Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management prepares for the 2024 Hurricane Season

The Miami-Dade County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) encourages residents and visitors to prepare for the 2024 Hurricane Season.

The 2024 hurricane season begins on June 1 and lasts through November 30 and is forecasted to be above-normal.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) forecasters predict 17 to 25 total named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 8 to 13 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 4 to 7 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher).

It's never too early to prepare your home and/or business for a natural disaster. Miami-Dade County residents should have received the Hurricane Readiness Guide by mail, however a digital version is also available online. Planning ahead well before a storm is on the radar will create a more relaxed environment when the time comes. Ensuring your safety is top priority:

• Get a Kit: If an emergency occurs, have a kit with essential items such as water for drinking and sanitation, non-perishable food and a manual can opener for at least 3 days. Other essential items such as a flashlight, weather radio, first aid kit, medications, diapers and formula for small children and important documents should also be included. Remember to include food for your pets when preparing your emergency supply kit.
• Make a Plan: Create a family emergency plan with evacuation routes, contact information and important phone numbers. Be sure every member of your family reviews it. When a storm strikes, chances are local calls can’t be made, but long-distance calls are operable. Have an out-of-town family contact that everyone can reach in case of an emergency.
• Register your loved ones with functional and access needs in the Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program (EEAP). EEAP is for eligible individuals who need evacuation assistance in Miami-Dade County.
• Be Informed: Continue monitoring local media or verified social media platforms for the latest updates and advisories. Follow us on X and Facebook, and download the Ready Miami-Dade App.

This Ready Miami-Dade App is a mobile application that provides up-to-the-minute hurricane news, such as evacuation orders, emergency bus pick-up sites, open evacuation centers, and other hurricane preparedness information. The app is available to download on iPhone and Android devices.

Sign up for Miami-Dade Alerts. This free service will send you text messages about any significant emergency event.

Know Your Zone: A Storm Surge Planning Zone is an area that could potentially be affected by a storm surge of 1 1/2 feet or higher during a hurricane. Upon identification of a threat, each zone will be evacuated depending on the hurricane’s track and projected storm surge, independent of the hurricane’s category.

Get Involved: There are many ways to take action in your community before a disaster occurs to increase the support of emergency response agencies during disasters. Miami-Dade County offers free training in basic disaster response skills for members of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Volunteers learn fire safety, light search and rescue skills, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Knowing what to do before, during, and after a storm helps you increase your chances of survival and better protect your property and business.

For additional hurricane preparedness tips and to download the 2024 Hurricane Readiness Guide, visit miamidade.gov/hurricane.