ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane season is officially underway. This year’s June 1 start was heralded with the arrival of Tropical Depression Two, which formed into Tropical Storm Arlene the next day.
Though short-lived, Arlene was a good reminder that Atlantic hurricane season is here and now is the time to get prepared, not when the Island is facing the threat of storm impacts.
Here are some tips to help you get ready for hurricane season.
- Have a 3–5-day supply of non-perishable food and water for each member of your family, including pets.
- Keep emergency medical supplies, including medications, a first-aid kit and hand sanitizer.
- Have a supply of battery-powered lanterns and flashlights, along with extra batteries.
- Make copies of important documents, such as wills, passports, photo identifications, veterinary records for your pets and insurance policies. Keep the copies in an easy-to-access place where they can be grabbed quickly in case of an evacuation.
- Keep a stock of cleaning supplies such as trash bags, rubber gloves, sanitizing cleaners or wipes and paper towels handy.
- Invest in a fire extinguisher.
- Pick up a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to listen for news when the electricity goes out.
- Keep your yard and patio areas clean and clear of debris to make moving everything outside that could blow away or cause damage during a storm easier.
- Know your evacuation zone. Anna Maria Island, Perico Island, Flamingo Cay, Cortez and parts of northwest Bradenton are all in the first evacuation zone for Manatee County. Make a plan with relatives or friends outside of early evacuation zones in case you need to leave home. In the event of an evacuation, you should plan to evacuate a few miles, not a few hundred miles, so that you can get back and check on the condition of your property after the storm passes and local officials determine it’s safe to return to the area.
- If you have a generator, make sure to give it a test run before a storm comes toward Manatee County, that it’s kept in a safely ventilated area and that all carbon monoxide alarms are in good working order.
For anyone who finds themselves in need of hurricane supplies, Florida has two tax-free holidays to help with the purchase of some items. The first tax-free holiday ends on Friday, June 9. The second tax-free shopping opportunity will be from Aug. 26 to Sept. 8. Included items include portable generators, waterproof sheeting, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, portable power banks, batteries, flashlights, coolers, portable radios and more. A full list can be found online.
For more information on preparing for hurricane season, visit the Ready website.
