Affordable Disaster Preparations Encouraged Ahead of Hurricane Season
As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season approaches on June 1, emergency officials are encouraging Florida residents to begin preparing now with simple and affordable disaster readiness steps.
Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30, and preparedness experts say building supplies gradually can help families avoid the financial strain and last-minute rush that often happens when storms threaten the Gulf Coast.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management recently shared several low-cost preparedness recommendations aimed at helping residents create emergency plans before the season officially begins.
One recommendation encourages families to pick up at least one canned or non-perishable food item during every grocery trip to slowly build a disaster supply kit over time. Officials say small purchases made consistently can help households create a more complete emergency stockpile without major upfront costs.
Residents are also encouraged to determine whether their homes are located within an evacuation zone. Information about evacuation zones and storm planning resources is available through FloridaDisaster.org and local emergency management resources.
Another important preparedness step involves creating a checklist of important documents, valuables and irreplaceable items that should be taken during an evacuation. Officials recommend storing copies of critical documents in waterproof containers or digital backups whenever possible.
In Manatee County, residents can also use the resident information tool at Manatee County Resident Information Tool to identify flood zones and emergency information tied to their address. Residents are encouraged to bookmark Manatee County Storm Information for updates during emergencies and throughout hurricane season.
Emergency officials continue to stress that preparing early can help families respond more safely and efficiently if tropical weather threatens the region later this year.
