Florida's hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, but the window for fuel supply planning is much narrower — and starts much earlier. Businesses that wait until a storm is in the forecast find themselves competing for limited fuel allocations at inflated prices. Those that plan ahead secure supply, lock in pricing, and maintain operations while competitors scramble. Here's a month-by-month approach to hurricane fuel readiness for Florida businesses.
April through May is your planning and procurement window. This is when you should inventory every piece of fuel-dependent equipment: backup generators (kilowatt rating, fuel consumption rate, and tank capacity), fleet vehicles, and any operational equipment that must run during and after a storm. Calculate your minimum fuel requirements for 72 hours of independent operation — the standard planning horizon before utility restoration and resupply corridors typically open. A 100kW diesel generator consumes approximately 7 gallons per hour at 75 percent load, requiring 504 gallons for a 72-hour run. A 250kW unit needs roughly 18 gallons per hour, or 1,296 gallons for the same period. Most businesses underestimate their generator fuel needs by 30 to 50 percent because they don't account for extended outage scenarios or the reality that generators often run above rated load when HVAC, refrigeration, and lighting all draw simultaneously.
Tank assessment should happen during this window as well. If your generator has a 250-gallon belly tank but you need 504 gallons for 72 hours, you need either a secondary storage tank or a guaranteed refueling commitment within the first 36 hours of a storm. Onsite fuel storage tanks should be inspected for water contamination, filter condition, and structural integrity. Fuel that has been sitting in a generator tank since last hurricane season may have water accumulation, microbial growth, or oxidation — all of which can cause engine failure precisely when you need the generator most.
June marks the official season start and is your deadline for having supply agreements in place. A contracted fuel relationship — not a one-time spot purchase — means your business is in the supplier's delivery queue rather than competing with walk-in customers for whatever allocation remains. BettyJet establishes hurricane season delivery priority for contracted customers, which means your emergency fuel order moves to the front of the queue when a storm threatens. Spot buyers — those without an existing relationship — go to the back of the line at whatever price the market dictates.
July through September is peak season, statistically the most active period for Gulf-directed storms. Tropical systems forming in the Atlantic typically take 7 to 14 days to reach the Gulf of Mexico, providing advance warning for preparation. However, Gulf-origin storms can develop and threaten Florida's coast in as little as 48 to 72 hours — barely enough time for a single fuel delivery cycle. The lesson: don't wait for a storm to materialize. Keep generator tanks at minimum 75 percent capacity throughout peak season, and maintain a relationship with your fuel supplier so that emergency orders are answered, not ignored.
Terminal operations during hurricane threats follow a predictable pattern that directly affects fuel availability. When a storm track threatens a Gulf Coast terminal (Tampa, Port Everglades, Jacksonville), the terminal will issue allocation notices — limiting each carrier to a fixed percentage of their normal pickup volume. If your carrier's allocation is cut to 60 percent, your delivery may be reduced or delayed. In more severe scenarios, terminals may shut down entirely 24 to 48 hours before projected storm impact for safety — meaning no fuel leaves the terminal regardless of demand. Post-storm, terminals require inspection and safety clearance before resuming operations, which can take 1 to 5 days depending on storm severity and damage assessment.
Supply chain disruptions extend beyond the terminal. Fuel delivery trucks require clear roadways, functioning traffic signals (or law enforcement direction), and navigable routes. After a major hurricane, debris on roads, downed power lines, and flooded streets can delay delivery for days even when terminals are operating. Pre-positioning fuel — filling your tanks before the storm — is almost always more effective and less expensive than relying on post-storm emergency delivery.
Generator fuel quality is an overlooked vulnerability. Diesel fuel stored in tanks for extended periods degrades through three mechanisms: water accumulation from condensation (especially in Florida's humidity), microbial contamination from bacteria and fungi that grow at the fuel-water interface, and oxidation that creates sludge and particulates. Any of these conditions can clog filters and fuel injectors, causing generator failure during a storm when repair services are unavailable. Best practice: treat stored diesel with biocide at least twice per year, test fuel for water content and particulates quarterly, and replace fuel filters before the start of each hurricane season.
Fuel polishing — filtering and reconditioning stored diesel — is a service that can restore degraded fuel to usable condition for a fraction of the replacement cost. If your generator tank contains fuel from last season, consider having it polished rather than replaced. Polishing removes water, particulates, and microbial contamination, extending fuel life by another 6 to 12 months.
Communication planning is the final component. Ensure you have your fuel supplier's emergency contact information — not just a general office number, but a direct line or cell number for storm-related orders. Know your supplier's cutoff policies: most carriers will not dispatch deliveries once sustained winds exceed 35 to 40 mph. Plan your final pre-storm delivery to arrive 24 to 36 hours before projected impact, allowing time for any delivery delays.
For businesses with critical operations — healthcare facilities, data centers, water treatment plants, telecommunications sites — a tiered fuel plan is essential. Tier 1: full tanks before storm arrival. Tier 2: contracted emergency delivery within 24 hours post-storm. Tier 3: secondary generator or portable fuel reserves for extended outage scenarios. BettyJet's emergency fuel program establishes all three tiers for critical-operations customers, with dedicated delivery priority and pre-negotiated emergency pricing that protects against spot market spikes.
The cost of hurricane fuel planning is negligible compared to the cost of being without fuel during a storm. A business that loses power and cannot operate its generator forfeits revenue, risks perishable inventory, compromises security systems, and may violate contractual obligations to customers or tenants. Spending a few hundred dollars on fuel testing, tank maintenance, and a supply agreement is the most cost-effective insurance a Florida business can buy.