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At Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), safety is the cornerstone of our commitment to customers and employees. It is not a matter of if, but when the next hurricane will hit our state, which is why it’s important to be proactive in planning for the six-month-long hurricane season. FPL urges Floridians to be prepared for this storm season and to be aware of potential safety hazards at all times. Below is a checklist of important details to consider before, during and after a storm. For more tips, visit FPL.com/storm.
Create an emergency plan with your family
- Determine if your home or business is in a flood and/or evacuation zone and review evacuation routes.
- Determine your backup power source or make arrangements to relocate if a storm warning is issued.
- The Division of Emergency Management recommends keeping gas tanks at least half full during hurricane season. For electric vehicles, make sure to maintain a 50%-80% charge at all times.
- Contact your local emergency management office if you or anyone you know has special needs, in case of evacuations. Apply for our Medically Essential Service if someone in your home is dependent on electric-powered, life-sustaining medical equipment.
Build an emergency kit
- Check radio, flashlights and batteries that can support you in case you experience a power outage during a storm.
- Have a phone charger, power banks and a car charger available.
- Gather supplies such as non-perishable food, disposable dinnerware and utensils, medications and prescriptions, personal hygiene supplies, baby supplies, pet food, trash bags, toilet paper and soaps and detergents.
- Collect important documents and put them in a waterproof container – including insurance policies, health cards, birth certificates, Social Security cards, a list of important phone numbers and medications and a copy of your FPL bill.
Prepare your home
- Store outside objects inside, fasten doors and windows, cover valuables and furniture with plastic and move away from windows.
- Turn off and unplug any unnecessary electrical equipment, including pool equipment.
- If your roof or windows leak, water in your walls and ceiling may come into contact with electrical wiring. Immediately turn off your circuit breakers, disconnect all electrical appliances that are still plugged in and turn off all wall switches. Never stand in water while operating switches or unplugging any electrical device.
- Set your refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings ahead of time to keep food fresh longer in the event of a power outage.
- DO NOT attempt to trim any vegetation growing on or near any overhead power lines. Only hire specially trained line-clearing professionals to trim trees and other vegetation near power lines. Visit com/trees for more information on our tree trimming policies.
- Look up and note the location of power lines before you begin working on a ladder. Be sure that ladders or scaffolds are far enough away so that you – and the ends of the tools you’re using – don’t come within 10 feet of main or neighborhood power lines.
Stay safe and informed
- If you use a portable generator, read and follow all the manufacturer’s instructions. Be sure to set it up outside – not in your home or garage – and connect appliances directly to it. Do not wire your generator directly to your breaker or fuse box, because the power you generate may flow back into power lines and cause injuries.
- Bookmark FPL.com, download the FPL Mobile App and save 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243) to your cell phone to report and check the status of your restoration.
- Stay far away from and do not touch any downed power lines or flooded and debris-laden areas that may be hiding downed power lines. Call 911 and 1-800-4-OUTAGE (1-800-468-8243) if you see downed power lines or damaged electrical equipment.
- Follow local news and @insideFPL for updates on storm conditions and heed warnings.
