Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

Because of our location at the southern tip of Florida, the Florida Keys are particularly vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes. The entire chain of islands sits at or just above sea level making flooding and storm surge a particular problem. For information about Hurricanes, preparing for a storm and for details about particular storms, visit one of the links listed below, or browse our Monroe County Sheriff's Office Web site.

Do you have a question about how to prepare for a hurricane, or some other question about Hurricanes in the Florida Keys? Send the question via email to beckyherrin@keysso.net and I will try to get you the answer as soon as possible.

Specific storm information and local bulletins (this link is active only during a storm event)

• Hurricane Basics  
• Shelter Information for Monroe County Residents
• Evacuation Information
• Emergency Food Supplies for Hurricanes
• Phases of Emergency management
• Local Mitigation Strategy
• Special Needs Registry Application
• Pet Friendly Sheltering Registration Forms
• What to bring to a shelter
• What NOT to bring to a shelter
• Boaters Information
• Mobile Homes & Recreational Vehicles
• Guide to Small Businesses  
• Permitting and Permit Exemptions after a Storm (Hurricane)
• Hurricane Checklist
• Hurricane Re-entry decal information
• The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
• More information on the Monroe County Government Web Site

Hurricane Preparedness Brochures/Information

• FEMA Emergency Preparedness and Response brochure - pdf
• FEMA Special Needs Disaster Preparation handbook - pdf
• Against The Wind: Protecting Your Home From Hurricane Wind Damage (FEMA, American Red Cross) (PDF)
• Preparing for Emergencies: A Checklist for People with Mobility Problems (FEMA, American Red Cross) (PDF)
• Fact Sheet: Hurricanes (FEMA) (PDF)
• Food and Waterin an Emergency (FEMA, American Red Cross) (PDF)
• Emergency Preparedness Checklist (FEMA, American Red Cross) (PDF)
• Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit (FEMA, American Red Cross) (PDF)
• Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book (FEMA, American Red Cross) (PDF)
• Surviving the Storm: A guide to Hurricane Preparedness (FEMA) (PDF)

National Hurricane Center:

• Latest Satellite Imagery
• Latest Public Advisory, Forecast Advisory and Probabilities

National Weather Service

• NWS Hurricane Awareness and Preparation

National Weather Service - Key West

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Questions or Comments?
Contact Deputy Becky Herrin, Public Information Officer and Web Author or Sheriff Richard Roth via e-mail
For other phone and e-mail contact information, see the "Contact Information" page.  

This web site was last updated May 8, 2007