As Florida families prepare for a new school year, they are also navigating the peak of hurricane season. While shopping for school supplies and establishing new routines, now is the perfect time to teach children about hurricane safety and emergency preparedness.

Back-to-school season and hurricane season overlap every year in Florida, making it important for parents to ensure their children understand what hurricanes are, how to stay safe during a storm, and what to do in an emergency. By incorporating hurricane preparedness into your family’s back-to-school routine, you can help your children feel informed, confident, and ready for whatever the season may bring.

Why Hurricane Safety for Kids Matters

Hurricanes can be stressful for adults, but they can be especially frightening for children. School closures, evacuation orders, severe weather alerts, and constant storm coverage can create anxiety and uncertainty.

Teaching kids about hurricane preparedness before a storm approaches helps reduce fear and gives them a sense of control. When children understand the family’s emergency plans and know how to respond during severe weather, they are more likely to remain calm and follow important safety instructions.

Start Teaching Hurricane Preparedness Before a Storm Forms

One of the best ways to teach hurricane safety to children is to start the conversation long before a storm appears on the forecast.

Use age-appropriate books, videos, and educational resources to explain:

• What hurricanes and tropical storms are
• Why Florida experiences hurricanes
• How families prepare for severe weather
• What happens during an evacuation
• Why following safety instructions is important

Show your children your family’s hurricane emergency kit and explain how the supplies help keep everyone safe. Discuss your evacuation plan and designated meeting locations, and reassure them that your family’s top priority is their safety.

Making these conversations part of your annual back-to-school preparations can help children feel more comfortable if a hurricane threatens later in the season.

Create a Hurricane Emergency Kit for Kids

Giving children an active role in hurricane preparedness can help them feel more secure and involved.

Consider creating a personalized hurricane emergency kit for each child. Let them choose a backpack or small bag and fill it with comfort items and essential supplies, including:

• Pajamas and extra clothing
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Hand sanitizer
• A small blanket or stuffed animal
• Books, games, or favorite toys
• A flashlight and extra batteries

Having familiar items available can help children feel safe and comfortable during power outages, sheltering in place, or evacuations.

Build a Family Emergency Communication Plan

Every Florida family should have a hurricane communication plan, and children should understand their role in it.

Your family emergency communication plan should include:

• Parent and guardian phone numbers
• Home address
• Emergency contacts
• School contact information
• Meeting locations
• Medical information

Print copies for your emergency kit, vehicle, and children’s backpacks. Encourage children to memorize important phone numbers and your home address as they become old enough.

A family communication plan helps everyone stay connected during hurricanes, flooding events, and other emergencies.

Learn Your Child’s School Hurricane Plan

Back-to-school season is the ideal time to review your child’s school’s hurricane preparedness procedures.

Ask school administrators questions such as:

• How are parents notified of weather-related closures?
• What happens if severe weather develops during school hours?
• Who can pick up students during an emergency?
• What are the school’s sheltering or evacuation procedures?

Make sure your emergency contacts are up to date and verify that the school has accurate information about who is authorized to pick up your child.

Understanding your child’s school hurricane plan can eliminate confusion and help families respond more quickly during an emergency.

Practice Hurricane Evacuation Plans Together

Preparedness becomes much easier when children know what to expect.

Just as schools conduct fire drills, families should practice hurricane evacuation plans. Review what your family would do if a hurricane evacuation order is issued and practice the steps together.

Consider discussing scenarios where your child may be:

• At home
• At school
• At a friend’s house
• At a grandparent’s home
• Participating in sports or after-school activities

If your community has designated evacuation routes, practice driving them so your children understand where you would go and why.

Teach Kids Essential Emergency Skills

As children grow older, they can learn valuable emergency response skills.

Parents should teach children:

• How and when to call 9-1-1
• Their full name and address
• Parent and guardian phone numbers
• How to identify trusted adults
• Basic emergency procedures

Role-playing emergency situations can help reinforce these skills and build confidence.

Hurricane Safety Tips During the Storm

When a hurricane approaches, children often take emotional cues from the adults around them. Staying calm can help them feel safe.

Important hurricane safety tips for families include:

• Stay indoors and away from windows and doors.
• Monitor trusted weather apps and official alerts.
• Avoid unnecessary travel during dangerous conditions.
• Follow evacuation orders when issued.
• Limit exposure to overly sensationalized storm coverage on television. Instead, rely on trusted sources for hurricane updates, including the National Hurricane Center (NHC), the National Weather Service (NWS), and the FEMA App. These official resources provide accurate, timely information without the dramatic coverage that can increase anxiety in children.
• Keep routines as normal as possible.

Maintaining familiar activities such as family meals, games, and bedtime stories can provide reassurance during stressful situations.

Watch for Signs of Hurricane Anxiety in Children

It is normal for children to feel worried during severe weather events. Most children recover quickly once the storm passes and normal routines return.

However, parents should watch for signs of prolonged stress, including:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Changes in eating habits
• Increased clinginess
• Withdrawal from normal activities
• Ongoing fears about weather

Encourage open conversations and allow children to ask questions. Listening carefully and providing reassurance can help them process their feelings.

Help Your Kids Feel Safe This Hurricane Season

Teaching your kids hurricane safety is one of the most important steps you can take during Florida’s hurricane season. By combining hurricane preparedness with your back-to-school planning, you can help your children understand what to expect, reduce storm-related anxiety, and build lifelong emergency preparedness skills.

The goal isn’t to make children fearful of hurricanes—it’s to help them understand that your family has a plan. When kids know what to do, who to call, and how to stay safe, they are more likely to feel confident and secure when severe weather threatens.

As you prepare for another school year, take time to review your hurricane emergency plan, update your family communication information, and involve your children in preparedness activities. A little preparation today can make a big difference when the next storm arrives.