Hurricane season has not even officially started, and Boca Raton is already telling residents: do not wait for the cone of uncertainty to land on your doorstep. With the Atlantic hurricane season running June 1 through Nov. 30, city officials are pushing early prep, from stocking a serious supply kit to pulling loose patio furniture inside before the wind makes the decision for you.
The familiar warning is back on repeat. Even a season that looks quiet on paper can still produce a storm that does real damage, according to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, and local leaders say now is the time to get your plan together, not when shelves are bare and gas lines are wrapped around the block.
The city’s Office of Emergency Management is pushing its "Be Prepared Boca" guide, which boils things down to three steps: make a plan, build a kit and stay informed. The booklet spells out the basics for that kit - at least one gallon of water per person per day for a minimum of seven days, extra water for pets and sanitation, a battery-operated radio, flashlights with spare batteries, a solar cellphone charger, needed medications and seven to 14 days of nonperishable food - according to the City of Boca Raton Office of Emergency Management.
Neighborhood chores that matter
Behind the scenes, regional water managers are doing their part, but they say the neighborhood routine matters too. Flood control is an interconnected system, so one clogged ditch can cause headaches down the block. The South Florida Water Management District is asking residents to keep drainage gates, ditches and swales clear of trash and yard debris, trim dead vegetation and check that retention ponds are not choked with overgrowth. The agency also notes that canals and lakes may be temporarily lowered, or "drawn down," before a major storm to create extra room for runoff.
What’s tax-free now
Stocking up on gear is about to get a little easier on the wallet. Florida changed the rules last year so that a slate of disaster-prep items will be permanently exempt from state sales tax starting Aug. 1, 2025, instead of being limited to a short annual tax holiday. The permanent list covers specific battery sizes, portable generators that produce 10,000 running watts or less, portable gas cans of 5 gallons or less, waterproof tarpaulins up to 1,000 square feet, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and fire extinguishers, according to the Florida Department of Revenue.
How to stay connected and who to call
City officials want residents to handle one simple task now: plug the right numbers into your phone before the power blinks out. Boca Raton’s contact information lists the Police non-emergency line at 561-368-6201, Fire Rescue at 561-982-4000 and the Citizen Information Center for hurricane questions at 561-982-4900. As always, 9-1-1 is reserved for life-threatening emergencies. Residents are encouraged to sign up for city alerts and check the city’s contact page so they are not hunting for numbers in the middle of a storm.
City outreach and local events
For anyone who prefers to ask questions face to face, Emergency Manager Manuel Rodriguez is slated to meet residents at the summer reading kickoff on Saturday, June 6 at Spanish River Library, where he will field preparedness questions and hand out materials. Local reporting also notes that Boca Raton is the only municipality in Palm Beach County certified as StormReady by the National Weather Service, a designation the city frequently highlights when talking up its hurricane readiness, according to Boca Post.
