Lakewood Ranch Hurricane Guide

This is your ultimate guide to hurricanes in Lakewood Ranch. 

Because you can never be too prepared. Even in Lakewood Ranch.

Hurricanes can be very destructive and are nothing to joke about.

This is your ultimate Lakewood Ranch Hurricane Guide to learn the history of hurricanes here, how to prepare, and the important information links you’ll need.

So if you’re ready to learn everything you want and need to know about living through hurricanes in Lakewood Ranch, this guide is for you.

Guide Contents

  • Does Lakewood Ranch Get Hurricanes?
  • Was Lakewood Ranch impacted by Hurricane Ian?
  • Does Hurricane Season Affect Lakewood Ranch?
    • Hurricane Irma
    • Hurricane Charlie
    • Hurricane Andrew
  • Is Lakewood Ranch in an Evacuation Zone?
    • Lakewood Ranch Expands Across Manatee and Sarasota County 
  • How to Check Your Lakewood Ranch Evacuation Zone
    • Know Your Evacuation Zone Florida Map
    • Manatee County Emergency Management 
    • Sarasota County Emergency Services
  • Is Lakewood Ranch in a Flood Zone?
  • How to Check Your Lakewood Ranch Flood Zone
    • FEMA Flood Map Service Center
    • Manatee County Flood Zone
    • Sarasota County Flood Map
  • Will Lakewood Ranch Lose Power During a Hurricane?
  • How to Survive Power Outages in Lakewood Ranch
    • Modern Day Power Outage Prep List
      • Generator
      • Solar Battery
      • Portable Fans
      • Portable Cooking Stove 
      • HeadLamps
      • Lanterns
      • Power Banks
      • Weather Radio
  • Tracking Florida Power Outages
  • Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
    • Become a Lakewood Ranch CERT Volunteer
  • How to Prepare for a Hurricane in Lakewood Ranch
    • Plan What You Would Do 
    • Create a Shelter in Place Plan
    • Create an Evacuation Plan
  • Must-Have Lakewood Ranch Hurricane Resources

Does Lakewood Ranch Get Hurricanes?

Lakewood Ranch has been very fortunate when it comes to hurricanes. 

There have been no reported direct hit hurricanes in Lakewood Ranch for years. 

However, Lakewood Ranch has been impacted by hurricanes that hit Florida.

These hurricanes were not direct hits in Lakewood Ranch but caused a lot of rain, wind damage in specific areas, damage from fallen trees, and power outages throughout the town:

  • Ian 2022
  • Irma 2017
  • Charlie 2004
  • Andrew 1992

Was Lakewood Ranch impacted by Hurricane Ian?

Yes. Lakewood Ranch was impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Lakewood Ranch and homeowners were impacted by Hurricane Ian, which hit Southwest Florida on September 2022.

Hurricane Ian Damage on Lakewood Ranch

Manatee County staff identified $30.9 million in residential damages and $6 million in commercial property damages within the first two days of Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/LWRCERT/posts/pfbid0cXWW8jePzgN61dpuDt1DD9Y4H9KEXZwmCDYrHv7nwVXTPxZRhtxT7QMoRckLfSBrl?

Most of the damage was from hurricane-force winds and flooded areas.

Hurricane Ian Lakewood Ranch
Early Hurricane Ian Cone Path Prediction Map From NOAA

Here’s a quote from a Lakewood Ranch resident as Hurricane Ian started to make landfall:

“Friends & Family Update: As Ian is approaching landfall between Venice and Fort Myers, the counterclockwise rotation of the winds has pushed water outward along the shorelines of Sarasota, Bradenton and Tampa Bay. Winds are officially 155mph…2mph below CAT 5!!! We still have power here in Lakewood Ranch (Bradenton), 10 miles inland from the beaches. Wind gusts around 60mph.”

“As far as that cat #4 storm, where we are located in Lakewood Ranch we barely got hit.
I felt totally safe with the requirements for building new construction today. They say Lakewood Ranch is 40 ft above see level??? I had power and watched a movie that night so not to listen to outside. The sun came up the next day ???? Neighbors had hurricane parties”

Source: https://www.facebook.com/LWRCERT/posts/pfbid0cXWW8jePzgN61dpuDt1DD9Y4H9KEXZwmCDYrHv7nwVXTPxZRhtxT7QMoRckLfSBrl?

Hurricane Ian Damage Assessment

You can view the damage from Hurricane Ian. This map is provided by Manatee County, which includes most of Lakewood Ranch.

https://manateegis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/interactivelegend/index.html?appid=87f7362ce6064fc7bde8234d051f8a35&fbclid=IwAR0bFsiyLcn1w1J-Hmz_7doDmRHqCnvgYWU4JvaQTXhi3jne7Kdpk8Y2GMg

Add MAP and pictures publicly posted on this site….

“This was Anna Maria Island Tuesday. Don’t let the hurricane sway your decision. Lakewood Ranch is far enough from the gulf and rivers you don’t have to worry about flooding in a new subdivision. The homes are built to code which requires then to stand up to 130 mph winds. We had gusts close to 100 miles an hour, 14 inches of rain am had 0 issues it’s literally heaven on earth down here( except maybe traffic and customer service ) good luck”

“I live a mile away in the Lakewood ranch Esplanade and we love it!! We had no damage to our house and just lost power for 30 minutes. These TM homes are built well to handle high winds. Moving is scary and we thought it would be hard to make friends but it’s been amazing. Come to our tiki hut and see the magic u will have soon in Azario.”

“Manatee County’s world-famous beaches have survived the impact of Hurricane Ian” “essentially “zero loss” of sandy beach resource width or depth of beach from Hurricane Ian effects.”

Source https://www.mymanatee.org/news___events/what_s_new/manatee_county_beaches_survive_the_storm

Timeline of events in manatee county https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/public_safety/manatee_recovers_from_ian

https://www.mymanatee.org/news___events/what_s_new/disaster_recovery_center_opens_in_manatee_county

GREAT GRAPHICS. https://graphics.reuters.com/STORM-IAN/gkvlgrxldpb/?fbclid=IwAR24u9c5ZAvZCXSoicFVOR_akn8OFyzLpxDD3FdS3bMYbL-zgHboHQyuH_M

manatee power company???? https://www.preco.coop/safety/storms/?fbclid=IwAR2cEySbeJCmIhqIzXpe0GOt1K982roeCnkSaiBeTR2jMxal2uHMgAh5WKs

The Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network is offering Free Clean Up Assistance, including help with cutting fallen trees, removing damaged drywall, flooring and appliances and tarping roofs. The Hurricane Ian Home Clean Up Hotline is (800) 451-1954.
https://www.mymanatee.org/news___events/what_s_new/how_to_help_manatee_recover

nicole was a tropical storm that dumped a lot of rain

https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/public_safety/tropical_storm_nicole_updates

Damage reporting tool – report your damage

https://www.mymanatee.org/news___events/what_s_new/resident_damage_reporting_tool_launched

Does Hurricane Season Affect Lakewood Ranch?

Yes. Hurricane Season affects Lakewood Ranch.

Florida is a hurricane zone. If you live in Florida, you could be affected by hurricanes.

Hurricane season is generally from June to November.

The most common impacts are high winds, heavy rain, fallen trees and debris, and power outages.

Tornadoes are also possible because hurricanes increase the chances of creating them. 

Here is what Lakewood Ranch residents say about the impact of hurricanes: 

“This is a hurricane zone, always prepare for the worst. Just so happens it’s been lucky – and it’s ONLY luck – to have escaped some of the worst. LWR [Lakewood Ranch] is far enough inland to escape the water surge of coast, wind would be worst enemy. Power outages are common, and be ready for lots of tornado warnings. Had a decent size one here about 5 yrs ago – add warning app to your phone.”

“I’ve been here 4 years and we have barely experienced wind during the hurricanes. I read its been over 100 years since ones touched down here.”

Hurricane Irma

“Lived in LWR for 10 years and only experienced hurricane Irma which wasn’t bad – high winds but no damage where we were. Lost power for 6 hrs while we were sleeping.”

“This was Irma, it affected the entire state.”

“When Irma passed to the east of us we had a lot of damage from it in LWR.”

“We were here for Irma and had no damage other than lost power for about 20 hours.”

“We were here for Irma as well – category 2 by the time it hit us. No damage, just lost power for one day.” 

Hurricane Charlie

“Hurricane Charlie was aiming directly for Manatee County in 2004, and took a sharp turn right into Punta Gorda at literally the last minute. I’ve lived here my entire life, and have seen MANY years where the winds have done MAJOR damage. Never underestimate the power of any weather related storm, and definitely never underestimate their ability to shift at any given moment.”

Hurricane Andrew

“Hurricanes are unpredictable. I lived through Andrew in the 90’s. It wasn’t suppose to go that far inland but it did. But with that said, the west coast area of Sarasota and LWR are less vulnerable and statistically this area has not been hit by hurricanes of any magnitude. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best is still my motto!”

Sources: Reena Walkling | Siesta Key Facebook Group |  Lakewood Ranch Friends and Neighbors Community Facebook Group

Is Lakewood Ranch in an Evacuation Zone?

Lakewood Ranch is located about 15 miles inland from the Gulf coast. 

Most of Lakewood Ranch is not in a standard evacuation zone. 

A small area is in a mandatory evacuation zone due to being located near a river and the danger of flooding. 

However, if a hurricane directly hits Lakewood Ranch, then all areas may be required to evacuate regardless. 

Here’s what you need to know about Lakewood Ranch evacuation zones. 

Lakewood Ranch Expands Across Manatee and Sarasota County 

It’s important to know that Lakewood Ranch Florida expands across 2 different counties: 

  1. Manatee County 
  2. Sarasota County 

Most of Lakewood Ranch is in Manatee County. 

The most southern part of Lakewood Ranch is in Sarasota County. i.e., Waterside Place and the Sarasota Polo Club.

Knowing which county you live in affects the county rules you abide by as a resident. 

This is very important when it comes to Hurricane warnings, flood zones, evacuation zones, evacuation shelters, and mandatory evacuation orders.

So before looking at maps, confirm which county you live in.

How to Check Lakewood Ranch Evacuation Zones

Disasters can happen in Florida.

Fortunately, you have tools to find out if you live in an evacuation area or not. 

Here are 3 tools to know where evacuation zones are in Florida and Lakewood Ranch. 

Know Your Evacuation Zone Florida Map

The Florida State Emergency Response Team (SERT) has an entire website dedicated to Florida Disasters. 

The website includes tools to help you prepare for all types disasters that could experience.

Use the Know Your Zone Map to determine where evacuation zones are throughout Florida. 

The Know Your Evacuation Zone Map is simple to use. 

  1. Just enter your address
  2. Then use the Legend to translate the map 

You will be able to identify the 2022 Evacuation Zones throughout the entire state of Florida.

Manatee County Emergency Management 

If you live in Manatee County, use the Manatee Evacuation Level Map to determine your evacuation zone and other important evacuation-related information. 

The Manatee Evacuation Level Map is simple to use. 

  1. Just enter your Lakewood Ranch address
  2. Then use the Legend to translate the map 

In this Manatee Specific map, you will be able to identify:

  1. Road Closures
  2. Evacuation Shelters Nearby
  3. Evacuation Routes
  4. Evacuation Levels 
  5. Sandbag Pickup Locations

You can also call Manatee County Emergency Management directly at 941-749-3500 for help. 

Sarasota County Emergency Services

If you live in Sarasota County, use the Sarasota Know Your Evacuation Level Map to determine your evacuation zone and other important evacuation-related information.  

The Sarasota Know Your Evacuation Level Map is simple to use. 

  1. Just enter your Lakewood Ranch address
  2. Then use the Legend to translate the map 

In this Sarasota Specific map, you will be able to identify:

  1. Evacuation Shelters Nearby
  2. Evacuation Routes
  3. Special Evacuation Level
  4. Evacuation Levels 

You can also call Sarasota County’s Contact Center directly for non-emergency calls at 311 or 941-861-5000 for help. 

Is Lakewood Ranch in a Flood Zone?

Most of Lakewood Ranch is not in a flood zone. 

A small area is due to being located near a river with the danger of flooding nearby homes. 

However, if a hurricane or tropical storm directly hits Lakewood Ranch, then areas could flood regardless.

Lakewood Ranch has many lakes throughout the community and individual neighborhoods that could flood from extreme amounts of rain.

Just be prepared for anything and everything so you are not surprised. 

ℹ️ The Greenbrook Adventure Park in Lakewood Ranch was designed to flood when surrounding neighborhood ponds overflowed. So if you live in nearby neighborhoods, you can rest easier about flooding. Learn more about Greenbrook Adventure Park

Here’s what you need to know about Lakewood Ranch flood zones. 

How to Check Lakewood Ranch Flood Zones

You have tools available to find out if you live in a flood zone area or not. 

Here are 3 tools to determine where flood zones are in Florida and Lakewood Ranch. 

FEMA Flood Map Service Center

The FEMA Flood Map Service Center (MSC) is an official public source for flood hazard information. This resource is built to support the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). 

Use the FEMA Flood Map to determine your area’s flood risk.

The FEMA Flood Map is simple to use. 

  1. Just enter your address
  2. Then use the Legend to translate the map 

You can quickly save your flood risk map for future reference by printing it out or saving an image of it on your desktop. 

If you are in a high flood risk area, you can get more information about Flood Insurance which most homeowners insurance policies don’t cover.

Manatee County Flood Zone

If you live in Manatee County, use the Manatee County Find My Flood Zone Tool to determine your flood zone and other important flood-related information. 

The Manatee County Find My Flood Zone Tool is simple to use. 

  1. Just enter your Lakewood Ranch address
  2. Then use the Legend to translate the map 

For more information:

  1. Visit Manatee County Find My Flood Zone
  2. Or call Manatee County Floodplain Management directly at (941) 742-5871 for help

Sarasota County Flood Map

If you live (or will live) in Sarasota County, use the Sarasota Flood Zone Map to determine your flood zone and other important flood related information. 

The Sarasota Flood Zone Map is simple to use. 

  1. Just enter your Lakewood Ranch address
  2. Then use the Legend to translate the map 

For more information:

  1. Visit Sarasota County Flood Maps
  2. Or call Sarasota County’s Contact Center directly for non-emergency calls at 311 or 941-861-5000 for help. 

Will Lakewood Ranch Lose Power During a Hurricane? 

Yes. You may lose power in Lakewood Ranch from nearby Hurricanes or even direct hits. 

The biggest reason this question is asked a lot is that the power lines are built underground throughout Lakewood Ranch. 

So the assumption is that you would not lose power if they are not exposed to the hurricane conditions. 

However, the issue is not your local power lines. There are multiple other issues.

Potential reasons for power outages in Lakewood Ranch are:

  • Underground power lines are subject to water invasion through heavy rain, floods, and storm surges
  • The main power facilities and towers are above ground which can be impacted by heavy rain, strong winds, flying debris, and fallen trees
  • The electricity companies may shut down power at times to avoid massive damage to the power grids

Here are real experiences from Lakewood Ranch residents regarding power outages from hurricanes:

“I lost power with Erma for about 3 hours. No loss of power with Charlie.”

“We are in Greenbrook and for Irma we lost power for 10 hrs – not bad considering outside of LWR some lost it for over a week.”

“During Irma, we didn’t lose power at all. Others were not so lucky.”

“Does anyone in LWR have electricity now? Solera doesn’t as of 4:15.” [Hurricane Ian]

“Greenbrook Gardens still has it. Some flickering but still staying on.” [Hurricane Ian]

“Never lost power on Masters Avenue.” [Hurricane Ian]

“[Country Club East] CCE is good” [Hurricane Ian]

“Polo Run is out of power” [Hurricane Ian]

“No in River Club North” [Hurricane Ian]

“we don’t either in sanctuary” [Hurricane Ian]

“Summerfield does not. Running on generators”[Hurricane Ian]

“I’m in Braden woods. We lost power around 10am yesterday” [Hurricane Ian]

“No in Windward. Have been out for several hours.” [Hurricane Ian]

Source: Lakewood Ranch Friends and Neighbors Community Facebook Group

How to Survive Power Outages in Lakewood Ranch

You should be prepared to live without power in Lakewood Ranch during hurricane season. 

How long you may be without power will depend on your location, the hurricane, the hurricane’s location, and the power company. 

But if you do lose power, you lose the usage of most important things you use daily in your house. 

  • Air condition
  • Heat
  • Lights
  • Stove
  • Microwave
  • Refridgerator/Freezer
  • Internet/Wifi
  • Desktop Computers
  • Washer & Dryer 

Modern Day Power Outage Prep List 

It’s actually pretty easy to prepare for power outages. You have so many options for battery-powered or rechargeable equipment these days. 

And it’s easy to enjoy these items year round so you can buy them anytime, not just for hurricane season.

Here are today’s most common solutions to live on during power outages.

Generator

Generators are popular as they provide electrical backup when your electricity is out. 

The most common generator is a portable gas-powered generator. 

However, there are more permanent generators that attach to your house. 

Purchase your generator way in advance of any hurricane warning. 

Ideally, no later than June, which is the beginning of hurricane season. 

Portable Generators tend to sell out during hurricane warnings, and you may not be able to get one in time if you wait. 

Solar Battery

You can use Solar to power just about anything. 

Your house, your pool, your pond, your deck, and even your bird bath.

If you have a solar panel system installed on your house, you can add energy storage.

The energy storage is optional and requires additional equipment of a solar battery.

The solar battery stores the energy which can be used to power your house’s electricity during power outages caused by hurricanes. 

There are definitely costs and time to have solar systems installed. So plan accordingly. 

Be sure to check your HOA’s requirements before installing a solar system on your house. 

You may have solar restrictions or approval requirements. The rules and requirements will vary per neighborhood. 

Portable Fans

Your home may get hot and humid with no air conditioning during power outages. 

Battery-operated or rechargeable portable fans can help you get through those hours and days you may be without air conditioning during hurricanes. 

Portable fans are easy to move around throughout your house. 

They come in all sizes, from small to large to cover small spaces like offices to large spaces like large rooms. 

You can choose between battery-powered or rechargeable fans. 

The good news is you can use these portable fans year around.

Buy a portable fan in advance of summer and use it throughout the entire year. 

Not just when you’ve lost power. 

Portable Cooking Stove 

A good hot meal will be a cherished treat when you have no power or electricity. 

Electricity can be out for hours or even days, depending on the severity of the hurricane and your exact location.

A gas cooktop in your house may be all you need. 

However, you may be unable to use your gas cooktop if the gas is turned off. Which commonly happens during hurricanes.

In this case, consider a portable burner stove.

A portable cooking stove commonly used for camping will work well because you can cook with it pretty much anywhere outside of your house.

It’s easy to heat up food in pots and pans like boiling water if a boil water advisory is in place or a good ole southern breakfast like bacon and eggs!

When you are not using it, you can stow it away as portable camping stoves are meant to be light, compact, portable and easy to travel with. 

You can stock up on propane in the beginning of hurricane season, so you’ll be ready for any power outage event. 

If you have a gas grill, you could grill and BBQ hot food.

HeadLamps

When your house is dark without power, you will need light.

Headlamps are great way to have light and be hands free! 

Originally designed for hiking, camping and the great outdoors, headlamps can easily be used in doors too.

Headlamps come in different brightness, lighting modes and power source options.

They even come in kids sizes so all of your family members can have their own!

Lanterns

Lanterns are another way to power your house.

Just like they work well for lighting up your campsite table so you can eat in the dark, they can do the same for your inside areas.

Lanterns come in different shapes, sizes, brightness options and power source options as well.

You can get lanterns powered by batteries, rechargeable or solar powered. 

When buying rechargeable lanterns, just keep power time in mind as you may not have electricity to recharge.

 Some lanterns are Collapsable, so they pack up and store well when you don’t need them.

Power Banks

Power banks can be your savior.

We naturally buy power banks to power our phones, laptops, and portable devices.

Having a few extra power banks around during power outages will come in handy.

And some lanterns and fans come with built-in USB ports so you can charge your devices too.

You at least want enough power to communicate with your family to let them you know you are okay.

Weather Radio

During hurricanes and storms, you will want to stay updated on the weather and your local advisories.

This is where a weather radio will come in handy.

Most local authorities and government support sites will recommend a NOAA Weather Radio with AM/FM and Shortwave Radio Bands,

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a national agency dedicated to understanding our natural world along with helping to protect it.

Your county, state and local weather news anchors will all rely closely on NOAA’s information around hurricanes.

So you should too. 

That’s why it’s important to invest in a NOAA Weather Radio with AM/FM and Shortwave Radio Bands.

Hopefully you’ll never need it. But if you do, you’ll be able to get information when you need it most.

Tracking Florida Power Outages

Florida Power and Light customers can check reported outages in their area at anytime.

Use the FPL Power Tracker to view outage and restoration information.

The Florida Power and Light Power Tracker is simple to use. 

  1. Just enter your Lakewood Ranch address
  2. Then use the Legend to translate the map 

To report a power outage:

  • Visit FPL.com
  • Or call 800-4-OUTAGE (468-8243)

Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

If you live in Lakewood Ranch, you should follow the Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

The Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is designed to help Lakewood Ranch residents during disasters, storms, and hurricanes.

They are a great resource for local information, disaster preparedness, and updates. And they are trained to provide support when professional first responders are unavailable. 

Comprised of local volunteers, the Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) can provide important services like local area updates and resources, search and rescue, first aid, and radio communications support. 

They offer resources, training and special events year-round.

Become a Lakewood Ranch CERT Volunteer

Help out your fellow Lakewood Ranch neighbors in those times of need by becoming a Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team volunteer!

The LWR CERT team is always looking for more volunteers, and they will train you on what to do. 

How to Prepare for a Hurricane in Lakewood Ranch

What would you do if a hurricane were headed toward your house? 

What would you do if you had to evacuate?

What would you do if you had to shelter in place? 

The best time to answer those questions is now. Not when you are under a hurricane threat.  

Here’s what you need to think about and how you prepare for hurricanes in Lakewood Ranch.

1. Plan What You Would Do 

Take the time to think about what you would do. 

Create tentative plans that you could quickly put in place if needed. 

Since hurricanes can be destructive and deadly, the pressure will be intense when a hurricane watch is issued. 

Hurricane Watch means hurricane conditions are possible.

You will feel that pressure and so will everyone else around you. 

The pressure and stress of a hurricane intensify greatly when a hurricane warning is issued. 

Hurricane Warning means hurricane conditions are expected.

2. Create a Shelter in Place Plan

Shelter in Place means you decide to stay in your home or a local shelter.

It means that you decide not to evacuate. 

If you decide to ride out the hurricane, you must prepare to survive during and after the hurricane. 

Before the hurricane, be ready to put up hurricane shutters or board up your windows if you don’t have hurricane-impact windows. 

During the hurricane, be ready to take shelter in a safe place within your home or a nearby shelter center. 

If you decide to take shelter at home, stay in a room on the bottom floor and away from windows.

The winds from hurricanes can blow things around and cause trees to fall, which can come through home roofs and windows. 

After the hurricane, be ready to live without power, water, gas, and internet. 

Power outages in Lakewood Ranch can last for hours or even days, depending on the damage from the hurricane. 

This is where the modern-day power outage equipment comes in.

Also, be sure to have a supply of non-perishable food items, medications, clean clothes, cash, and bottled water. 

3. Create an Evacuation Plan

You may be required to evacuate. 

This means that you leave your home and belongings behind. 

You will need to load your car with your family and travel belongings to go somewhere out of the hurricane’s path. 

Plan out where you will go.

Where will you stay?

Can you stay with friends and family?

Or will you need to rent a hotel room or Airbnb? 

The majority of evacuates from Lakewood Ranch will head north, up I-75. 

“If you want to play it safe get out when you can. If you wait for evacuation orders the roads get so clogged you won’t be able to go anywhere and the hotels in a 50-mile radius will already be booked by people who lost everything once before already.” Source: Siesta Key Facebook Group

However, with Hurricane Ian, some folks went south to Miami and east to Delray Beach to dodge the traffic. 

“You may be able to rent a car and go to Miami for a few days if you are worried. It is out of the cone. About a 3.5 hr drive.” Source: Siesta Key Facebook Group

“It’s all fun and games until they forecast landfall right on you. We made the tough decision to leave this morning. Driving East since most are going north.” Source: Facebook

You’ll also want to ensure you have a full gas tank, as gas tends to run out when hundreds of thousands of Floridians make a mass exit out of the state at the same time! 

Must-Have Lakewood Ranch Hurricane Resources

Hopefully, you will never have to experience a hurricane. 

Your emotions will be on edge. Your stress level will be through the roof. 

And you’ll be worrying about your house, your family, your friends, and your beloved area. 

But if you choose to live in Florida, you must be prepared. Experiencing the impact of hurricanes is pretty much inevitable. 

Here are my favorite Lakewood Ranch Hurricane resources to make sure you are prepared. 

Preparing for Hurricanes LWR CERT

Here’s a list of hurricane and disaster planning websites recommended specifically by Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team (LWR CERT).

Florida Attorney General Hurricane Prep Guide

This is an 18-page guide that covers everything you need to know when preparing for a hurricane. You will find helpful resources. Everything from legal assistance, financial relief, and consumer protection from price gouging information to hurricane preparedness and supply checklist and your ultimate plan guide. 

Ready Shelter Plan

This is a good plan to follow to safely shelter in place. You will find helpful links and resources about the different ways you can take shelter during hurricanes.

Florida Disaster Supply Kit Checklist

This disaster checklist shows you all the supplies you need to consider in the event of a hurricane. You will find helpful categories for everything from first-aid kits in the event injuries happen to important documents you want to make sure you save from damage, etc. 

Manatee County Emergency Management

This is Manatee County’s resource area dedicated to preparing for emergencies including hurricanes. You will find helpful information such as how to sign up for alerts to keep you informed of what’s happening in your area and making a plan. 

Sarasota County Hurricane Preparedness

This is Sarasota County’s instructions on how to prepare and recover from a hurricane. You’ll find everything from mental health resources, disaster recovery center information, how to prepare your home and after, where to find gas, and more. 

Denis Phillips Weatherman



To stay on top of the latest hurricane information, Lakewood Ranch residents recommend you follow Denis Phillips on Facebook.

Denis Phillips is a Chief Meteorologist & News Personality for ABC Action News for WFTS in Tampa Bay.

He’s popular with locals because he not only provides extensive updates on weather and hurricanes, he has rules around hurricanes.

Denis is famous for his Rule #7: “Stop freaking out until I tell you to. We’re fine.”

He has his own product line for this rule, which he usually donates proceeds to various organizations.

Mike’s Weather Page

Mike is another one that Lakewood Ranch residents recommend you follow.

Mike is a local blogger who constantly provides information and updates on storms, tropics, hurricanes, and weather.

He is also a storm chaser and provides all updates on his Facebook Channel and website. 

Hurricane Re-Entry Map

This is Sarasota County’s re-entry map.

Use this to know when its safe to travel back into the county and to your home after a hurricane impacted the area.

Current Road Closures

This is Manatee County’s map of current road work and road closures.

This map is available year-round but can be useful after hurricanes too.

Hurricanes can bring heavy rains and cause floodings which can last days and weeks afterward. 

And there you have it.

When there is no hurricane is the time to plan for hurricanes. (Not during a warning!)

I hope you enjoyed this Lakewood Ranch Hurricane guide.

If this helped you out, then help everyone else reading this out:

  • What does your hurricane prep plan look like?
  • What will you be getting to endure power outages?
  • What’s your favorite hurricane prep resource?

Let me know by leaving a quick comment below right now. This information will help other Ranch’ers with their own plan!

Leave a Comment