Hurricane prep guide for Broward County: Plantation shelters and alerts

Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Sources: Broward County’s hurricane website and official hurricane preparedness guide (PDF), the City of Plantation’s alerts page, sandbag page, storm debris page and recovery page, the Florida Department of Revenue and the National Weather Service.

Hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30. In a storm, Broward County Emergency Management runs evacuations and public shelters. The City of Plantation handles debris, roads and city services under its Post-Disaster Management Plan, and sends alerts through its Everbridge notification system.

Who to call

• Broward County hurricane hotline: 311 or 954-831-4000
• Broward County Emergency Management: 954-831-3900
• City of Plantation: City Hall, 954-797-2200; Public Works (sandbags, debris): 954-452-2535; Building Safety: 954-797-2765
• Special needs shelter registration: 954-831-3902
• Power outages: FPL, 1-800-468-8243 (1-800-4OUTAGE); see power outages
• Forecasts: the National Weather Service in Miami and the National Hurricane Center

Sign up for city alerts

The city uses Everbridge to send road closures, “be on the lookout” messages and emergency and severe weather information by text, email, phone and social media. Sign up on the city’s notifications page; the city says it takes about a minute and that it will not sell or share your information.

Watches and warnings

The National Weather Service definitions:

Evacuations

Broward County uses two evacuation plans, shown in its preparedness guide (PDF):

• Plan A (typically Category 1 and 2): everyone east of the Intracoastal Waterway, mobile home residents, residents beside tidal water and in low-lying areas.
• Plan B (typically Category 3 or higher): everyone east of U.S. 1, plus the same mobile home, tidal and low-lying groups.

Plantation is well inland, but the county says all mobile home residents must evacuate under both plans and may be ordered out for tropical storm conditions. The county’s guide lists staying with family or friends outside the evacuation zone as an option; check your address on the county’s hurricane site.

Shelters in and near Plantation

Public shelters are a refuge of last resort, and not every shelter opens in every storm. Call 311 or 954-831-4000, or check Broward.org/Hurricane, for the ones that are open. From the county’s list:

• General population shelters are open to all. Bring ID, bedding, snacks, water, medicines, a flashlight, a battery radio and chargers, the county’s checklist says.
• Pet-friendly shelters require your pet’s rabies certificate and, for Broward residents, its current county registration tag.
• Special needs shelters are for people with medical conditions who do not need a hospital. Pre-register year-round at Broward.org/AtRisk or 954-831-3902.

Sandbags

The city hands out sandbags at the Public Works compound, 750 NW 91st Ave., according to its sandbag page: eight per household with proof of residency, self-fill under a tent. The 2026 distribution ran June 1-30, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Staff help elderly and disabled residents fill bags. When a storm threatens later in the season, call Public Works at 954-452-2535 to ask whether bags are available.

Tax-free hurricane supplies

Florida no longer holds hurricane sales tax holidays. Since Aug. 1, 2025, these items are always exempt, according to the Department of Revenue’s Tax Information Publication 25A01-05 (PDF):

• Batteries in AA, AAA, C, D, 6-volt and 9-volt sizes
• Portable generators producing 10,000 running watts or less
• Waterproof tarps of 1,000 square feet or less
• Portable gas or diesel cans of 5 gallons or less
• Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
• Smoke detectors, carbon monoxide alarms and fire extinguishers

After the storm

• Debris: Public Works crews first push debris off the streets for emergency vehicles, then return to collect it. Put debris on your swale, not in the street or over storm drains, and keep vegetation, construction debris, appliances, electronics and household garbage in separate piles; mixed piles are not picked up, the city’s storm debris page says. Private roads are up to the HOA or owner.
• Power: report outages to FPL, not the city; see power outages.
• Repairs: use licensed contractors and pull permits; check a contractor with the Broward County Examining Board, 954-765-4400. See building permits.
• Generators: the city warns that more people have been hurt or killed by improper generator use than by the storms themselves; follow the safety tips on its recovery page.
• Insurance questions: the Florida Department of Financial Services hurricane hotline, 1-800-227-8676. FEMA: 1-800-342-3557. Help with food, housing and more: dial 2-1-1.

What this means for you

• Sign up for the city’s Everbridge alerts now.
• Know your shelters: Plantation Elementary is in the city; the pet-friendly shelters are in Weston, Miramar and Coconut Creek.
• Generators, batteries and tarps are tax-free all year.

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

Frequently asked questions

Where is the hurricane shelter in Plantation?

Broward County’s shelter list includes Plantation Elementary School, 651 NW 42nd Ave. Shelters open only as needed; call 311 or 954-831-4000 to learn which are open.

Is there a pet-friendly hurricane shelter near Plantation?

The county’s pet-friendly shelters are Falcon Cove Middle School in Weston, Everglades High School in Miramar and Lyons Creek Middle School in Coconut Creek. Bring your pet’s rabies certificate and current Broward registration tag.

Where can I get sandbags in Plantation?

The city has handed out sandbags at Public Works, 750 NW 91st Ave., eight per household with proof of residency, in June before the season. Call Public Works at 954-452-2535 when a storm threatens.

Does Plantation have to evacuate for a hurricane?

Broward County’s evacuation plans cover residents east of the Intracoastal or U.S. 1, beside tidal water, in low-lying areas and all mobile home residents. Mobile home residents in Plantation must evacuate under both plans.

Is there a hurricane sales tax holiday in Florida?

Florida replaced the holidays with a permanent exemption on Aug. 1, 2025. Items such as portable generators of 10,000 running watts or less, common batteries and tarps up to 1,000 square feet are always tax-free.