Hurricane Preparedness
The Town of Loxahatchee Groves would like to help residents get prepared during this Hurricane season and to increase safety within the Town.
Careful preparation makes it easier to safely weather a storm. Take the five precautions below now, and opt-in to your community’s local emergency alert system to receive updates from your emergency management agency so you’ll be in the know when severe weather is approaching.
5 Tips to Keep Your Family Safe This Hurricane Season
Do Your Research: The best time to think about hurricane preparedness is before severe weather threatens. Schedule time to educate yourself about flood zones in or around your neighborhood, evacuation routes, and the systems your city or county uses for emergency alerts.
Make a Plan: Every family that lives in an area threatened by hurricanes should have a written preparedness plan — no exceptions! Run through different scenarios that may come up and decide how you’ll communicate if you are in different locations during an emergency. In the event of an evacuation, plan where you’ll go or decide on an emergency shelter location as a meet-up point. Visit www.ready.gov/make-a-plan for printable templates so you can prepare and review your plan monthly during hurricane season.
Build A Kit: Assemble a hurricane preparedness kit that includes enough water and non-perishable food and snacks for your family for one week, two or more flashlights, batteries, a portable radio, one or more charged cell phone power banks, medications, and first-aid supplies. Visit www.ready.gov/kit for a full list of essentials.
Safeguard Your Home: Did you know? Once a hurricane warning is declared for your area, it’s too late to purchase or increase hurricane insurance, and damage due to flooding isn’t automatically covered in your plan. Now is the time to protect your family by ensuring your coverage is sufficient to protect you once the storm has passed.
Stash Some Cash: In the event of a natural disaster, cash becomes a necessity. Power outages not only render ATMs useless, but also prevent stores from accepting credit cards. Set aside enough cash for at least a week to ensure your family has access to all needed supplies.
Visit the National Hurricane Center for more information on preparedness.
Visit the Florida Division of Emergency Management to plan & prepare.
Be Prepared
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th. Each year our community works together to prepare for the uncertainty of hurricane season.
Here are some of the things you should be doing right now to prepare your family and your home:
- Make an Emergency Plan: Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands your hurricane plan. Discuss the latest CDC guidance on COVID-19 and how it may affect your hurricane planning. Complete a family communication plan.
- Stock up on Supplies: Have enough food, water, and other supplies for every member of your family to last at least 72 hours. Consider what unique needs your family might have, such as supplies for pets or seniors and prescription medications. Given concerns about COVID-19, FEMA recommends that you add two cloth face coverings per family member and cleaning items to your kit, like soap, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, or general household cleaning supplies to disinfect surfaces.
- Trim Trees and Clean out the Garage: Be proactive and complete yard work and tree-trimming projects now, to avoid overwhelming our waste collection system when a storm is approaching. When disposing of household debris, please take special care disposing of COVID-19-related items such as gloves and masks. Place your garbage in tight, closed bags to help keep our sanitation crews safe.
- Check Your Insurance Coverage: Review your policy. Ensure you are adequately covered and understand exclusions. Contact your agent for any changes.
- Special Needs Shelters: You must register with Palm Beach County in advance. Please call (561) 712-6400 (TTY 561-712-6342).
Stay Informed
During an emergency, residents may obtain information by signing up for CodeRED.
We encourage residents to also follow the Town on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram.
Considerations After the Storm
- Continue to monitor conditions and stay updated via local TV, radio, CodeRED and social media.
- Avoid leaving your home and unnecessary road travel to allow emergency work to be completed.
- If you are returning home following the hurricane, be aware that travel times will be long, and roadways may be hazardous.
- Assess immediate hazards and conditions in your area.
- Assess damage to house and property, recording and taking photos as possible.
- Use extreme care with chain saws and generators. Be aware of carbon monoxide that may come from your own or a neighbor’s generator, especially with nearby open windows.
- Avoid downed wires and debris which can cause injury
- Follow boil water directives, and purify as necessary.
- Observe directives regarding the disposal of garbage and storm debris.
- Make immediate repairs that are feasible.
- Coordinate with insurance agents and Town Building officials for permanent repairs.
- Assist others, when and where possible.
Preparing Debris
After the storm has passed, residents are asked to follow these guidelines in preparing their garbage and debris for collection.
- Place household waste (garbage) in your garbage bin at the curb or swale on your next regularly scheduled day.
- Keep waste separated: regular garbage separate from vegetative waste; and non-vegetative hurricane debris, such as broken fences and patio furniture, separate from garbage and vegetative waste. These items will be collected separately, with regular garbage being picked up first.
- Do not place debris items in your garbage bin.
Dealing with Damage
If your home experienced damage during a storm, we encourage you to use only licensed and insured contractors. After incidents of natural disasters, many criminals see an opportunity to victimize homeowners seeking assistance. Be cautious of individuals representing a company or themselves for tree removal or home repairs after a storm.
Per Town Ordinances Please Complete the Following Below
Chapter 30 - NUISANCES
- Please trim all limbs, branches, weeds, and grass from all Right of Ways, Easements, and Horse Trails.
Section. 38-61 - Location for placing debris for collections
All debris placed out for collection shall be placed on the property from which the debris was generated, at a location adjacent to the public roadway used for access to the property, but not within swales or recorded drainage or roadway easements. It shall be unlawful to place debris for collection within swales or recorded drainage or roadway easements, within public roadways, or on the property of another.
(Ord. No. 2018-05, § 2, 7-17-2018)
For properties failing to complete the removal and disposal of excess vegetation and other obstructions in Sight Safety Triangles along the roadways and at intersections by September 5th, code violations will be issued beginning in mid-September based on inspections performed by both our Code officer and by our Public Works staff. If you have any questions, we can be reached at 561-793-2418 (select option 2 for code or 4 for public works). You may also email us at code@loxahatcheegrovesfl.gov or you may visit Town Hall at 155 F Rd. for a meeting to discuss your property.
Thank you in advance for your attention in this matter,