Hurricane season runs to Nov. 30. Know your Palm Beach County evacuation zone, shelters, alerts and Florida's year-round tax-free storm supplies.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Boca Raton’s Emergency Management and evacuation pages and Palm Beach County Emergency Management.

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30, so there are still weeks left this year. Boca Raton has five miles of Atlantic coastline and a barrier island, according to the city, and both storm surge and inland flooding are risks. The time to find your zone and build a kit is before a storm is named.

Who to call

Know your zone

Palm Beach County draws evacuation zones for storm surge and separate flood zones for rain, drainage and tides. Type your address into the county’s Know Your Zone lookup to see both. The county’s interactive evacuation tool also shows shelters, gas stations, grocery stores and building supply stores near you.

The city follows the county’s evacuation maps. On the barrier island, the city says it will strongly urge residents to evacuate during hurricanes and strong storms, because many buildings are likely to lose power, elevators, lighting, air conditioning and water. The city’s advice: if you live in an evacuation zone, line up a safe place outside it at the start of the season.

Shelters

Shelters are a last resort, according to the county. Palm Beach County and the school district run hurricane shelters in schools, and which ones open, and when, depends on the storm. Check the county’s shelters page before you go. Shelters give simple meals and basic first aid; cots and medical care are not provided. Bring three gallons of water per person, medications you can take on your own, bedding, a folding chair, two changes of clothes, a flashlight and important documents.

  • Pets: the county’s pet-friendly shelter is inside the West Boynton Recreation Center, 6000 Northtree Blvd., Lake Worth, for residents of a mandatory evacuation zone, a mobile home or substandard housing. Owners stay at the general shelter at Park Vista High School next door. Pre-register with Animal Care and Control.
  • Special medical needs: the county runs a Special Needs Shelter Program that requires registration, and a transportation program for people in evacuation zones who have no ride.

Supplies are tax-free all year

Florida no longer runs a hurricane sales tax holiday. Since Aug. 1, 2025, these items are always exempt from sales tax, according to the Florida Department of Revenue’s tax notice (PDF):

  • AA, AAA, C, D, 6-volt and 9-volt batteries
  • Portable generators up to 10,000 running watts
  • Portable gas or diesel cans of 5 gallons or less
  • Waterproof tarps of 1,000 square feet or less
  • Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
  • Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers
  • Coast Guard-approved life jackets, bicycle helmets, sunscreen and insect repellent

Build a kit

The city’s hurricane page says a kit should keep your household going for at least 72 hours: a gallon of water per person per day, nonperishable food, flashlights, batteries and a battery radio, first aid and medications, documents in a waterproof container, cash, fuel, phone chargers and pet supplies. The city’s Be Prepared Boca hurricane guide (PDF) has the full checklist.

Sandbags

Neither the city’s nor the county’s hurricane pages list a sandbag giveaway. In 2024 the county’s emergency management director told WPTV that Palm Beach County has never offered sandbags and encouraged residents to buy them at hardware stores. Keep storm drains near your home clear instead; see the city’s stormwater page.

During and after a storm

City updates go out on AM 1650, Comcast channel 20 inside the city, AT&T U-verse channel 99 and Hotwire channel 395. After a storm, the city’s debris management page explains how storm debris is collected. For power, see our power outage guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find my evacuation zone? Type your address into the county’s Know Your Zone lookup.

Does Boca Raton have to evacuate? It depends on the storm and your zone; the city strongly urges barrier island residents to leave when ordered.

Is there a hurricane sales tax holiday? No. Since Aug. 1, 2025, generators, batteries, tarps and other storm supplies are tax-free all year.

Where are the shelters? In schools chosen for each storm; the pet-friendly shelter is at the West Boynton Recreation Center.

What number do I call for storm information? 561-982-4900, active during emergencies.

What this means for you

  • Look up your zone today and save the result.
  • Sign up for both AlertBoca and AlertPBC.
  • Stock up on batteries, tarps and a generator any time; there is no sales tax to wait out.

Related: power outages, trash and bulk pickup and who to call at City Hall.