Your guide to hurricane season 2024

FOX 13 News Staff

TAMPA - Hurricane season begins on June 1.

Here's some information to help you prepare for the next storm.

HURRICANE KIT

  • Water: one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation (extra water for pets)

  • Food - At least three days worth of non-perishable food to include canned soups, canned fruits & veggies, powdered or canned milk, dried fruit, powdered or individually packaged drinks, cereal, cookies, crackers, peanut butter and jelly, coffee and tea, canned meats and fish, etc.

  • Flashlight and extra batteries

  • A First-Aid kit

  • Extra cellphone battery chargers fully charged

  • Moist towelettes or baby wipes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation

  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities

  • Manual can opener

  • Whistle to signal for help

  • Local maps

  • Prescription medications

  • Non-prescription medications like pain relievers, antacids, anti-diarrhea medication

  • Glasses, contact lens solution

  • Baby supplies: plenty of formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, etc.

  • Pet food

  • Cash

  • Candles

  • Fuel and fuel can

  • Ice chest and ice

  • Non-electric clock

  • Portable radio, battery-powered or handcrank

  • Toiletries

  • Window protection

  • Family documents, copies of insurance policies, IDs, bank account records, birth certificates, passports in a waterproof, portable container and/or saved electronically

  • Sleeping bags/blankets

  • Fire extinguisher

  • Matches in waterproof container

  • Feminine hygiene products

  • Paper plates, cups, paper towels, plastic utensils

  • Bleach (not scented or color safe). Bleach can be used as a disinfectant using nine parts water to one part bleach, or to treat water by using 16 drops bleach per gallon of water.

  • Dust mask and plastic sheeting and cut tape to help filter contaminated air

  • Books, games, activities for children

TIP: Take a video or photo inventory of everything in your house on your cellphone for future reference.

FIND YOUR EVACUATION ZONE

SHELTERS BY COUNTY

CONTACTS BY COUNTY

  • CITRUS COUNTY: (352) 249-2775 (this phone line is only open during emergencies or disasters)

  • DESOTO COUNTY: (863)-993-4831

  • HARDEE COUNTY: (863) 773-6373

  • HERNANDO COUNTY: (352) 754-4083

  • HIGHLANDS COUNTY: (863) 385-1112

  • HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY: (813) 272-6600

  • MANATEE COUNTY: (941) 749-3500

  • PASCO COUNTY: (727) 847-8137

  • PINELLAS COUNTY: (727) 464-4333

  • POLK COUNTY: (863) 519-7320

  • SARASOTA COUNTY: (941) 861-5000

  • SUMTER COUNTY: (352) 689-4400

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