Miami Emergency Kit — Personalized for Your Risks

Local Hazard History

Miami sits in one of the most hurricane-exposed metros in the United States. Hurricane Andrew (1992) remains the benchmark catastrophe, leveling neighborhoods across south Miami-Dade as a Category 5 storm. More recently, Hurricane Irma (2017) triggered one of the largest evacuations in Florida history. Between named storms, king tides now routinely push seawater into low-lying streets in Miami Beach and Brickell — an early preview of sea-level-rise flooding.

When Risk Peaks

• Jun–Nov: Atlantic hurricane season; peak threat is mid-August to late October
• Sep–Nov: King-tide flooding during the year's highest tides
• May–Oct: Daily afternoon thunderstorms and frequent lightning
• Year-round: Rip currents and sudden heavy downpours

What to Pack for Miami

Because Miami's dominant risks are wind and water, prioritize:

• A waterproof document pouch and flood-safe storage for valuables (keep them high)
• A battery or hand-crank NOAA weather radio for storm updates
• 7 days of water and food — supply chains stall after major storms
• Hurricane shutters or pre-cut plywood staged before June
• Portable power and fans for heat during multi-day outages

Local Resources

• Miami-Dade Office of Emergency Management — Local alerts, evacuation zones, and shelter information.
• National Hurricane Center — Official storm tracking and forecasts.
• Florida Division of Emergency Management — Statewide preparedness and recovery resources.