Creating a Family Emergency Plan in Florida: Step-by-Step Guide to Stay Safe and Prepared

Whether it's a hurricane, flood, or wildfire, having a family disaster plan is one of the most effective ways to stay safe. And yet, many people put it off. Maybe it feels overwhelming. Or maybe it’s just hard to imagine the worst actually happening.

But here's the thing—when a storm hits, there’s no time to figure things out on the fly.

This guide walks you through how to create a practical, easy-to-follow emergency plan for your household. We’ll cover the basics: what to include, how to involve your kids, and ways to make sure everyone remembers the plan when it really counts.

You don’t need to have everything perfect. You just need to start.

TL;DR

A family emergency plan in Florida is a written plan that outlines how your household will respond to hurricanes, floods, or other local disasters, including having an emergency supply kit . It includes evacuation routes, safe meeting locations, emergency contacts, and a checklist of supplies. Practicing the plan regularly helps ensure everyone knows what to do during an emergency.

1. Start with a Family Conversation

Begin by sitting down with everyone who lives in your home—adults, kids, roommates, or caregivers. The goal is to talk through what types of emergencies could realistically happen in Florida and how you'll respond as a group.

Start with likely scenarios:

• A hurricane is approaching and local officials issue an evacuation order.
• Floodwaters are rising quickly in your neighborhood.
• A wildfire nearby triggers an emergency alert.
• Power goes out for several days during a storm.

Then walk through your response to each one. Ask:

• Where do we go if we need to evacuate?
• How do we get there if the main roads are closed?
• What if someone is at work or school when it happens?

Now, decide on:

Two Meeting Locations:

1. One close to home. This could be a neighbor’s house, a park, or a nearby school.
2. One outside your immediate area. Choose a spot at least 10-20 miles away—like a relative’s home or a public shelter. Make sure everyone knows how to get there and has the address written down.

Household Roles:

• Who’s in charge of grabbing the emergency kit?
• Who loads the car or secures the house?
• Who helps younger children or pets?

For example: One adult grabs the go-bags and medication, a teen packs snacks and bottled water, while another person handles loading up the pets with leashes and crates.

Make It Personal and Realistic

If you have young kids, explain things in age-appropriate ways and turn the discussion into a mini drill. For elderly family members, make sure they know where to find their durable medical equipment, medications, and emergency contacts. Everyone should know how to unlock the windows and doors if power goes out or smoke fills the room.

This first step turns uncertainty into structure. The clearer the plan, the faster your family can act—without second-guessing.

2. Set Up a Communication Strategy

When disaster strikes, staying connected with your family can be harder than you think. Cell towers might be down. Power could be out for days. And if everyone’s trying to call at once, networks get overloaded fast.

That’s why a backup communication plan is critical.

Choose an Out-of-Town Contact

Pick a trusted friend or relative who lives in a different city or state—somewhere unlikely to be affected by the same emergency. This person becomes your check-in point.

• Everyone in your household should call or text this person to confirm they're safe.
• If you're separated and can't reach each other directly, you can relay messages through them.

Write It Down

Don’t rely on your phone’s contact list. Store key phone numbers on a physical contact card and keep copies in wallets, backpacks, and your emergency kit. Include:

• Names and numbers of each family member
• Your emergency contact’s full info
• Work, school, and daycare contacts

Know What Works When

• Texts often go through when calls fail. Teach everyone—kids included—how to send a short message like “I’m OK. At school.”
• Use group messaging apps, but don’t depend solely on Wi-Fi or mobile data.
• For serious emergencies, apps like Zello (a walkie-talkie app) or Red Cross’s Emergency app can help you stay in touch if cell service is limited.

Set Expectations

Agree on how often to check in, what to say, and how to share updates. It avoids confusion later.

Having a solid communication plan means you’re not left wondering where someone is—or if they’re okay. It takes the guesswork out of a chaotic situation.

3. Know Where to Go

Emergencies don’t always give you time to think. Knowing exactly where to go, including your escape routes —whether you’re staying put or evacuating—can save time, reduce panic, and keep everyone safer.

Identify Safe Spots Inside Your Home

Different types of emergencies call for different shelter strategies:

• Hurricanes or severe storms: Use a windowless interior room on the lowest floor—like a closet, hallway, or bathroom. Stay away from glass and exterior walls.
• Flooding: Move to higher levels. Avoid basements, even if they feel secure. Floodwaters rise fast and are often contaminated.
• Wildfires: Close all windows and doors to reduce smoke exposure and prepare to evacuate early.

Make sure everyone in the house knows these spots—and how to get to them quickly.

Plan for Evacuation

If local officials issue an evacuation order, you may only have minutes to leave. Know:

• Your local evacuation routes—main roads and backups in case one is blocked.
• Where you’ll go—whether it’s a friend’s house in another part of town, a hotel, or a public shelter. Pick at least two options.
• How you’ll get there—especially if you don’t own a car. Look up community transportation options in advance.

Have a Go-Bag Ready

A packed emergency bag should be easy to grab if you need to leave fast. Keep it by the door, in the car, or somewhere accessible. Include basic supplies, medications, chargers, snacks, copies of ID, and any essentials for kids or pets.

Knowing your routes and safe spaces ahead of time helps you move quickly and confidently—without scrambling under pressure.

4. Build Your Emergency Kit

Your emergency kit should keep everyone in your household safe, fed, and functional for at least 72 hours—possibly longer if help is delayed, so create a complete inventory of the supplies .

Start with the essentials:

• Water – One gallon per person per day (for drinking and sanitation)
• Non-perishable food – Canned goods, protein bars, dried fruit, peanut butter, crackers
• Flashlights – With extra batteries or a hand-crank option
• First aid kit – Include bandages, antiseptic, tweezers, scissors, pain relievers, and any prescription medications
• Medications – At least a 3-day supply of all critical prescriptions
• Hygiene items – Toothbrushes, soap, hand sanitizer, moist towelettes, feminine products
• Important documents – IDs, insurance policies, medical records, and contact lists in a waterproof folder or pouch
• Chargers and power banks – Keep phones and devices charged without electricity
• Cash – Small bills, since ATMs and card systems may be down
• Special items – Baby formula, diapers, pet food, allergy medications, hearing aids, or glasses

Tips for tailoring it:

• If someone in your home has dietary restrictions or medical conditions, pack accordingly.
• Keep seasonal needs in mind—ponchos, extra blankets, or sunscreen, depending on the time of year.
• If you evacuate by car, add a few extras: jumper cables, blankets, and a road map in case GPS fails.

Store your kit in a sturdy, waterproof container or backpack. If possible, make a smaller “go-bag” version for quick evacuations and keep one in your car.

This isn’t about stocking up out of fear—it’s about being ready so you don’t have to scramble.

5. Practice the Plan

Once you’ve built your emergency plan, make sure to practice your plan and don’t let it just sit on paper. Practicing it helps make sure everyone remembers what to do—and shows you what might need tweaking.

Run Drills Every Few Months

• Set a date and treat it like a real emergency.
• Practice different scenarios: a late-night evacuation, sheltering during a storm, or losing power for 24 hours.
• Time how long it takes to gather everyone and leave the house with your go-bags.

Test the Details

• Can everyone find and use the emergency kit?
• Do kids remember your out-of-town contact?
• Does your meeting point actually work if nearby roads are blocked?

Keep It Casual, Not Stressful

This isn’t about getting it “right”—it’s about building muscle memory.

Even small things matter: Can someone open the garage without power? Do you know where your pet carrier is?

Use Each Drill to Improve

After every run-through, talk briefly about what worked and what didn’t. Maybe someone forgot their shoes, or the kit was missing a flashlight. That’s the point—each practice gets you one step closer to being truly ready.

6. Keep It Up to Date

An emergency plan only works if the details stay current, including how you will receive emergency alerts . Schedules change. Kids grow. Phone numbers get updated. So make it a habit to review your plan at least once a year.

Key times to update your plan:

• After moving to a new home or neighborhood
• If your contact information or emergency contacts change
• When someone joins or leaves your household
• After major weather events, if they reveal gaps in your current plan

What to check:

• Are all phone numbers still accurate?
• Do your meeting spots still make sense?
• Is your emergency kit fully stocked and within expiration dates?

Print out the latest version of your plan to ensure your family safe . Keep one copy in your emergency kit and another somewhere easy to grab—like taped inside a kitchen cabinet or near the front door.

This step often gets skipped. But when something changes and no one remembers to update the plan—that’s when small issues can turn into big problems. Just put it on your calendar and treat it like any other annual household task.

Bonus Tip: Don’t Forget Your Insurance

An emergency plan helps protect your family—but don’t overlook your home.

Review your homeowners insurance policy before storm season. Know what’s covered—and what isn’t.

If you’re unsure where to start or think you might be overpaying, we can help.

Get a quick quote or speak with a licensed agent at Worth Insurance. We'll help you understand your options and how to integrate them with your own personal network to make sure you're truly covered—no fluff, just straight answers.