Florida Division of Emergency Management Director (FDEM) Kevin Guthrie hosted a press conference with Florida’s Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez and FEMA Region IV Administrator Gracia Szczech to promote Hurricane Preparedness ahead of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
“Our administration is proud that Florida continues to lead the way in hurricane preparedness, response, and recovery, and remains a national leader in the field of emergency management,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “The Governor’s Hurricane Conference provides a great showcase of what Florida has been able to accomplish over the years. This is also an opportunity for local and state officials to learn best practices and work together to create a more resilient Florida in the face of future hurricanes.”
“As we approach the start of the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season, now is the time for Floridians to make a plan, build a kit, and take action to ensure their families, businesses, and communities are prepared,” said FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie. “I want to thank our Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Núñez and the DeSantis Administration for their unwavering commitment to our continued recovery efforts from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole and future hurricane preparedness.”
“This last hurricane season proved that lives and property are vulnerable to hurricanes. We support the FDEM initiatives to encourage planning and preparedness for hurricanes. Act today to keep yourself, your family, and your community safe,” said FEMA Region 4 Regional Administrator Gracia Szczech.
On average there are fourteen named tropical storms each year in the Atlantic basin, seven of which strengthen into hurricanes with three becoming a Category 3 or higher. After a very active 2022 season and devastating impacts from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, all residents and visitors should take action now to prepare for the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
- Make a Plan – Creating a written disaster plan can better help you to prepare for any potential storms or other disasters that may impact your area. Make sure everyone in your household is involved in developing the disaster plan and knows what to do during a storm.
- Build a Kit – In addition to a disaster plan, each household should have a disaster supply kit specific to the needs of your household. Disaster supply kits should have at minimum seven days’ worth of food, water, and supplies for each member of your household, including pets. For a full disaster supply kit checklist, visit FloridaDisaster.org/Kit.
- Know Your Zone, Know Your Home – Prior to hurricane season, all Floridians should learn if they live in an evacuation zone and their home’s ability to withstand tropical storm and hurricane force winds. Evacuation zones are designated from A to F and generally, Zone A is most likely to be evacuated first. Additionally, homes built after 2002 are generally more resilient to hurricanes. To find your evacuation zone, please visit FloridaDisaster.org/Know.
- Halfway Full is Halfway There – Keeping gas tanks halfway full throughout hurricane season allows residents to evacuate faster and avoid long lines at gas stations. Instead of evacuating hundreds of miles, FDEM encourages Floridians to evacuate tens of miles inland out of evacuation zones to a building that can sustain damaging winds.
Each year, the Governor’s Hurricane Conference focuses on hurricane planning, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation and provides emergency professionals with an opportunity to learn from statewide best practices. Conference attendees will have over 300 hours of training and workshops that cover all aspects of hurricane readiness to help local, state, and federal partners foster a more resilient Florida.
