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The NBC2 First Alert Storm Team helps you plan ahead and prepare for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane season.
Our beautiful Southwest Florida weather can turn ugly and even deadly this time of year, making it even more important to prepare now.
With the NBC2 First Alert Hurricane Guide, we have preparedness checklists, tips, resources, interactive radar, and live cameras to keep you informed when it matters most.
MORE: INTERACTIVE NBC2 HURRICANE GUIDE+
What should you have in a hurricane kit?
The NBC 2 First Alert Weather Team recommends you have these items ready before the storm strikes:
- Bottled water: one gallon of water per person per day
- Canned food and soup, such as beans and chili
- Can opener for the cans without the easy open lids
- Assemble a first-aid kit
- Two weeks' worth of prescription medications
- Baby/children's needs, such as formula and diapers
- Flashlight and batteries
- Battery-operated weather radio
What is a safety plan for a hurricane?
Second, have a safety plan and know your evacuation zones. Plot out a safe route and place where you and your family can go if you need to evacuate. This is critical if you live along the coast, a river or a flood-prone area.
Know your evacuation zone
Click HERE for an interactive Florida evacuation zone map.
How do I prep my house before a hurricane?
Our Hurricane Guide also helps you prep your house in case a storm hits. The biggie: trim those trees and have them inspected. It's also important to pack away furniture and anything outside that could become a projectile.
The NBC2 First Alert Hurricane Guide can also help you understand what's happening and what to do during the storm.
Weather alerts
First, make sure you have a way to get weather alerts. It could be your smartphone, a weather radio or watching NBC2 .
As long as you have power, make sure all your battery packs and electronics are fully charged.
During the height of the storm, you want to stay in the safest part of your home–interior rooms away from windows and exterior doors. This will keep you safe in case of tornadoes and severe storms, which are common when hurricanes make landfall.
After the storm, stay indoors. More people are injured or die after a hurricane hits. If you stay indoors until officials give the all-clear, you'll stay safe from down power lines or dangerous storm debris. If you are running a generator, you want it outside and away from the house. Also, pay attention to boil water notices.
Download the free NBC2 News app for real-time weather alerts and safety information.
What to do when a hurricane watch is issued
- Stay tuned to NBC2 News, nbc-2.com , or NOAA Weather Radio for storm updates.
- Prepare to bring inside any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything else that can be picked up by the wind.
- Understand hurricane forecast models and cones.
- Prepare to cover all windows of your home. If shutters have not been installed, use precut plywood.
- Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water, and medications.
What to do when a hurricane warning is issued
- Listen to the advice of local officials. If you are advised to evacuate, leave.
- Complete preparation activities
- If you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from windows
- Be alert for tornadoes. Tornadoes can happen during a hurricane and after it passes over. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows.
How your phone can help in a hurricane
Your smartphone can be your best friend in a hurricane — with the right websites and apps, you can turn it into a powerful tool for guiding you through a storm’s approach, arrival and aftermath.
Download the free NBC2 News app for your smartphone.
Enable emergency alerts — if you have an iPhone, select settings, then go into Notifications. From there, look for government alerts and enable emergency alerts.
If you have an Android phone, from the home page of the app, scroll to the right along the bottom and click on "Settings." On the settings menu, click on "Severe Weather Alerts." From the menu, select from Most Severe, Moderate Severe, or All Alerts.
Phone numbers to know
For all life-threatening emergencies, dial 911
LEE COUNTY
- Lee County Emergency Information Hotline 239-433-2000
- Lee County Emergency Management 239-533-0622
- Cape Coral Emergency Management 239-573-3022
- Lee County Sheriff's Office (non-emergency) 239-477-1000
- Cape Coral Police Department (non-emergency) 239-574-3223
-
Fort Myers Police Department (non-emergency) 239-321-7700
- United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades & Okeechobee Counties 239-433-2000 or 211
COLLIER COUNTY
- Emergency Hotline (non-life-threatening) 311 or 239-252-8444
- Collier County Sheriff's Office (non-emergency) 239-252-9300
- Marco Island Police (non-emergency) 239-389-5050
- City of Naples Police - Fire, Police & Medical (non-emergency) 239-213-4844
CHARLOTTE COUNTY
- Charlotte County Sheriff's Office (non-emergency) 941-833-4161
- Emergency Operations 941-743-1320 or 941-833-4000
- Charlotte County Utilities 941-764-4300
DeSoto County
- DeSoto County Emergency Management 863-993-4831
- DeSoto County Sheriff's Office (non-emergency) 863-993-4700
- DeSoto County Sheriff's Office - south county residents (non-emergency) 941-743-6777
Glades County
- Emergency Management/EMS863-946-0566
- Glades County Sheriff's Office (non-emergency) 877.445.2337
- Clewiston 863-983.2020
- LaBelle 863-675.1144
-
Okeechobee 863-763.115
SWFL Utilities
- FPL 1-800-468-8243
- Comcast 1-800-934-6489
- Lee County Electric (LCEC) 1-800-599-2356
- CenturyLink 1-800-201-4099
Report a power outage
Check the power outage map and report outages in your area with FPL online here or call 1-866-263-9186. For LCEC check online here , or call 1-800-599-2356.
Pet and animal safety
Your pet should be a part of your family plan. If you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do to protect your pets is to evacuate them too. Leaving pets behind, even if you try to create a safe space for them, could result in injury or death.
- Contact hotels and motels outside of your immediate area to see if they take pets.
- Ask friends, relatives and others outside of the affected area whether they could shelter your animals.