--- title: Hurricane Season Prep for Military Families in Florida: A New Resident Guide slug: hurricane-prep-military-families-florida description: New to Florida? Learn hurricane season dates, HURCON base alerts, windstorm and flood insurance, evacuation entitlements, and a real PCS-season prep checklist. publishedAt: 2026-05-25T15:00:00.000Z updatedAt: 2026-05-25T15:00:00.000Z author: VeteranPCS categories: [PCS Help] canonical: https://www.veteranpcs.com/blog/hurricane-prep-military-families-florida --- # Hurricane Season Prep for Military Families in Florida: A New Resident Guide If you just got orders to Florida from somewhere inland like Fort Cavazos or Fort Riley, hurricanes might feel like something that only happens on the news. For Floridians, they are a part of life. The routine is well practiced, the warnings come early, and a prepared family is rarely a panicked one. This guide walks you through what hurricane season looks like in Florida, what the military does to keep you safe, and the steps that make the difference when a storm starts to spin up. If you are still figuring out which base you are headed to, our [overview of Florida military bases](/blog/what-military-bases-are-in-florida) is a good place to start. ## When Hurricane Season Actually Runs The official Atlantic hurricane season runs **June 1 through November 30**. Peak activity is mid-August through October, when ocean water is warmest. That does not mean the first storm shows up on June 1 — it is just the window when the National Hurricane Center (NHC) is fully staffed and watching. Track active storms at the [NHC](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/). A few things to keep in mind: - Most Florida bases run a full hurricane exercise in May. Arrive in spring and expect drills. - A hurricane has sustained winds of 74 mph or higher. Categories run 1 (74 to 95 mph) to 5 (157+ mph). - You usually get three to five days of warning before landfall — plenty of time if you have a plan. ## How Florida Bases Talk About Storms: HURCON Levels PCS (Permanent Change of Station) to a Florida base and you will hear the term HURCON within your first week. HURCON stands for Hurricane Condition — how installations communicate how close destructive winds are. Per the [Air Force Safety Center](https://www.safety.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3538849/stay-informed-with-the-hurcon-scale/), the scale runs from 5 down to 1, getting more serious as the number drops. - **HURCON 5** — Destructive winds possible within **96 hours** (four days out). Time to review your plan and top off supplies. - **HURCON 4** — Destructive winds possible within **72 hours**. Begin preparing the house, secure outdoor items. - **HURCON 3** — Destructive winds possible within **48 hours**. Voluntary evacuations may begin. Finish prep. - **HURCON 2** — Destructive winds possible within **24 hours**. Mandatory evacuation orders are likely in effect. Leave if directed. - **HURCON 1** — Destructive winds possible within **12 hours**. Shelter in place if you did not evacuate. Most base services have shut down. Each base publishes HURCON updates through its public affairs office, app, and alert system. Sign your family up the first week you arrive. The unit will tell the service member when to muster. For spouses holding the fort, the base's family readiness program is your best source of truth. ## Windstorm Insurance: Not Always Included Here is the part that surprises a lot of new Florida homeowners. A standard homeowners policy usually covers wind damage from a thunderstorm, but **hurricane wind damage is treated separately**. Most policies carry a hurricane deductible that only activates when the NHC names a storm. Per the [Florida Department of Financial Services](https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/consumerprotections/floridashurricanedeductible), insurers in Florida must offer hurricane deductible options of **$500, 2 percent, 5 percent, or 10 percent** of the insured dwelling value. On a $350,000 home with a 2 percent deductible, you would pay the first $7,000 out of pocket before insurance kicks in. A few things worth knowing: - The hurricane deductible is **calendar-year based** with the same insurer. If you meet it on the first storm, your regular deductible applies to a second storm that year. - In some coastal counties, standard policies exclude wind damage entirely. You may need a separate windstorm endorsement or a policy through **Citizens Property Insurance**, Florida's insurer of last resort. - Lenders generally require windstorm coverage as a condition of the mortgage. If you are buying your first Florida home, our [Florida first home guide for veterans](/blog/your-first-home-in-florida-a-complete-guide-for-veterans-and-military-families) walks through insurance and inspections. ## Flood Insurance Is a Separate Policy. Always. This is the single most expensive mistake new Florida residents make. **Flood damage is not covered by homeowners insurance.** Not by the standard policy, not by the hurricane endorsement — only by a dedicated flood policy. Most flood policies in the U.S. are written through the [National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)](https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance), run by FEMA. A new NFIP flood policy does not take effect for **30 days** after purchase. You cannot buy flood insurance the week a storm is named and expect it to cover that storm. The one big exception: if your lender requires flood insurance to close on a mortgage, the policy starts the day of closing with no wait. Buy flood insurance early in the year — not in August. Two more things to know: - Properties in a FEMA-designated **Special Flood Hazard Area** are required to carry flood insurance with a federally backed mortgage. Properties outside that zone are not required to — but plenty of them still flood. Hurricane Ian in 2022 caused massive flooding in inland counties. - NFIP coverage caps at $250,000 for the building and $100,000 for contents. If your home is worth more, consider a private flood policy on top. ## Evacuation Orders, TLE, and What the Military Pays For Florida counties decide evacuation orders, not the military. Counties use **evacuation zones labeled A through F** (or A through E in some counties), based on storm-surge risk. Zone A goes first. Look up your zone at [FloridaDisaster.org/knowyourzone](https://www.floridadisaster.org/knowyourzone/) the week you move in, not the week a storm is forming. When a storm threatens a Florida base, the installation commander may issue an **authorized or ordered evacuation**. This is what opens up military reimbursement. A few terms to know: - **DEERS** (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System) — the database that says who your dependents are. Only dependents listed in DEERS get reimbursed during an evacuation. Update it as soon as you have a new baby or marriage. - **TLE** (Temporary Lodging Expense) — partial reimbursement for hotel and meal costs during a PCS inside the continental U.S. TLE is for moves, not evacuations. - **TLA** (Temporary Lodging Allowance) — the overseas equivalent of TLE, used in places like Hawaii and Alaska. - **Evacuation Allowance** — a separate entitlement that kicks in when a military commander issues an evacuation order. This is what covers you during a hurricane evacuation. Here is what to remember: if you leave Florida before an evacuation is officially ordered, you are paying out of pocket. Once the order is issued, dependents listed in DEERS can be reimbursed for lodging at the safe haven rate, plus meals and incidentals (100 percent of the rate for ages 12 and up, 50 percent for under 12). The [Navy Region Southeast hurricane evacuation entitlements FAQ](https://cnrse.cnic.navy.mil/Portals/83/nas_pensacola/Documents/HURRICANE%20EVACUATION%20ENTITLEMENTS%20FAQs.pdf?ver=ysKoxkDuMqOv0-b7c9zmCw%3D%3D) spells out the specifics. Talk to your finance office or family readiness center for the exact rules at your installation. A couple of practical notes: - The service member may have to stay on station or return to it. Build your family evacuation plan assuming the spouse drives. - Save every hotel and gas receipt. The reimbursement claim is filed after you return, and missing receipts mean missing money. - If you live in privatized base housing, the management company runs storm prep. Get their hurricane briefing the day you move in. ## A Real Prep Checklist You Can Actually Use Most online checklists are too long to finish. This one is built to be done in an afternoon, then refreshed each May. ### Before the season starts (April or May) 1. Look up your home's **evacuation zone** at FloridaDisaster.org. 2. Sign up for your **county's emergency alerts** and your base's notification system. 3. Confirm your **windstorm and flood coverage** with your insurance agent. Ask about the hurricane deductible specifically. 4. Make sure every dependent is current in **DEERS**. 5. Pick two **evacuation destinations** — one a few hours inland, one farther north. 6. Take photos or a slow video walk-through of every room in your house. Save it to the cloud. 7. Scan and back up **orders, IDs, birth and marriage certificates, shot records, pet records**, and the deed or lease. ### When a storm enters the forecast cone (three to five days out) 1. Fill both vehicles with gas and pull a few hundred dollars in cash. 2. Refill prescriptions and stock a basic medical kit. 3. Buy or check supplies: **one gallon of water per person per day for seven days**, non-perishable food, a battery or hand-crank radio, flashlights, batteries, and power banks. 4. Charge every device. 5. Move outdoor furniture, grills, and decorations inside or secure them. 6. Confirm the plan with your spouse and the family member you would evacuate to. ### If an evacuation is ordered 1. Leave early. The earlier you move, the less traffic and the more hotel rooms. 2. Bring the document folder, medications, chargers, IDs, and a week of clothes. 3. Keep all receipts. Hotel, gas, meals — everything. 4. Check in with your unit's accountability tool. Your sponsor will show you which one. ### After the storm 1. Do not return until officials say it is safe. 2. Photograph any damage **before** you clean anything up. 3. Call your insurance company. The earlier you file, the faster the adjuster visit. 4. If your home is in a federally declared disaster area and you have a VA loan, call your servicer about **forbearance**. The VA encourages servicers to pause payments and waive late fees in disaster zones — see [VA.gov natural disaster guidance](https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/documents/docs/va_policy_regarding_natural_disasters.pdf), or call 877-827-3702. ## What If You Are PCSing Mid-Season? It happens often. Summer PCS season overlaps with peak hurricane months. A few things make a big difference. - **Time your insurance correctly.** Buy your flood policy as soon as you go under contract. Closing day is one of the few times the 30-day NFIP waiting period is waived, but only if flood insurance is required by the lender. - **Ask your agent about the seller's claim history.** Florida sellers must disclose known flood damage, but a good agent will dig deeper. - **Pick a temporary rental on the right side of the evacuation zone.** If you are renting for 60 days while you house-hunt, do not sign a lease in Zone A unless you understand what that means in August. - **Get on the base housing list immediately.** Privatized housing is generally built to current hurricane codes. Waitlists can be long, so call the day you have orders. If you are headed to the Panhandle, our [Eglin AFB area guide](/blog/best-places-to-live-near-eglin-air-force-base-veteranpcs) covers neighborhoods. For central Florida, the [Polk County PCS guide](/blog/pcs-to-florida-a-military-familys-guide-to-polk-county) has the same breakdown. ## The Bottom Line Hurricane season in Florida is not something you survive on luck. It is something you plan for once, refresh every May, and then mostly forget about until a name shows up on the forecast. Your base will tell you what to do. Your county will tell you when to leave. Your insurance will do its job — as long as you bought the right kind, far enough in advance. Treat it like any other operational task: clear plan, right gear, accountability built in. You can be one of those families by the end of your first week. *This article is for general information and reflects guidance available as of May 2026. Insurance rules, evacuation procedures, and military entitlements change. Verify current information with your insurance carrier, your installation's finance office, and authoritative sources like [the NHC](https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/), [FloridaDisaster.org](https://www.floridadisaster.org/), and [FEMA](https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance).*