2026 Hurricane Season is Here: Don’t Wait to Put together

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season formally started on June 1 and can proceed by way of Nov. 30. Whether you’re a lifelong Floridian or experiencing your first hurricane season in Polk County, making ready now could make a major distinction when extreme climate threatens.

Florida continues to welcome new residents and guests day-after-day and plenty of have by no means skilled a hurricane firsthand. Understanding what to anticipate and learn how to put together earlier than, throughout and after a storm is likely one of the finest methods to guard your self, your loved ones and your property.

“When it comes to hurricane season, preparation is key,” mentioned Paul Womble, Polk County Emergency Management Director. “The best time to get ready for a storm is before one even makes it on the radar. Taking simple steps now can help reduce stress and help keep your family safe when severe weather strikes.”

The excellent news is that hurricane preparedness doesn’t need to occur unexpectedly. By taking a couple of easy steps now, you’ll be higher ready if a hurricane threatens Central Florida later this season.

Here are some steps you possibly can take now to arrange:

Develop an Emergency Communications Plan

One of probably the most neglected parts of a hurricane preparedness package is an in depth emergency communications plan. During a significant storm, energy outages, community disruptions and highway closures could make it tough for relations to remain in contact.

Before hurricane season intensifies, sit down with your loved ones members and talk about how you’ll talk and react earlier than, throughout and after a storm.

Your communications plan ought to embrace:

• A written listing of contact data for every member of your family. Make certain to incorporate telephone numbers, electronic mail addresses and different vital data it’s possible you’ll want to recollect written down on a bit of paper in case your cellphone battery is working low or loses energy.
• A delegated out-of-town emergency contact who will function the central level of contact that can assist you and your loved ones reconnect if wanted.
• Emergency assembly places the place relations can meet up in the event that they develop into separated or disconnected. It is finest to incorporate emergency assembly spots for the next areas: an indoor area the place family members can shelter in the course of the storm, if vital, a gathering location in your neighborhood, a gathering location exterior your neighborhood and a gathering location exterior your city or metropolis. Be certain to set a time and, if wanted, a date for assembly.
• Any plans for checking on aged relations, neighbors or relations who might require extra help.

For an instance of a free household communications plan, go to FloridaDisaster.org.

Plan for Medical and Special Needs

In addition to growing a household emergency communications plan, it’s vital to recollect to ensure you have a plan for people with restricted mobility or particular medical wants.

If anybody in your family requires medical gadgets or electrical energy, has mobility or cognitive impairments, you’ll want to plan for transportation and help upfront. A particular wants shelter plan could also be applicable for the person throughout a hurricane.

To register for a particular wants shelter and/or transportation, go to the Florida Special Needs Registry, name your house well being care supplier, sturdy medical tools supplier or name the Polk County Emergency Operations Center at 863-298-7000 for extra data.

Build a Seven-Day Hurricane Supply Kit

Emergency officers advocate having a minimal seven-day provide of meals and water for each member of your family (don’t overlook your pets). Your package ought to embrace:

• Water (one gallon per particular person, per day and one gallon per pet, per day)
• Non-perishable meals objects (per particular person, per day for no less than seven days)
• First help provides
• Pet provides (sufficient pet meals, medicines, and so forth. for no less than seven days)
• Battery powered flashlight (LED)
• Extra batteries (Fun Fact: AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt and 9-volt are tax-free in Florida)
• An further copy of your emergency communications plan

Don’t overlook, all objects inside your package needs to be non-perishable to make sure they continue to be protected for consumption.

Please Note: If a storm is approaching, don’t overlook so as to add no less than a seven day provide of any prescription or over-the-counter medicines it’s possible you’ll must this package.

For extra hurricane provide package help, you possibly can obtain a seven-day hurricane provide buying listing or view this video about assembling a disaster supply kit.

Know Your Risks

Although Polk County is just not situated on the coast, Central Florida residents and guests are usually not proof against hurricane impacts. To put together for no matter a hurricane season might carry, it is very important determine your potential dangers.

Some potential dangers embrace:

• Strong winds
• Tornadoes
• Flooding
• Extended energy outages and water line disruptions

Understanding the dangers that may have an effect on your county will provide help to make knowledgeable selections when extreme climate threatens.

Identify Potential Public Hurricane Shelter Options Before They’re Needed

Did you recognize that there are 48 designated potential public hurricane shelters together with three pet-friendly shelters and three particular wants shelters that may be activated throughout an emergency in Polk County, Florida?

It is vital to keep in mind that not all public hurricane shelters are robotically opened and activated throughout an emergency as shelters open as wanted.

For an inventory of the 2026 Potential Polk County Public Hurricane Shelters, click on right here:

Stay Connected to Trusted Information

Receiving correct data is essential throughout hurricane season. Rumors and misinformation can unfold rapidly, particularly on social media.
To make sure you’re receiving probably the most correct, real-time data, residents and guests ought to depend on trusted assets for climate forecast data, alerts and emergency data.

For probably the most correct data, Polk County residents and guests are inspired to enroll in the county’s native alert system, AlertPolk, and inspired to comply with Polk County Emergency Management (PCEM) on social media for vital emergency data earlier than, throughout and after a storm.

Facebook:

X:

Instagram: @polkcountygovfl

Polk County Government Television (PGTV):

In addition to PCEM’s social media channels, you can even monitor climate by way of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) climate radio.

It can also be vital to have a number of methods to obtain emergency data. Consider enabling wi-fi emergency alerts in your cell gadget and maintaining a battery-powered climate radio obtainable in case you want it.

Make Preparedness Part of Your Routine

Hurricane preparedness is just not a one-time exercise. Conditions can change rapidly all through the six-month season which makes it vital to stay conscious and prepared for no matter Mother Nature might carry.

Take benefit of the start of hurricane season to assemble provides, evaluate plans and talk about preparedness with your loved ones.

By taking small steps at this time, you could be higher ready to face hurricane season.

For extra hurricane preparedness data, go to: