditches and swales are clear of debris; trimming trees and removing dead vegetation before storms threaten; and checking community retention ponds or lakes for obstructed pipes. The district cautions residents not to trim trees immediately ahead of a major storm, when debris could be left behind.

The district also says residents may see canals or lakes lower than normal before a storm as water managers draw down the system to create more storage capacity for anticipated rainfall.

In Boca Raton, the city says residents should use the MyBoca app or www.myboca.us/ReportAConcern to report damage around a home or neighborhood, such as downed trees or power lines, after a storm. The city cautions that residents should stay off roads when possible, never drive through flooded roadways and treat dark traffic signals as four-way stops.

The city also recommends signing up for AlertBoca at www.myboca.us/AlertBoca or by texting AlertBoca with no space to 38276. During power or cell service outages, the city says residents can tune to Boca Raton Radio 1650 AM for emergency information.

For hurricane-related information during an active storm, Boca Raton’s Citizen Information Center can be reached at 561-982-4900. Police and fire emergencies should still go to 911, while Boca Raton Police non-emergency calls can be made to 561-368-6201 and Fire Rescue non-emergency calls to 561-982-4000.

The city also says residents can meet Emergency Manager Manuel Rodriguez at the Summer Reading Kickoff Party from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 6, at Spanish River Library.

Boca Raton says it is the only municipality in Palm Beach County certified as StormReady by the National Weather Service, a designation tied to severe-weather planning, education and public awareness.

As hurricane season begins, Boca Post will continue monitoring official updates from the City of Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, emergency agencies and regional water managers to keep residents informed before, during and after any storm. Readers looking for Boca Raton news can count on Boca Post for timely local coverage of alerts, closures, flooding concerns, road conditions, shelter information and recovery resources affecting Boca Raton and surrounding communities.