Florida’s hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. Since 2017, the state has been hit by Hurricane Irma, Michael, Ian, Idalia, and Helene. Each of these storms exposed gaps in how prepared residents were, and especially how prepared seniors, people with disabilities, and the families of nursing home residents were to weather a major storm.
This guide is for three audiences: seniors or persons with a disability who are preparing themselves, families with a loved one in a facility, and families recovering from a storm. It draws on lessons from twenty years of elder law practice in Tallahassee, plus the changes Florida law has made in response to past tragedies.
If you take nothing else from this guide, register now for special needs shelter assistance through your county emergency management agency. The time to plan is before the warnings start.
Hurricane Preparedness Basics for Seniors & Persons with Disabilities
Every Florida senior should have a hurricane kit and a written plan, regardless of health or living situation. The basics:
Documents folder. Gather your durable power of attorney, health care surrogate designation, living will, trust documents, photo ID, insurance cards, Medicare card, Medicaid card, and a credit card. Keep them together in a waterproof container ready to grab.
Medications. Have a one-month supply of all medications on hand. Keep a written list of every medication, dosage, and prescribing physician with you at all times.
Communication plan. Confirm that family, caregivers, and your physician know where you will be during a disaster and how to reach you.
Special needs shelter registration. Register in advance with your county emergency management agency. Each Florida county maintains a Special Needs Shelter program for residents who need help with evacuation or medical support during a storm. Florida Division of Emergency Management at FloridaDisaster.org lists shelters by county.
Bookmark these websites to before the season starts:
- National Hurricane Center
- Florida Division of Emergency Management
- FEMA
- American Red Cross of North and Central Florida
- Florida 211
For Home-Bound Seniors and Home Health Care Patients
If you are home-bound or receiving home health care, hurricane preparation requires several steps beyond the basics.
- Prepare a plan in advance with your family and caregivers. Make sure everyone knows the plan and their role in it.
- Notify your home health agency of where you will be during a disaster and when you expect care to resume.
- If you are under a physician’s care without a home health agency, contact your physician about your plan.
- Contact your local special needs shelter or local authorities to let them know you will need evacuation assistance.
- Make medical equipment plans. If you depend on respirators or other electric medical equipment, talk with your physician and equipment provider about emergency arrangements.
- For oxygen patients: confirm emergency plans with your supplier. Have mobile back-up equipment ready.
- Pack the documents folder described in the previous section so it is ready if you have to evacuate.
- If you evacuate, bring medications, written care instructions, special equipment, and necessary bedding with you.
The single most important step in this list is the special needs shelter registration. If you wait until a hurricane is approaching, the system is overwhelmed and you may not get assistance.
For Seniors and Persons with Disabilities
Persons with disabilities face additional considerations during evacuation and sheltering.
Service animals at shelters. Under federal law, your service animal is allowed to go with you to any hurricane shelter. Business and public accommodations cannot refuse a service animal during an emergency.
Mobility equipment. Plan ahead for transporting wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility equipment during evacuation. Mark equipment with your name and contact information so it can be returned if separated.
Medications and medical supplies. Add an extra two weeks of supplies for catheters, ostomy supplies, diabetic testing strips, or other consumables that are easy to overlook in general medication planning.
Special needs shelter registration. Register in advance with your county emergency management agency. The Florida Special Needs Registry coordinates with county shelters to identify residents who will need help.
Communication accessibility. If you have hearing or vision impairments, confirm that your evacuation contacts and emergency services know how to reach you in your preferred format.
Pet Safety During Hurricanes
If it is not safe for you to stay, it is not safe for your pet either. Service animals can go with you to any shelter under federal law. Pets without service designation require more planning. Most American Red Cross shelters cannot accept pets because of health and safety rules. Some communities have designated pet-friendly shelters. Contact your local emergency management agency in advance to confirm what is available in your county.
Build a pet emergency kit with:
- A sturdy leash, harness, and carrier
- Food, water, bowls, and a manual can opener
- Medications and medical records in a waterproof container
- Current photos of you with your pet (helps with identification if separated)
- Up-to-date collar with ID tag
- Microchip records (consider microchipping in advance if you haven’t already)
Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are current. Pet-friendly shelters typically require proof of current vaccinations.
Website Resources:
For Loved Ones in Nursing Homes or Assisted Living Facilities
When Hurricane Irma hit South Florida in September 2017, ten frail elderly residents died at a nursing home in Hollywood Hills, Florida, after the facility lost air conditioning. The tragedy made national news and forced a state-level reckoning over what nursing homes actually do when a disaster hits.
In response, Florida enacted Administrative Code 59A-4.1265, Emergency Environmental Control for Nursing Homes. The rule requires every licensed nursing home to maintain an on-site alternate power source capable of keeping indoor air temperatures in resident areas at or below 81°F for at least 96 hours during a power loss. Nursing homes must also keep at least 72 hours of fuel stored on-site at all times, with a documented plan for securing the remaining fuel needed to reach the full 96-hour minimum during a declared emergency. The rule was most recently amended on January 25, 2026. Assisted living facilities are covered by a parallel rule, Florida Administrative Code 58A-5.036, with similar 81°F / 96-hour standards (fuel storage minimums vary by facility size).
Facilities that violate the rule face license revocation, suspension, or administrative fines under Florida Statutes Chapter 400, Part II (nursing homes) or Chapter 429, Part I (assisted living facilities). Each facility must also submit its emergency power plan to the Agency for Health Care Administration and the county emergency management agency for review and approval.
These rules exist because facilities had been allowed to operate with paper plans that fell apart in real emergencies. The law now sets a minimum standard for what every facility must do when the power goes out.
If your loved one lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility, the time to ask questions is before the next storm.
Top 10 questions to ask the facility:
- Does the facility have a written emergency preparedness plan? Can you review it?
- How does the facility’s alternate power source meet Florida Administrative Code 59A-4.1265 (or 58A-5.036 for assisted living) — specifically, can it maintain indoor temperatures at or below 81°F for at least 96 hours during a power loss?
- Does the facility store at least 72 hours of fuel on-site, and what is the documented plan for securing additional fuel during a declared emergency?
- Under what emergency circumstances will residents be evacuated?
- When and how will family members and legal representatives be notified of evacuation?
- How are residents with mobility impairments or who are bed-bound evacuated?
- Where will residents be taken if evacuation becomes necessary?
- How will residents get their medications and necessary medical supplies during and after evacuation?
- Where are the emergency exits located in relation to your loved one’s room, and are they free of obstructions?
- If your loved one requires respirators, oxygen, or other electric medical equipment, how will it be maintained during a power loss?
If you plan to evacuate your loved one yourself, notify the facility in advance and have a plan for caring for them after you remove them. Notify the physician of the new location. CMS estimates that approximately 1.2 million people reside in U.S. nursing homes and more than one million in residential care communities. Federal rules require facilities to have emergency preparedness plans. But rules are only as strong as enforcement. Families who stay informed and engaged help fill the gap.
After the Storm: Avoiding Repair Scams Targeting Elders
After a hurricane, unlicensed contractors and scammers move into affected areas quickly. They promise fast repairs, deep discounts, or impossible results. Many require cash upfront and disappear before the work is done. Seniors are common targets.
Red flags that signal a scam:
- Solicits door-to-door
- Reluctant to put quotes or estimates in writing
- Only accepts cash payments
- Requires an immediate decision
- Offers a guarantee that seems too good to be true
- Asks you to pay for the entire job up front
- Reluctant to provide documentation of license and insurance
- No local business telephone number
Best practices for hiring a contractor:
- Get recommendations from your insurance agent or claims adjuster, friends, neighbors, or family
- Get written estimates from 2-4 contractors for identical project specifications
- Verify the contractor’s license through Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation at myfloridalicense.com
- Check for complaints through the licensing authority and the Better Business Bureau
- Ask for references in your area and contact them
- Get a written contract that includes any oral promises, plus start and completion dates
- Ask a trusted friend or advisor to review the contract before you sign
- A partial deposit is standard; pay only by check or credit card
- Pay the final payment only after the work is completed to your satisfaction
- Ask for a lien waiver before work begins
- Never sign your insurance check over to the contractor
Florida specific: Florida Statute 825 covers exploitation of elderly persons and disabled adults, including financial exploitation through fraud. If you suspect a scam, report it to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-HELP-FLA and to the Florida Attorney General’s office. Document everything: contracts, payments, photos of the work, and any communications with the contractor.
When to Contact an Elder Law Attorney
Hurricane preparedness for seniors is part of broader estate and care planning. Some situations are worth bringing to an elder law attorney:
Facility accountability. If your loved one was injured or died during a hurricane-related emergency at a nursing home or assisted living facility, you may have a case for negligence or violation of Florida’s emergency preparedness statutes. The Hollywood Hills tragedy produced a wave of legal action, and Florida law now provides clear standards for what facilities must do.
Financial exploitation. Post-storm contractor fraud, fake FEMA contacts, and other scams targeting elders are forms of financial exploitation under Florida law. An attorney can help recover funds and pursue criminal referrals where appropriate.
Estate planning gaps. Many families realize during hurricane prep that their documents are out of date or that important roles such as durable power of attorney and healthcare surrogate are not assigned. Addressing these before the next emergency is far easier than scrambling during one.
If you have questions about facility accountability, exploitation, or estate planning, the Sketchley Law Firm has been serving Tallahassee and North Florida families for over twenty years. Schedule a consultation when you are ready to talk.