Monday marked the official start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, and Florida residents are already heeding the call to prepare — many of them motivated by memories of the back-to-back storms that battered the state in 2024.
Forecasters are predicting a below-average hurricane season this year, but for many residents, recent storms remain fresh in their minds.
Jessica Tanner of Pasco County said floodwaters left her and her husband stranded in their home for several days during the 2024 hurricanes, an experience that changed how seriously she takes early preparation. “Once you hear about hurricane season, people start going crazy, and stores lack the supplies, so definitely getting food and water you need,” she said. Tanner also said the experience drew her community closer together. “It really made us come together as a community and neighborhood to really build relationships with each other,” she said.
Deborah Sheridan, a Florida resident for 40 years, said the start of the season is her cue to begin stocking up. She recalled being without power for a week when her children were young, a memory that still shapes her approach to storm prep each year.
Emergency officials recommend assembling disaster supplies that include enough non-perishable food, water, and medicine to last each household member at least three days, along with extra cash, a battery-powered radio, and a flashlight in case of extended power outages.
Colorado State University’s preliminary forecast calls for 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes this season, with a developing El Niño expected to generate higher-than-normal wind shear in the Atlantic Basin, which could limit the potential for major hurricane landfalls along the continental United States.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs through November 30.
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