Hurricane Information
Sarasota County
- Know Your Evacuation Level
- Prepare Your Home
- Transportation Plan – Transportation to evacuation centers is available. Registration is required at least 60 hours before storm landfall.
- Disaster Supply Checklist
- Emergency Preparedness Guide
Checklist for Sheltering in Place
- Clean bathtub or other large containers and fill with water.
- Drinking water, one gallon per person, per day, for at least three days.
- Canned food and a can opener.
- Paper items.
- Baby needs.
- Medications, prescriptions and a first aid kit.
- Battery-operated television or radio, flashlight and extra batteries.
- Cash (ATMs may be out-of-service).
- Pet supplies.
- Photocopies of important documents (birth certificate, license and insurance).
- Full tank of gasoline in your car.
Manatee County
- Know Your Evacuation Level
- Sign up for Emergency Alerts
- Build a Disaster Kit
- Shelter Listings
- Prepare Your Pets for Disasters
- Emergency Preparedness Guide
20 Weeks to Preparedness Shopping Lists
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Frequently Asked Questions
What about filling my prescription medication?
Per Florida State Statute 252.358, during a state of emergency, health insurers, managed care organizations, and other licensed entities shall waive time restrictions on prescription medication refills to allow refills in advance.
Where can I get real-time advisories for hurricanes/tropical storms?
Travel advisories at www.VISITFLORIDA.com provide visitors with real-time information from local tourism officials and links to advisories from these state and national sources:
What months are considered hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season is officially June 1 to November 30. The peak of the season is from mid-August to mid-October.
How are hurricane categories determined? What do they mean?
The strength of hurricanes is rated using the Saffir/Simpson scale in the United States. This scale assigns a storm to one of five categories based on its wind speed. Category one is a minimal hurricane and category five is the strongest. Using this scale helps estimate the potential property damage and expected coastal flooding from a hurricane.
Categories are determined by Maximum Sustained Winds as follows:
- Category 1. 74-95 mph
- Category 2. 96-110 mph
- Category 3. 111-130 mph
- Category 4. 131-155 mph
- Category 5. 156+ mph