🌀 Moving to Pembroke Pines
Pembroke Pines Hurricane Preparedness
Living in South Florida means living with hurricane season (June 1 – November 30). Pembroke Pines is inland — we don't face direct storm surge — but high winds, flooding, and power outages are real. Preparation is the difference between a stressful week and a dangerous one. Here's everything you need to know.
📍 Local Context
What Pembroke Pines Residents Should Know
Every city has unique hurricane considerations. Here's what matters specifically for Pembroke Pines.
🏠 Inland = No Storm Surge
Pembroke Pines is roughly 12 miles from the coast. We are not in a storm surge evacuation zone. Wind and falling trees are our primary threats — not flooding from the ocean.
💨 Wind Is the Real Danger
Category 3+ winds can cause significant damage even this far inland. Hurricane shutters, impact windows, or pre-cut plywood are essential for every Pembroke Pines home.
⚡ Expect Power Outages
Above-ground power lines mean Pembroke Pines neighborhoods can lose power for days after a major storm. Plan for 3–7 days without electricity — not hours.
🌳 Trees & Lakes
Our mature oak canopy and many lakes are beautiful — but tree limbs take down power lines, and heavy rain + saturated ground = localized street flooding. Know if your street has flooded before.
🚗 Gas Stations
Pembroke Pines has many gas stations but they all run dry 48–72 hours before landfall. Keep your tank at least half full throughout hurricane season.
📱 Mobile Networks
Cell towers can go down or become congested after a storm. Text messages often get through when calls won't. Have a battery-powered radio as backup.
✅ Before the Storm
Hurricane Supply Checklist
Stock these items in May. If you wait until a storm watch is issued, expect empty shelves and long lines. Most supplies last multiple seasons — it's not wasted money.
Water & Food
- 1 gallon of water per person per day (minimum 3-day supply, 7 days recommended)
- Non-perishable food: canned goods, protein bars, dried fruit, nuts
- Manual can opener
- Pet food and water (3–7 day supply)
Power & Light
- Flashlights (one per person) with extra batteries
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Portable phone charger / power bank (fully charged)
- Generator and fuel (if applicable — never run indoors)
- LED lanterns or headlamps
Health & First Aid
- First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic, gloves, thermometer
- Prescription medications (2-week supply minimum)
- Over-the-counter meds: pain reliever, antacids, anti-diarrheal
- Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, garbage bags
- Face masks (N95 or surgical)
Documents & Money
- Copies of insurance policies, IDs, medical records (waterproof container)
- Cash — ATMs and card readers may be down after a storm
- List of emergency contacts and phone numbers (paper — phones may die)
- USB drive with scanned important documents
Home & Safety
- Hurricane shutters or plywood (pre-cut and labeled)
- Duct tape, plastic sheeting, tarps
- Fire extinguisher
- Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
- Whistle to signal for help
🏫 Where to Go
Pembroke Pines Hurricane Shelters
If you live in a mobile home, an area prone to flooding, or a home without impact protection, know your shelter options before a storm approaches.
Panther Run Elementary School
801 NW 172nd Avenue, Pembroke Pines, FL 33029
Primary Pembroke Pines hurricane shelter. Pet-friendly (see requirements below).
Additional Broward Shelters
Additional shelters open based on storm severity. Visit broward.org/Hurricane or call 311 for the most current shelter openings during an active storm. Do not go to a shelter until it is officially opened.
🐕 Pet-Friendly Sheltering
Broward County operates pet-friendly hurricane shelters. Pets accepted include dogs, cats, domestic birds, rabbits, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, and hamsters. Requirements:
- All pets must be in a carrier or crate
- All dogs must have a collar with leash
- Proof of current rabies certificate for dogs and cats
- Broward County Registration Tag recommended
- Bring pet food, water, medications, and comfort items for your pet
⏰ Storm Timeline
What to Do — And When
May — Before Hurricane Season Starts
- Stock supplies (use the checklist above)
- Review your insurance — standard homeowner's doesn't cover flood damage
- Trim trees and clear gutters — flying branches are dangerous projectiles
- Test your generator if you have one
- Take photos of your home interior/exterior for insurance documentation
48 Hours Before Landfall (Hurricane Watch)
- Fill your gas tank — stations run out fast
- Get cash from ATM — power outages = no card transactions
- Charge all devices and power banks
- Bring in or secure outdoor furniture, plants, decorations
- Review your evacuation zone and shelter plan
- Fill prescriptions — pharmacies close before the storm
36 Hours Before Landfall (Hurricane Warning)
- Install shutters or plywood over windows
- Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings
- Fill bathtub and large containers with water (for flushing/sanitation)
- Park cars away from trees
- If evacuating: leave early — roads clog quickly
As the Storm Approaches
- Stay indoors, away from windows and glass doors
- Close all interior doors — compartmentalize your home
- Monitor a battery-powered radio or NOAA weather radio
- Do not go outside during the eye — winds can resume suddenly
- If flooding threatens, go to the highest level of your home (not a closed attic)
After the Storm Passes
- Stay off roads — downed power lines, debris, and flooding are deadly
- Generator safety: run outdoors only, 20+ feet from doors/windows — carbon monoxide kills
- Use flashlights, not candles (fire risk)
- Boil water if a boil-water advisory is issued
- Document all damage with photos before cleanup, for insurance
- Check on neighbors, especially elderly or those with medical needs
📞 Save These Numbers
Emergency Contacts
Program these into your phone and keep a printed copy in your hurricane kit. Cell networks may be unreliable — paper doesn't need a battery.
About This Guide
This hurricane preparedness guide was compiled from Broward County Emergency Management, the City of Pembroke Pines resource pages, FEMA guidance, and the Official Broward County Hurricane Preparedness Guide as of August 2026. Shelter locations and availability change during actual emergencies — always verify with broward.org/Hurricane or call 311 during an active storm.
This is part of our Moving to Pembroke Pines collection. Also see our guides to <a href="/living-here/neighborhoods/">neighborhoods</a>, <a href="/living-here/schools/">schools</a> and <a href="/living-here/utilities/">utilities</a>.
Information on this page was compiled from public sources and verified where possible as of August 2026. Details can change — we recommend confirming directly with providers, school districts, or community associations before making decisions.
Have a tip, correction, or neighborhood we should add? Let us know.
LIPP Tips
Hurricane Wisdom From South Florida Locals
Freeze water jugs before the storm — your fridge becomes a cooler
Fill empty gallon jugs (or Zip-loc bags) with water and freeze them 48 hours before landfall. Line your freezer and fridge with them. When the power goes out — and it will — those frozen jugs turn your fridge into an ice chest that keeps food cold for 2–3 days instead of hours. Bonus: once they melt, you have clean drinking water.
Fill your bathtub — not for drinking, for flushing
When a hurricane watch is issued, clean your bathtub and fill it to the top. If water pressure drops after the storm (common in Pembroke Pines when pumping stations lose power), you'll need that water to flush toilets. A full bathtub gives you 30–50 flushes. Also fill washing machine drums if you have them. Read our utilities guide →
After the storm, your phone is useless — have a plan B
Cell towers in Pembroke Pines have backup power, but after a major hurricane data networks can be overloaded or down for days. Text messages get through when calls don't. Download the FEMA app and local news apps ahead of time. Keep a battery-powered AM/FM radio — WLRN (91.3 FM) is South Florida's emergency broadcast station. Explore emergency resources →
New to Florida? Welcome.
If you're new to hurricane country, we know it can feel overwhelming. Pembroke Pines is a prepared community — your neighbors have been through this. Get your supplies, make your plan, and you'll be ready.