After Hurricanes Milton (2024) (Hurricane Preparedness) and the near-miss of several major storms in 2023–2024, Palm Beach County residents now face three new realities:
- Storm intensity is increasing – Category 4–5 landfalls are no longer “once-in-a-lifetime.”
- Inland flooding is the #1 killer and property destroyer – not wind.
- Insurance companies are denying more claims than ever for “lack of reasonable preparation.”
This 2,000-word guide, written by the IICRC-certified team at Edwards Property Remediation (West Palm Beach’s most trusted water damage restoration company), gives you the exact steps that saved our clients millions in 2024—and will protect you in 2025.
1. Know Your 2025 Risk – Palm Beach County Edition
| City / Area | Evacuation Zone | Primary Threat 2025 | Avg. Storm Surge Prediction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Beach (island) | A | Surge + wind | 9–14 ft |
| West Palm Beach (downtown) | B & X | Inland flooding | 4–8 ft |
| Lake Worth / Lantana | A & B | Surge + canal overflow | 8–12 ft |
| Wellington / Loxahatchee | X | Freshwater flooding | 2–5 ft (up to 30″ rain) |
| Jupiter / Palm Beach Gardens | B & X | Surge + C-18 canal overflow | 6–10 ft |
| Boca Raton (coastal) | A | Surge | 8–13 ft |
Free 2025 Tool: Download Palm Beach County’s updated evacuation zone map (with 2024 redrawn zones) at https://discover.pbcgov.org/publicsafety/Pages/Hurricane.aspx
2. Build Your Family Hurricane Plan – The 2025 Version
Do this TODAY – takes 30 minutes, saves lives.
- Designate an out-of-county contact (someone in Atlanta or Orlando)
- Screenshot your family group chat + save the out-of-county number in everyone’s phone as “ICE-Hurricane”
- Set a “trigger” for evacuation: e.g., “When a hurricane watch is issued for Palm Beach County, we leave within 4 hours”
- Pet plan: Book a pet-friendly hotel now (they fill first) or identify a boarding facility that takes evacuees
- Vehicle plan: Keep your gas tank at least ½ full from June 1 – Nov 30
Free Download: EPR’s 2025 Palm Beach County Family Hurricane Plan Template (PDF) – text “PLAN” to +1 754-221-6945
3. The Only Emergency Kit You’ll Actually Use
Skip the big-box “hurricane kits.” Here’s what actually worked for our clients in 2024:
Water & Food (14-day supply – FEMA now recommends 2 weeks)
- 1 gallon per person per day × 14 days (store in garage, rotate yearly)
- Freeze-dried meals (Mountain House or Augason Farms) – our clients loved these
Medical & Hygiene
- 30-day supply of prescriptions + copy of prescriptions
- Mosquito repellent with 30 % DEET (dengue risk skyrockets post-storm)
- Baby wipes (no water = no flushing sometimes)
Power & Communication
- 20,000 mAh power bank with solar panel (Anker or Goal Zero)
- Hand-crank NOAA weather radio (Midland ER310 saved dozens of our clients)
- Physical road atlas of Florida (cell towers go down)
Cash & Documents
- $2,000 in small bills in waterproof bag
- USB drive + printed copies of: insurance policies, IDs, deeds, flood elevation certificate
Pro Tip: Store everything in clear plastic bins labeled “Hurricane 2025” – grab and go.
4. Protect Your Home – The 2025 Checklist (Do This Before June 1)
Wind Protection (most insurance discounts require these)
- Install code-approved storm shutters OR keep 5/8″ marine plywood pre-cut and labeled
- Reinforce garage door (vertical bracing kit – $150 at Home Depot)
- Install hurricane straps/clips if your home is pre-2002 (average cost $2,800 – pays for itself in one storm)
Flood Protection (the real killer)
- Elevate appliances (washer, dryer, water heater) on concrete blocks
- Install backflow valve on sewer line (stops sewage from coming in when canals rise)
- Sandbags are mostly theater – use water-activated flood barriers (Quick Dam or Aqua-Sack) instead
- Know your home’s elevation vs. base flood elevation (find yours free at https://msc.fema.gov)
Roof & Yard
- Have a roofer inspect and seal any loose shingles now
- Trim trees 10 ft from house (especially palms – they drop fronds like spears)
- Secure or store patio furniture, grills, and kids’ toys by May 31
5. Insurance Reality Check – 2025 Edition
Do these three things BEFORE a storm is named:
- Film a complete home inventory video (walk through every room, open every drawer) – store on cloud + USB
- Confirm you have flood insurance (homeowners policies DO NOT cover flood) – average NFIP policy $700/year
- Take photos of your hurricane shutters/plywood and email them to your agent (proves “reasonable care”)
EPR Clients Only: Send your current declarations page to info@eprllc.net – we’ll review it free and tell you exactly what’s missing.
6. During the Storm – What Actually Keeps You Alive
If you stay (Zone X or voluntary evacuation):
- Shelter in the smallest interior room on the lowest floor (usually a hallway bathroom)
- Bring mattress into the room for flying debris protection
- Stay there until the eye passes AND the back eyewall is finished (many deaths occur when people go out in the eye)
If you evacuate:
- Leave when a WATCH is issued, not a warning (I-95 becomes a parking lot)
- Take Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy (520) or Florida Turnpike north – less traffic than I-95
7. After the Storm – The Most Dangerous Phase
72 % of hurricane deaths in Florida happen AFTER the storm.
Immediate dangers:
- Downed power lines in water (assume all are live)
- Carbon monoxide poisoning from generators (never run inside or in garage)
- Contaminated flood water (Category 3 black water – treat as toxic)
Water damage reality:
- Even 1 inch of flood water = $27,000 average claim
- Mold starts growing in 24–48 hours in Florida heat
- Insurance requires “immediate mitigation” or they can deny your claim
Critical First Call: Edwards Property Remediation – +1 754-221-6945
- Average arrival post-storm: 2–6 hours (we pre-stage trucks before landfall)
- We work directly with FEMA, Citizens, and private insurers
- Document everything for you so you get paid in full
8. Free 2025 Hurricane Resources from EPR
Text any of the keywords below to +1 754-221-6945 and get instant downloads:
- “CHECKLIST” – 2025 Palm Beach County Hurricane Checklist (PDF)
- “FLOODMAP” – Your exact property flood zone + elevation certificate guide
- “INSURANCE” – 2025 Florida Hurricane Claims Guide
- “EVAC” – Palm Beach County evacuation routes & contraflow plans
Or visit: https://eprllc.net/hurricane-guide-2025
Final Message from the Team That’s Seen It All
We’ve dried out homes that took 15 feet of surge. We’ve saved 1920s Palm Beach mansions that others said were total losses. We’ve held crying homeowners’ hands at 3 a.m. while we pumped water out of their babies’ bedrooms.
The difference between “total loss” and “back to normal in weeks” is almost always preparation + rapid post-storm mitigation.
Don’t wait for the cone to point at you.
Save our number now: +1 754-221-6945 Follow us for real-time updates: https://www.facebook.com/EPRLLC.NET/ Bookmark our hurricane hub: https://eprllc.net/
Because when the next storm comes—and it will—Edwards Property Remediation will be here, just like we’ve been for every major storm since 2018.
Stay safe, stay prepared, and remember: In Palm Beach County, the storm doesn’t have to win.
Edwards Property Remediation West Palm Beach, FL | License #CCC1331728 | IICRC Firm #251947 Email: info@eprllc.net | Web: https://eprllc.net/
See you on the dry side of the storm.
