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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hurricane season prep urged by Tallahassee, Leon officials
With the hurricane season set to begin June 1, public officials from Leon County and the city of Tallahassee gathered together at the Public Safety Complex to urge residents to prepare for the upcoming season. Huddled together in the media room of the complex, officials from departments across all levels of local government gathered with the "Billy the Bucket" mascot as they showed and spoke to residents what they should be packing in advance of storms and to have a safety plan in place. "This year's forecast calls for an above average season ... comprehensive preparedness requires the whole community, the young and the old, to get involved to start preparing for hurricane season," Leon County Emergency Management Director Kevin Peters said. The event was underscored by last year's slew of storms which tore through Leon County, such as Hurricanes Helene, Debby and Milton and even some that occurred prior to hurricane season such as the May 10 tornado outbreak and the "Bicentennial Storm," the effects of which still are being felt in the community. "County and city officials encourage you to keep your essential emergency supplies in a five gallon bucket ... these buckets are waterproof, easy to grab and multi-purpose," Peters said. One by one, officials placed items into the bucket while speaking about their importance for storm preparedness, three-day supply of medication, batteries, weather radio, important documents and more. Among the several speakers was Mark Wool with the National Weather Service who provided the numbers for the upcoming season. "I bring you a forecast that favors an above normal season, specifically, the numbers are 13 to 19 named storms, six to 10 of which will become hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes," Wool said. "I always like to reference the 1992 season, where there was only six named storms that whole year, can you imagine that, but the first one was named Andrew." Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida with sustained winds of up to 175 miles per hour, killing 44, and the storm continued all the way to Louisiana where it caused more deaths and an estimated $1 billion in damages, according to the National Weather Service. "I don't know how many of you recall that Helene was predicted to come directly at us," Wool continued. "Had that forecast that was out as recently as 12 hours before landfall held true, we'd still be recovering today." Outside of the Public Safety Complex, preparations will continue as Leon County looks to hold community engagement events for residents and the 2025-2026 Survival Guide will start being sent out to households. Officials shared several ways that residents can stay connected and receive alerts when storms do arrive: Leon County Citizens Connect mobile app Residents can sign up for text alerts from the city at Arianna Otero is the trending and breaking news reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her via email at AOtero@ and follow her on X: @ari_v_otero. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leon County braces for active hurricane season, urges prep
3 days ago
- Climate
Every Floridian should have a plan for this year's hurricane season, DeSantis says
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Two days away from the start of hurricane season, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state's top emergency manager joked Friday that they didn't want to encounter each other again until the storm season ends in late November. Forecasts suggest that's unlikely. While the upcoming season, which starts Sunday, isn't expected to be as topsy-turvy as last season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there's a 60% chance it will be above normal, a 30% chance near normal and just a 10% chance it will be quieter than average. Relentless storms, including Debby, Helene and Milton, which landed in Florida last year, made for the third-costliest hurricane season on record last year. 'You just have to prepare and plan that we are going to have impacts,' DeSantis said at a news conference in front of shelves of generators at a Home Depot store in Jupiter, Florida. 'If you plan and it doesn't happen, you're never going to have regrets. If you don't plan and it happens, you're going to immediately be saying, 'Why didn't I do this?'' Ahead of any hurricanes headed toward the peninsula, Floridians should be prepared to have seven days of food, water and supplies for their households, including pets. If they need to evacuate, they don't have to travel hundreds of miles when traveling just a few miles inland to a hotel or shelter works, officials said. Floridians living on the coast should be familiar with their evacuation zone so they know which areas emergency officials are referring to if an evacuation is issued, said DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The NOAA forecast calls for 13 to 19 named storms with six to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 110 mph (177 kph). A normal season has 14 named storms, seven of which strengthen to hurricanes and three power up further to major hurricanes. Normally, at the start of hurricane season, Floridians would be able to buy storm supplies under a state program that doesn't tax items like generators, batteries, flashlights, tarps and coolers. However, that is on hold since the Florida Legislature hasn't passed a budget, DeSantis said. Despite enjoying a GOP supermajority in both chambers, legislative leaders failed to pass the one bill Florida law requires, the state budget, ahead of the scheduled end of the regular session at the beginning of May. Lawmakers are expected to return to Tallahassee in June to hammer out a spending deal ahead of the July 1 start of the next fiscal year. 'So we don't have any tax holiday in place in the state of Florida,' said DeSantis, taking a jab at lawmakers who openly defied the Republican governor during this past legislative session in contrast to previous years of deference.
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Climate
- Toronto Star
Every Floridian should have a plan for this year's hurricane season, DeSantis says
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Two days away from the start of hurricane season, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state's top emergency manager joked Friday that they didn't want to encounter each other again until the storm season ends in late November. Forecasts suggest that's unlikely. While the upcoming season, which starts Sunday, isn't expected to be as topsy-turvy as last season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there's a 60% chance it will be above normal, a 30% chance near normal and just a 10% chance it will be quieter than average. Relentless storms, including Debby, Helene and Milton, which landed in Florida last year, made for the third-costliest hurricane season on record last year.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Every Floridian should have a plan for this year's hurricane season, DeSantis says
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Two days away from the start of hurricane season, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state's top emergency manager joked Friday that they didn't want to encounter each other again until the storm season ends in late November. Forecasts suggest that's unlikely. While the upcoming season, which starts Sunday, isn't expected to be as topsy-turvy as last season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there's a 60% chance it will be above normal, a 30% chance near normal and just a 10% chance it will be quieter than average. Relentless storms, including Debby, Helene and Milton, which landed in Florida last year, made for the third-costliest hurricane season on record last year. 'You just have to prepare and plan that we are going to have impacts,' DeSantis said at a news conference in front of shelves of generators at a Home Depot store in Jupiter, Florida. 'If you plan and it doesn't happen, you're never going to have regrets. If you don't plan and it happens, you're going to immediately be saying, 'Why didn't I do this?'' Ahead of any hurricanes headed toward the peninsula, Floridians should be prepared to have seven days of food, water and supplies for their households, including pets. If they need to evacuate, they don't have to travel hundreds of miles when traveling just a few miles inland to a hotel or shelter works, officials said. Floridians living on the coast should be familiar with their evacuation zone so they know which areas emergency officials are referring to if an evacuation is issued, said DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The NOAA forecast calls for 13 to 19 named storms with six to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 110 mph (177 kph). A normal season has 14 named storms, seven of which strengthen to hurricanes and three power up further to major hurricanes. Normally, at the start of hurricane season, Floridians would be able to buy storm supplies under a state program that doesn't tax items like generators, batteries, flashlights, tarps and coolers. However, that is on hold since the Florida Legislature hasn't passed a budget, DeSantis said. Despite enjoying a GOP supermajority in both chambers, legislative leaders failed to pass the one bill Florida law requires, the state budget, ahead of the scheduled end of the regular session at the beginning of May. Lawmakers are expected to return to Tallahassee in June to hammer out a spending deal ahead of the July 1 start of the next fiscal year. 'So we don't have any tax holiday in place in the state of Florida,' said DeSantis, taking a jab at lawmakers who openly defied the Republican governor during this past legislative session in contrast to previous years of deference. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Every Floridian should have a plan for this year's hurricane season, DeSantis says
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Two days away from the start of hurricane season, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state's top emergency manager joked Friday that they didn't want to encounter each other again until the storm season ends in late November. Forecasts suggest that's unlikely. While the upcoming season, which starts Sunday, isn't expected to be as topsy-turvy as last season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there's a 60% chance it will be above normal, a 30% chance near normal and just a 10% chance it will be quieter than average. Relentless storms, including Debby, Helene and Milton, which landed in Florida last year, made for the third-costliest hurricane season on record last year. 'You just have to prepare and plan that we are going to have impacts,' DeSantis said at a news conference in front of shelves of generators at a Home Depot store in Jupiter, Florida. 'If you plan and it doesn't happen, you're never going to have regrets. If you don't plan and it happens, you're going to immediately be saying, 'Why didn't I do this?'' Ahead of any hurricanes headed toward the peninsula, Floridians should be prepared to have seven days of food, water and supplies for their households, including pets. If they need to evacuate, they don't have to travel hundreds of miles when traveling just a few miles inland to a hotel or shelter works, officials said. Floridians living on the coast should be familiar with their evacuation zone so they know which areas emergency officials are referring to if an evacuation is issued, said DeSantis and Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The NOAA forecast calls for 13 to 19 named storms with six to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 110 mph (177 kph). A normal season has 14 named storms, seven of which strengthen to hurricanes and three power up further to major hurricanes. Wednesdays A weekly look towards a post-pandemic future. Normally, at the start of hurricane season, Floridians would be able to buy storm supplies under a state program that doesn't tax items like generators, batteries, flashlights, tarps and coolers. However, that is on hold since the Florida Legislature hasn't passed a budget, DeSantis said. Despite enjoying a GOP supermajority in both chambers, legislative leaders failed to pass the one bill Florida law requires, the state budget, ahead of the scheduled end of the regular session at the beginning of May. Lawmakers are expected to return to Tallahassee in June to hammer out a spending deal ahead of the July 1 start of the next fiscal year. 'So we don't have any tax holiday in place in the state of Florida,' said DeSantis, taking a jab at lawmakers who openly defied the Republican governor during this past legislative session in contrast to previous years of deference. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @
