Hurricane safety
A practical, official-source guide to staying informed and prepared during hurricane season in Boca Raton and Palm Beach County: live National Weather Service conditions, county alerts, emergency contacts, evacuation zones, and how to verify active declarations.
Live data · updates on each page load
Live National Weather Service data for Boca Raton (26.3587, -80.0831). Alerts, current conditions, and forecasts load from the official NWS public API on every visit.
Live webcams
See what the conditions look like right now on the coast, in real time on Boca Raton South Beach and the Boca Raton Inlet. The National Weather Service data above covers the numbers. These official city and county webcams show the water, surf, and conditions as weather moves through.
A service of the City of Boca Raton. An official City of Boca Raton webcam view of South Beach Park and the Atlantic coastline near the Boca Raton Inlet jetty.
A service of Palm Beach County ERM. Live feeds are third-party services and refresh rates vary.
Step one
When a storm threatens, two official sources should be your first stop. Everything else, including social media, is secondary.
The authoritative source for active state declarations, emergency orders, and statewide guidance. Bookmark floridadisaster.org.
floridadisaster.orgOfficial forecasts, watches, warnings, and storm tracking for the Atlantic and Gulf. The definitive source for storm position and intensity.
nhc.noaa.govStep two
ALERTPBC is Palm Beach County's official notification system. It sends emergency alerts directly to you by phone, text, or email, and it is the single most useful tool for staying ahead of a storm.
Choose how you want to be reached, phone, text, or email, and the county will notify you about severe weather, evacuations, and other public safety events affecting your area. Registration takes a few minutes and is free.
Sign up for ALERTPBCStep three
Save these numbers before you need them. During a storm, official lines are the fastest way to get accurate answers.
Official storm questions and emergency information for Palm Beach County residents.
561-712-6400Dial 211 for storm questions, resources, and connections to community services across Palm Beach County.
211palmbeach.orgStep four
Palm Beach County issues evacuation orders by zone, not by street. Knowing which zone your home is in, before an order is issued, tells you exactly whether an evacuation applies to you.
The county's Know Your Zone tool uses your address to identify your evacuation zone. Enter your address, note the zone, and keep it with your family plan. When an order is issued, you will know immediately whether it applies to you.
Look up your zoneStep five
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30. As of early October 2026, the 2026 Atlantic season has produced eight named storms, all tropical storms, and none has made landfall in Florida. That is no reason to relax; the season runs through November 30 and conditions can change quickly. The work that keeps you safe happens before a storm is named, not after. Start with the official county planning guide and build your family plan and supply kit early.
Know your zone, your evacuation route, and where your family will meet if you are separated. Write it down and share it.
Water, non-perishable food, medications, batteries, flashlights, important documents, and cash. Restock it before each season.
Review shutters and doors, secure loose items, and confirm your insurance coverage and flood policy are current.
The official guide
The county's complete hurricane planning guide covers zones, routes, shelters, and preparedness in one place.
Recent history
A dated record of recent state and local emergency declarations affecting South Florida, with links to the official sources. Use it to understand how declarations work, then check floridadisaster.org for what is active now. Last verified October 2, 2026.
The active standing declaration is Florida Executive Order 26-33, issued on February 9, 2026, for winter weather, drought, and wildfire risks across all 67 Florida counties. Through 2026 it has been extended by Executive Order 26-80 (April 10), Executive Order 26-114 (June 8), and Executive Order 26-163 (August 6), and amended by Executive Order 26-117 (June 11) and, most recently, Executive Order 26-191 on September 15, 2026, which added the New World Screwworm and pasture mealybug to the covered threats. As of early October 2026 it remains in effect and is still the most recent entry on the governor's executive orders page. It is not a storm event. Treat it as the current baseline, and always check floridadisaster.org for anything new.
Sources: Executive Order 26-33 · Executive Order 26-191 · Executive Order 26-163
The authoritative way to check current declarations is the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and site staff do not replace official alerts.
From the blog
How Florida governors declare states of emergency under state law, what the recent declarations have looked like, and the practical steps to stay informed and prepared.
LET'S TALK
Whether you are new to Boca Raton or have lived here for years, I am glad to point you to the right official resources and answer your questions about the area.