Impact-resistant doors, windows, garage doors tax-free starting July 1 in Florida

For anyone who’s considering home upgrades before hurricane season ramps up, the state of Florida has some incentives to help get those projects going. 

Hillsborough County releases new evacuation zones for residents

One week into hurricane season, Florida has already had its first brush with a tropical disturbance. Hillsborough County officials just released new evacuation zones, and the map changes put 75,000 people in an evacuation zone for the first time.

Survey: Some Floridians would hesitate to evacuate during hurricane season due to high gas prices

Gas costs are expected to remain high through the summer – so emergency managers are sharing how to plan around your wallet. The survey found two in five Floridians or 42% of those surveyed would hesitate to evacuate their homes because of prices at the pump. Residents at a St. Pete hurricane prep expo Wednesday said they aren’t surprised.

Florida’s disaster preparedness sales tax holiday begins Saturday

Hurricane season is less than a week away and many are taking advantage of Florida’s disaster preparedness sales tax holiday which runs May 28-June 10.

Hillsborough emergency officials urge residents to prepare for Hurricane Season

Hillsborough County emergency managers urged the public to start preparing for hurricane season Wednesday, which is less than two weeks away. Officials said evacuation zones are expected to change in the coming days or weeks and the most important thing residents can do is regularly check the county's website for an updated map.

Hurricane Hunters ready to take off from Lakeland, gather invaluable data for Atlantic season

Every hurricane season, a group of brave pilots and scientists heads into storms to collect data needed to create forecasts and keep people safe – and it all starts from Lakeland Linder International Airport.

Be prepared: If you're in the path of a hurricane, here's what to do

When a hurricane strikes, things can go from fine to fatal in the blink of an eye, but being prepared for any outcome and having strong plans for all scenarios can significantly lessen the threat to you, your home and your loved ones.

Florida's hurricane-preparedness sales tax holiday starts Friday

Florida’s annual sales tax holiday for hurricane supplies returns Friday, giving residents a chance to save a few bucks while preparing for what’s expected to be a busy storm season. Here's what's covered.

Utility companies roll out new storm preparedness measures

Big storms have left millions of Floridians without power over the years, but in 2019 the legislature passed a law that requires power companies to start putting lines underground. Now, power companies are giving us a look at how they're tackling these requirements.

FEMA 101: Everything you should know about getting help after a hurricane

To be eligible for FEMA assistance, applicants must live in a county declared as a major disaster by the president of the United States. Here's what else you need to know.

Register now for special needs during storms

During Hurricane Irma, shelters designed to help those with special needs in Hillsborough County were over capacity, housing about 1,700 people.

Emergency managers prepare for above-average hurricane season

The one thing we know for sure about hurricanes is they're bigger than all of us. What we don't know is how many there will be, if they'll hit land, or how strong they'll be.

USF study aims to understand how the pandemic will impact behavior this hurricane season

With looser restrictions and widespread vaccine accessibility, researchers at the University of South Florida want to know how those changes might influence your family’s hurricane plan this year.

Researchers track impact of COVID-19 on hurricane preparations, evacuations

At the start of an extremely active hurricane season, Floridians shared their thoughts on evacuations amid the threat of COVID-19 as part of a research study conducted by the University of South Florida.