πͺ Volusia County Hurricane Preparedness Guide
Stay informed, prep early, and keep your family safe. Use the jump links below to find exactly what you need.
Last updated: September 4, 2025 • Information is subject to change. Always verify with official sources.
π¨ Alerts & Local Updates
- National Hurricane Center (NHC): Official advisories - nhc.noaa.gov
- Volusia County Emergency Management: Local alerts and shelter info - volusia.org/emergency
- AlertVolusia Notifications: Sign up for emergency alerts - AlertVolusia
- Volusia County Government Facebook: @VolusiaCountyEM
π Evacuation Zones & Procedures
- Find your Evacuation Zone Map (Volusia County)
- Shelters and Special Needs Registry
- Pet-friendly shelter info is updated here: Volusia Shelters
π‘ Power & Utilities
- Florida Power & Light Outage Map
- Volusia County Utilities - water and sewer updates
π£οΈ Traffic & Gas
- Florida 511 or dial 511
- Waze for crowdsourced traffic and road conditions
- GasBuddy for stations with fuel
π± Communication When Cell Service is Spotty
- WhatsApp works via Wi-Fi
- Volusia County Libraries may provide free Wi-Fi and community resources
π¨π©π§ Helping Kids Cope
- Help Kids Cope App (iOS)
- Help Kids Cope App (Android)
- Tips: keep routines, limit scary media, and give kids simple roles so they feel secure.
π‘ Prepare Your Home
- Bring in outdoor furniture and décor, and trim loose branches.
- Board up or shutter windows, and move furniture away from glass.
- Fill gas tanks, withdraw cash, and protect important documents.
- What to do with your pool before a hurricane
π Build Your Hurricane Kit
- Battery radio, lanterns, flashlights, extra batteries
- First aid kit, rain gear, duct tape, work gloves
- Clean clothes, blankets, trash bags, zip-top bags
- Fire extinguisher, scissors, manual can opener
- Chargers and power banks
- Pet supplies (food, meds, leashes, carriers)
π₯« Food & Water
- 1 gallon of water per person per day (3 to 7 days)
- Non-perishable food (3 to 7 days)
- Two coolers (one for food, one for drinks)
- Manual can opener, disposable plates, and utensils
- Baby formula, medications, and specialty items
- Pet food and extra water for pets
π Hurricane Categories
- Category 1: 74 to 95 mph
- Category 2: 96 to 110 mph
- Category 3: 111 to 130 mph (Major)
- Category 4: 131 to 155 mph (Major)
- Category 5: 156+ mph (Major)
π« School Closures
- Volusia County Schools Homepage - closures and reopening notices
- @VolusiaSchools Facebook
β οΈ What NOT to Do
- Don't ignore evacuation orders.
- Don't use generators indoors or in garages.
- Don't tape windows or open them during the storm.
- Don't rely on candles if you have safer lighting options.
- Don't drive through floodwaters ("Turn Around, Don't Drown").
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