As hurricane season officially gets underway Monday, the City of Tampa used a weekend expo to roll out its first-ever Hurricane Preparedness Guide and remind residents of the lessons learned from the devastating 2024 storm season.
City leaders unveiled the guide Saturday at a hurricane preparedness expo at Cordelia B. Hunt Community Center, which drew at least 400 attendees. The guide was described as a direct response to the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
The guidebook is designed specifically for Tampa residents and provides city-specific guidance on what to do before, during, and after a storm, including key emergency contacts, evacuation information, and preparedness resources.
Tampa Fire Rescue Chief Barbara Tripp noted that the 2024 storms demonstrated that wind speeds and traditional maps don’t capture the full picture of risk. She pointed out that homes outside designated evacuation zones were still damaged due to river backups and other factors that residents may not anticipate.
First responders stressed that knowing your specific Hillsborough County evacuation zone is the most critical step in staying safe. This year, evacuation maps show expanded Zone A coverage in the Town ‘N Country and Apollo Beach areas. Zone A is the first zone called for evacuation when a storm threatens.
The chaos of 2024 remains fresh for many residents. One attendee recalled struggling to find lodging while evacuating ahead of Hurricane Milton, ultimately not securing a hotel room until reaching Atlanta.
The city urges residents to take three steps: make an evacuation plan, build an emergency kit, and stay informed. For emergency alerts, residents can text “TampaReady” to 888-777, or “TampaLista” for Spanish-language notifications.
Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Google, & X
St. Pete-Clearwater Sun: local St. Pete-Clearwater news at PIE-Sun.com
St. Pete-Clearwater Sun 
Leave a comment