Hurricane prep guide for Broward County: Pompano Beach

Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Hurricane season runs June 1 to Nov. 30. Facts on this page come from the City of Pompano Beach Emergency Management pages, Broward County’s 2026 Hurricane Preparedness Guide and hurricane website, and the Florida Department of Revenue.

Pompano Beach sits on the Atlantic with the Intracoastal Waterway and miles of canals running through it, so storm surge, not only wind, decides who leaves. Broward County Emergency Management orders evacuations and opens shelters; the city’s Fire Rescue department runs local emergency management and alerts.

Who to call

• Broward County emergency hotline (shelters, evacuations): 311 or 954-831-4000
• Special needs shelter registry: 954-831-3902; TTY 954-831-3940
• City Emergency Management: Fire Administration, 954-786-4510
• Power outages: FPL, 1-800-468-8243 (1-800-4OUTAGE); FPL.com/outage
• Broward Sheriff’s Office, non-emergency: 954-764-4357
• Life-threatening emergencies: 911

Know your zone

From the city’s evacuation zones and shelters page:

The county also asks people beside tidal waters and in low-lying areas to leave when an order is issued, and mobile home residents may be ordered out for tropical storm conditions. Orders come from Broward County; the city’s evacuation map shows the lines. To check an address, call 954-831-4000.

If you live east of Federal Highway, the city lets residents park on floors two to four of the Pier Garage free during a hurricane or mandatory evacuation, from a day before to a day after, in marked spaces and at the owner’s risk. See the hurricane parking page.

Shelters

Shelters are a last resort and do not all open in every storm. Broward’s 2026 guide lists 34 general population shelters. The ones in and near Pompano Beach:

• Pompano Beach High School, 600 NE 13th Ave.
• Liberty Elementary School, 2450 Banks Road, Margate
• Tradewinds Elementary School, 5400 Johnson Road, Coconut Creek
• Monarch High School, 5050 Wiles Road, Coconut Creek
• Lyons Creek Middle School (pet-friendly), 4333 Sol Press Blvd., Coconut Creek

At a pet-friendly shelter you must show the pet’s rabies certificate and, for Broward residents, its current county registration tag. Bring ID, bedding, medicines, a flashlight, water, snacks and chargers. Watch broward.org/Hurricane or call 311 for which shelters are open.

Medical needs: people who need more care than a general shelter gives, but not a hospital, should sign up for a special needs shelter in advance; registration is open all year at 954-831-3902. Anyone with a disability or health condition who plans to stay home should join the county’s Vulnerable Population Registry before a storm.

Alerts

• Alert Pompano Beach (Everbridge): city residents are added automatically. Anyone can sign up to add a cellphone or email.
• National Weather Service in Miami: weather.gov/mfl issues local watches and warnings; the National Hurricane Center issues hurricane watches and warnings.
• A watch means hurricane conditions are possible within about 48 hours; a warning means they are expected within about 36 hours.

Supplies and the tax exemption

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

• Portable generators of 10,000 running watts or less
• AA, AAA, C, D, 6-volt and 9-volt batteries
• Portable gas cans of 5 gallons or less
• Waterproof tarps of 1,000 square feet or less
• Ground anchor and tie-down kits, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and life jackets

The county guide says to stock at least one gallon of drinking water per person per day and food for seven days, plus a 30-day supply of medicines for anyone who needs them. Make a plan with the state’s family plan tool.

The city’s emergency pages do not list a standing sandbag site; watch Alert Pompano Beach when a storm threatens.

High tides this fall

The city warns that king tides flood low streets near the water even on sunny days. Its property and pets page lists Oct. 25-31 and Nov. 24-28. Do not drive through flooded streets, and rinse salt water off your car if you must.

After the storm

• Report damage to your home to Broward County through the Home Damage Assessment page or by calling 311.
• File a flood or wind claim with your insurer first. The state’s insurance consumer helpline is 1-877-693-5236.
• Track power restoration on FPL.com. Stay away from downed lines.

What this means for you

• Know whether you are east of the Intracoastal or east of Federal Highway; that decides when you leave.
• Make sure your cellphone is on Alert Pompano Beach.
• Generators, batteries and tarps are tax-free all year.

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

Frequently asked questions

What is the hurricane evacuation zone in Pompano Beach?

For a Category 1 or 2 storm, everyone east of the Intracoastal Waterway and all mobile home residents must evacuate. For Category 3 or higher, the zone widens to everyone east of U.S. 1 (Federal Highway) and all mobile homes.

Where is the hurricane shelter in Pompano Beach?

Pompano Beach High School, 600 NE 13th Ave., is on Broward County’s 2026 shelter list. Not every shelter opens in every storm; call 311 or 954-831-4000 or check broward.org/Hurricane for the ones that are open.

Is there a pet-friendly hurricane shelter near Pompano Beach?

Broward’s 2026 list names Lyons Creek Middle School in Coconut Creek, Everglades High in Miramar and Falcon Cove Middle in Weston as pet-friendly shelters.

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.

How do I get emergency alerts in Pompano Beach?

City residents are added to Alert Pompano Beach automatically. Anyone can sign up or update contact details through the city’s Everbridge sign-up page.