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Florida Gas Station Hurricane Preparedness & Response Guide

Protecting Your Facility, Employees, and Community During Hurricane Season

Florida’s hurricane season can bring severe storms, flooding, and power outages that disrupt operations and damage equipment. Preparing your gas station in advance helps protect your assets, keep staff safe, and restore service quickly after the storm.

This hurricane preparedness guide is designed for Florida gas station owners and operators to ensure compliance with state requirements, safeguard underground storage tanks (USTs), and maintain operations before and after a storm.

Hurricane Season Planning – By June 1

  • Update Staff Information
    Collect and verify staff contact details. Establish a process for staff to confirm availability after a storm.
  • Coordinate with Local Authorities
    Contact your County Emergency Operations Center for Post-Storm Re-entry Permits for critical staff.
  • Assemble a Hurricane Toolbox
    Include:
    • Flashlight & batteries
    • Duct tape
    • Tarpaulin & heavy-duty plastic bags
    • Plastic wire or zip ties
    • Rope for securing plastic around electronics
    • Caution tape
    • Padlocks for dispenser nozzles
    • Plastic wrap for dispensers
    • Barricades for traffic control
  • Maintain Critical Contact Lists
    Include service centers, business consultants, maintenance contractors, local hospitals, police, fire department, and emergency operations centers.
  • Secure Fuel Supply
    Have plans to source fuel from backup suppliers.
  • Customer Communication
    Verify your listing on the GasBuddy app so customers can find operational stations.
  • Employee Preparedness
    Encourage employees to prepare their homes and families for hurricane season.

Day Before Projected Impact

  • Plan for increased fuel sales and manage traffic flow.
  • Re-check staff availability.
  • Inspect first aid kits and fire extinguishers; stock extra spill materials.
  • Equip traveling staff with:
    • Re-entry permit
    • PPE (hard hat, steel-toe boots, gloves, safety glasses, vest)
    • Flashlight & extra batteries
    • Fully stocked first aid kit
    • Camera
    • Power inverter
    • Two cell phones (with backup provider if possible)
    • Contact numbers & hurricane procedures
    • Cash
    • Bottled water
    • Energy bars

Underground Storage Tank Precautions

  • Inspect fill pipe gaskets and rain caps.
  • Lock fill covers securely.
  • Check vents for damage.
  • Test sump pumps to ensure they work.

Day of Hurricane

Outside Areas

  • Remove loose items from yard and pump area.
  • Secure garbage containers.

Building

  • Protect glass, doors, and windows with shutters.

Electrical

  • Ensure generator is fueled, permitted, and working.
  • Test transfer switch and confirm electrician availability.

Tanks & Dispensers

  • Secure dispensers and trip shear valves.
  • Lock nozzles and secure fill caps.
  • Keep tanks full; drain and close lines (especially near water).
  • Record tank inventory.

Signage

  • Secure signs and check all bolts and fasteners.

Office

  • Backup and secure electronic files.
  • Protect POS and critical electronics from water damage.

Before Leaving

  • Secure all property.
  • Turn off breakers for dispensers and submerged turbines.
  • Update GasBuddy to indicate closure.
  • Lock all doors and windows.

Post-Hurricane Response

⚠️ Return only when safe and authorized.

Storage Tank Systems

  • Keep power off until inspected.
  • Check for dispenser damage, tampering, or skimmers.
  • Inspect sumps, interstice, and tank pad for water or movement.
  • Test ethanol-blended gasoline for quality if water intrusion is suspected.

Reporting Requirements

  • Incidents: Submit a DEP Incident Notification Form within 24 hours.
  • Discharges: Call the State Watch Office at 1-800-320-0519 and submit a DEP Discharge Report Form.

After Repairs

  • Test tightness of tanks before adding fuel.
  • Empty and clean spill buckets.
  • Test safety devices and leak detection systems.

Important Contacts & Resources

Stay Prepared Year-Round

Hurricanes can cause devastating downtime for gas stations. By following this guide, you’ll protect your equipment, employees, and customers — and be ready to reopen as quickly as possible after the storm.

📞 Need help with Florida UST compliance or hurricane readiness?
Contact Moran Rocks LLC today to schedule a consultation.