Hurricane Season in Jacksonville: How to Prepare, Shelter, Get Alerts and Get Power Back

Before a storm strikes: JaxReady, the City of Jacksonville and Duval County emergency site, dates the Atlantic season June 1 to November 30 and warns that storms can form at any time of year (JaxReady).

The two official sources describe the busy stretch slightly differently. JaxReady puts the peak between mid-August and late October (JaxReady), while the National Hurricane Center names September 10 as the peak and says most activity falls between mid-August and mid-October (NHC climatology). Neither page reconciles its end date with the other's.

JaxReady calls tropical storms and hurricanes among the most dangerous risks to Duval County and splits its advice into before a storm, evacuating or sheltering in place, and after a storm. This guide follows that order: protecting a home, building a kit, choosing a shelter, getting alerts and getting power back. Evacuation zones, routes and the free JTA rides have their own Jacksonville evacuation zones guide, and the weather hub lists every Jacksonville weather guide. Last verified: October 18, 2026, by re-reading the JaxReady hurricane, shelter, pet shelter, AlertJax, flooding and power outage pages, the two JEA storm center pages on restoration and damaged weatherheads, FEMA's flood insurance status record for the City of Jacksonville and the NHC climatology page.

JaxReady's list starts with the roof, windows and doors for wind, and with drains and elevated equipment for flood and storm surge, noting that one dollar spent protecting a home can save up to six dollars in damage (JaxReady).

For wind, the city's emergency site suggests storm shutters for large windows and glass doors, hurricane straps or clips that fasten the roof to the structure, head and foot bolts on double entry doors, a deadbolt with a bolt of at least one inch on exterior doors, and a reinforced garage door. For flooding and storm surge it lists clearing gutters and drains, stockpiling protective materials, and elevating the water heater, electric panel and heating and cooling systems where flooding is possible (JaxReady).

Flood insurance needs lead time. JaxReady says homeowners and renters policies usually do not cover flood damage, that flood insurance must be bought separately, and that a policy generally takes effect 30 days after purchase; the National Flood Insurance Program line is 1-800-427-4661 (JaxReady). FEMA's community status record shows the City of Jacksonville in the program with a class 6 rating since May 1, 2010, worth a 20% discount inside the special flood hazard area and 10% outside it, on flood maps effective November 2, 2018 (FEMA NFIP community status).

A flood zone is not an evacuation zone. JaxReady says the two are separate designations, points residents to the Duval County GIS property search to find a flood zone, and gives Emergency Preparedness at 904-255-3110 for help (JaxReady flooding page). It adds that the St. Johns River flows north, so an approaching storm backs water up the river, and with high tides and rain widespread flooding becomes a significant threat.

JaxReady asks for a supply kit that lasts three days for every person in the household, maintained every year, alongside a family plan reviewed annually (JaxReady).

The Jacksonville emergency site also covers money matters: organize financial documents and keep copies with the kit, make an inventory of belongings with photos and video, and keep cash on hand because power outages may block ATMs and card payments (JaxReady). The plan itself should name an out of town contact, a meeting place, an escape plan and a way to reach family members.

When a storm is expected, the list turns practical: bring in patio furniture and garbage cans, buy board up supplies if there are no shutters, refill prescriptions, trim trees that could fall on the house, anchor what cannot come inside, and fuel the car. Households that leave are told to turn off propane tanks and gas, switch off the main electrical panel, close the main water valve, lock up and take the kit (JaxReady).

Those who stay are warned they may not be able to leave home for several days and that responders may not reach them in bad conditions. JaxReady's final steps for staying are to move the car to higher ground or a garage, fully charge phones, turn the refrigerator and freezer to their coldest settings and keep away from windows (JaxReady).

Local emergency management officials decide which Jacksonville shelters open for each incident and announce them through the media, social media and the JaxReady App (JaxReady shelter information).

JaxReady describes a shelter as a refuge of last resort and recommends staying with friends or family or in a hotel when possible (JaxReady). Shelter guests are asked to bathe and eat before leaving home, to bring their own food, pillows and bedding, to leave valuables behind and to supervise their own children, since no childcare is provided.

Pet friendly sites are also chosen per storm (JaxReady pet friendly shelters). Owners must bring proof of vaccination and registration, a crate or cage and all supplies, and pets may be housed in a separate room. Service animals are allowed at any Duval County shelter and are the only animals allowed on public transportation, so JaxReady tells owners to plan ahead to get pets to a shelter. The program is coordinated by City of Jacksonville Animal Care and Protective Services, Duval County Emergency Management, the Duval County Health Department, Duval County Public Schools and the Northeast Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross; questions go to 630-CITY (2489).

The county's own channel is AlertJax, a free Duval County service that calls or texts residents about a potential or pending emergency and passes on location based National Weather Service warnings within minutes of issue (JaxReady AlertJax).

JaxReady asks residents to sign up for AlertJax before a storm is expected, and it explains the two tropical alert levels plainly (JaxReady). A watch means tropical storm or hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours, the time to check supplies. A warning means those conditions are expected within 36 hours, the time to finish preparations and leave if local officials direct it.

Flooding brings its own alerts. JaxReady says a Flood Watch can be issued several days ahead when a river is expected to be the main source of flooding, while a Flash Flood Warning means flash flooding is in progress, imminent or highly likely and usually comes minutes to hours before the water (JaxReady flooding page). Its floodwater facts: six inches of moving water can knock over an adult, and two feet can carry away most vehicles.

JaxReady also lists AlertJax registration on its power outage checklist, next to carbon monoxide detectors with battery backup on every level of the home (JaxReady power outages).

JEA restores power in three phases, which it calls Restoration 1-2-3, across a 900 square mile service territory: critical facilities first, then neighborhood circuits, then the last isolated outages (JEA Restoration 1-2-3).

In Phase 1 JEA repairs power plants, transmission lines, substations and water and sewer facilities, then restores hospitals, shelters, and police and fire stations. Phase 2 works circuit by circuit, each about 2,500 homes, giving priority to repairs that bring back the most customers. Phase 3 targets the remaining isolated outages. Outages can be reported at (904) 665-6000 or by texting OUT to MyJEA (69532) for customers registered for JEA alerts (JEA).

A damaged connection at the house can keep the lights off after the street is fixed. JEA repairs the service lines up to where they attach and the meter itself, while the weatherhead, riser and meter can are the customer's responsibility and must be repaired by a licensed electrician (JEA damaged weatherheads). In Duval County, on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. the electrician reports completed repairs to the City of Jacksonville Building Inspection Division at 214 North Hogan Street, (904) 255-8503, and to JEA. JaxReady's outage page says generators belong outdoors, at least 20 feet from windows (JaxReady).

Wait for public officials to say it is safe before going home, then check the outside of the house for downed lines, gas leaks and structural damage before going in, JaxReady advises (JaxReady).

The city's emergency site notes that a significant number of injuries happen each year during storm cleanup. Its list covers avoiding floodwater, which may be electrically charged or hide washed out ground, wearing gloves and masks for debris, covering a roof hole with a tarp or a broken window to prevent more damage, and not using wet electrical equipment (JaxReady).

After a flood JaxReady adds that a smell of natural or propane gas or a hissing noise means leaving at once and calling the fire department, and that damage should be photographed for insurance (JaxReady flooding page). If a traffic light is out, the intersection is treated as a four way stop (JaxReady power outages).