Advanced technology will help Manatee County during 2025 Hurricane Season
The Brief
Manatee County has partnered with Peregrine to gather real-time data across the county as storms move through.
Peregrine can help place first responders and equipment in areas that need help faster.
Manatee County encourages residents to ask questions now before a storm impacts the area.
BRADENTON, Fla. - Some homeowners still haven't moved back into their homes following the 2024 Hurricane Season. Manatee County said residents need a plan now as a new hurricane season approaches.
County officials say they are even more equipped this year to handle whatever comes their way.
Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
Why you should care
Two months brought three destructive storms to Manatee County. As recovery continues, Matt Myers, the county's chief of emergency management, urges residents to be ready for the new hurricane season.
"They need to be prepared now for anything that can happen," said Myers.
Manatee County has been doing the same. Over the course of the last year, they've enhanced rescue team capabilities in part to reach residents at night.
READ: Online survey focuses on Bay Area residents' decision to evacuate or not during Helene, Milton
They've also enhanced technology.
"The rapid response we can do with the information, it's faster and it's better," said Myers.
Partnering with Peregrine, a company that helps gather real-time data from across Manatee County in one dashboard. Manatee County will be able to determine what areas need help and get resources there faster.
"We can source 911 calls using the artificial intelligence to run through the calls for us and type in flooding, and it will plot it on the map. We will know where those calls are coming in from, so we can start flooding," said Myers.
MORE: New TECO trailer will be used for community demonstrations on dangers of live power lines
Jodie Fiske, Manatee County's director of public safety, said it also helps with getting supplies to residents and determining what will be needed during the long-term recovery process.
"That leads to expedited categories of reimbursement. That leads to major declarations. All of the steps we need to do we have cut really critical time off of the process we had before to get it moving to get our residents what we need," said Fiske.
As residents enter a new storm season, some with remaining damage or questions, Manatee County said they are here to help.
"We want people to be proactive in asking the questions, hopefully before we take an impact," said Fiske.
What's next
Manatee County will hold a coffee and questions event from 9-11 a.m. on June 6 at the Emergency Operations Center, which is located at 2101 47th Terrace East in Bradenton. Residents can come out with any concerns and ask questions.
To sign up, click here.
The Source
Information was gathered for this report by FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon and Manatee County officials.
WATCH FOX 13 NEWS:
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:
Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV
Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android
Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines
Download the SkyTower Radar app
Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The other season — hurricane — has arrived; being prepared is key
It's June 1, which means it's that time of year again. If you've lived in Florida for any length of time, no explanation is needed. If you're a recent arrival, it marks the beginning of the six-month Atlantic hurricane season that runs through Nov. 30. That means it's time to stock up on supplies such as water, shelf-stable foods and batteries; to make sure the generator is ready to go in the event of a power failure; and to finalize evacuation plans for your family, including any pets, if the town is in the path of a storm. It's also good to store important papers in waterproof and even fireproof containers. NOAA's prediction of 13 to 19 named storms, including six to 10 hurricanes — and three to five major hurricanes — follows others this spring that have measured the Atlantic basin's stew of ingredients and influential climate patterns to determine that the six-month season will be more active than average. More: With a busy hurricane season expected, Palm Beach encourages residents to prepare early Of note, according to reporting by Kimberly Miller of The Palm Beach Post, is a forecasting challenge this year. The atmosphere is idling in a climate purgatory between El Niño, characterized by abnormally warm water in the Equatorial Pacific, and La Niña, cooler than average water in that area. The former typically points to a less-active season, while the latter can mean a more-active season. Although the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration has had major staff cuts under President Donald Trump's plan to trim the federal government, an official at the agency said the National Hurricane Center is fully staffed, Ms. Miller reported. That's not the case for many of the nation's 120 local weather-forecasting offices where employees were let go, balloon launches have been reduced and vacancies are unfilled, Ms. Miller noted. While Palm Beach County has been mostly spared from major hurricanes since the mean season of 2004, we have seen some storms skate by that cause destruction elsewhere. And even when that's been the case, the effects here were not always minor. Take last year, when tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton left a swath of destruction from Wellington north to Jupiter. Thankfully, no lives were lost, but the memory of those tornadoes serves as a reminder that one never knows what will happen during hurricane season. Milton, a Category 5 storm, made landfall in Siesta Key off Sarasota and went on to cause major damage across Central Florida. Palm Beach lies in Evacuation Zone B, which includes most of the county's barrier islands east of the Intracoastal Waterway. It and Zone A, which includes mobile homes and low-lying areas, are typically the first neighborhoods to be evacuated when a major storm approaches. Condominium residents need to remember that a state law allows associations to shut off power, elevators, water and sewer once an evacuation order has been issued. Residents cannot be forced to leave their homes, but who would want to stay without those services? Residents who chose to remain in their condos for the storm do so at their own risk because fire-rescue and police might not respond if conditions have deteriorated. Some condo residents who chose to stay during Hurricane Dorian in 2019 felt the inconvenience of remaining in their homes under those circumstances. One important thing that residents and workers on the island should remember is that they need to be on an official re-entry list, because police usually restrict access to the island during and after a storm. Applicants must have a government-issued I.D. to be placed on the re-entry list, which expires Dec. 31, 2026. To complete an application, visit the town's website. We also encourage residents who haven't already done so to sign up for town alerts while they're on the website. We love living in the Sunshine State, but a cost of that joy is navigating hurricane season. The experts will make their best guesses, and the science has helped to improve the accuracy of their predictions, but the key thing to bear in mind is preparedness. Storms can change directions quickly — or intensify rapidly. Everyone must have a hurricane plan and keep an eye on the weather forecast once a storm is on the horizon. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Preparedness is critical now that hurricane season is here | Editorial
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
With a busy hurricane season expected, Palm Beach encourages residents to prepare early
With the 2025 hurricane season set to begin June 1, the town is advising residents and businesses to prepare now. Assistant Chief Joe Sekula, Fire-Rescue spokesman, told the Daily News that knowing evacuation routes, shelter options, and re-entry procedures is critical for storm preparedness. "With hurricane season running from June 1 to November 30, the Town of Palm Beach — situated on a vulnerable barrier island — is urging residents, property owners, and visitors to prepare early," Sekula said. "Hurricanes can bring destructive winds, heavy rain, storm surge, and flooding, so advance planning is essential." The 2025 hurricane season is expected to be another busy one. In its forecast released May 22, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a 60% chance of an above-average season. The agency called for 13 to 19 named storms, with winds of 39 mph or higher. Of those, six to 10 are forecast to become hurricanes, with winds of 74 mph or higher. They include three to five major hurricanes — Category 3, 4 or 5 — with winds of 111 mph or higher. Experts from Colorado State University — among the nation's top seasonal hurricane forecasters — predict 17 named tropical storms will form in 2025, of which nine will become hurricanes. Based on records from 1991 to 2020, a typical hurricane season brings roughly 14 tropical storms, with seven reaching hurricane strength. More: The other season — hurricane — has arrived; being prepared is key | Editorial Last year, 18 storms formed, including destructive Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The busy forecast stems from warmer-than-usual Atlantic Ocean temperatures and the expected absence of El Niño conditions, unusually warm temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific that can limit hurricane development. When residents take proactive measures to prepare for storms, it protects them and also contributes to the broader community's ability to withstand and recover from extreme weather events, Sekula said. Those measures include stocking emergency essentials, protecting important paperwork, establishing clear communication plans with family and neighbors, and knowing where and when to evacuate. The town offers links to websites that assist with hurricane preparation, including those managed by the town, county and state. To access the information on the town's website, go to or contact storm@ The town lies in Evacuation Zone B, which includes most of Palm Beach County's barrier islands east of the Intracoastal Waterway. Along with Zone A, which includes mobile homes and low-lying areas, Zone B typically is among the first to be evacuated when a major storm approaches. In the event of a mandatory evacuation and a declaration by the town's chief of police that a state of emergency exists within the town as a result of a hurricane impact, town police will establish roadblocks at each of the access points and bridges leading into the town. The roadblocks prevent access to the island while conditions are unsafe, the town said. As part of their storm preparation, residents and business owners also are encouraged to review the town's re-entry program, which is conducted in five phases following the passage of a storm. Out-of-town residents, owners and lease holders, as well as business owners or property representatives, must complete a re-entry list program application in order to gain access to the town after an emergency. Applicants must have a government-issued ID to be placed on the re-entry list, which expires Dec. 31, 2026. To complete an application, visit the town's website at For information, contact the town's Crime Scene Evidence Unit at 561-838-5466. Early preparation measures for extreme weather events also include the town's emergency alert and news release platform, which was updated in December 2023 to provide more targeted communication with residents. The system allows for the distribution of vital information through location-specific communications with residents, who must opt in to receive them. Communications include town alerts on weather hazards, police activity, traffic delays, road closures and other situations that affect certain parts of the town, as well as news releases on upcoming events and activities. In order to opt in for location-specific communications, subscribers can visit the town's website at and click the "Sign Up" button. For additional information, visit the town's hurricane page at "Act early and prepare now," Sekula said. "Your safety depends on it." Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@ Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach urges early preparation as hurricane season begins
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Will a Category 5 hurricane make landfall in Florida in 2025? History says that's unlikely
Starting today, June 1 and for the next 182 days (until Nov. 30), Southwest Floridians will paying more attention to the weather forecast, especially with what is happening in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf. It's called Hurricane Season. In recent years, because of the number of hurricanes Southwest Florida has had to deal with and the damage caused by those storms, including historic Hurricane Ian in September 2022, it might feel like we must have been hit by a Category 5 hurricane during this run. You could argue the back-to-back hurricanes we had last year (2024) − Helene and Milton − combined added up to a Cat 5, but that's not how it works. More: Hurricane season is almost here. When should I build my hurricane kit, what should I put in it? Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 26, 2024, with winds of 140 mph. Just 13 days later, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. It struck near Siesta Key Oct. 9, 2024. The storm was accompanied by sustained winds of 120 mph. Turn back the clock a couple of years to Sept. 28, 2022 and we had Hurricane Ian, which caused catastrophic to Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and other coastal locations in Southwest Florida. It sure felt and looked like a Category 5 hit here. But officially, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm. It was initially a Category 5 storm before weakening to a Category 4 just before landfall at Cayo Costa. Ian had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. There were more than 140 deaths attributed to Ian. It is possible, but not probable based on past history. Could it happen? Sure. But since records have been kept, it has never happened here, even though with Ian it was right on the edge of being added to the short list. Since the 1900, three Category 5 hurricanes have made landfall in Florida: The 'Labor Day Hurricane' of 1935 The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane is considered the strongest storm ever recorded to make landfall in the U.S., smashing into the Florida Keys on Sept. 2, 1935, with winds of 185 mph. It killed an estimated 409 people. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 On Aug. 24, 1992, Andrew made landfall in South Miami-Dade County with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph. Although 23 deaths were directly attributed to the storm, according to NOAA, "Hurricane Andrew destroyed more than 50,000 homes and caused an estimated $26 billion in damage, making it at the time the most expensive natural disaster in United States history." And the most recent, Hurricane Michael in 2018 Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Oct. 10, 2018, as a Category 5 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 161 mph. According to the National Weather Service: "Wind and storm surge caused catastrophic damage, particularly in the Panama City Beach and Mexico Beach areas. Eight direct fatalities were reported: seven in Florida and one in Georgia. In addition, 43 indirect deaths were attributed to the storm." More: When does hurricane season start in Florida? What to document for insurance now There's only be one. Hurricane Camille in 1969. Camille had sustained winds of more than 170 mph when it hit Mississippi on Aug. 17, 1969. More than 250 people were killed, many in Virginia due to massive flooding the storm brought to that state. Camille tracked north-northwest across the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a Category 5 the day before making landfall. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: How many Category 5 hurricanes hit Florida?
