Florida hurricane season
preparedness checklist
Hurricane season runs June 1 – November 30. Use this checklist to protect your family, home, and finances before a storm threatens the Tampa Bay area.
Complete home prep before a storm watch is issued. Once a warning is posted, contractors are booked and supplies are gone.
FEMA recommends a minimum 72-hour supply. For Tampa Bay households, aim for 7 days — extended outages after major storms are common in this region.
Store originals in a waterproof container and keep digital copies in cloud storage. You may need these documents before power or internet is restored.
Every household member should know the plan before hurricane season starts — not after a watch is issued.
Know your evacuation zone before a storm approaches. Zones are lettered A–F in most Florida counties — Zone A carries the highest storm surge risk and evacuates first. Click your county to find your zone by address.
This checklist is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional emergency management, legal, insurance, or safety advice. Evacuation orders, zone designations, and shelter locations are determined by local emergency management authorities and are subject to change. Always follow official guidance from your county emergency management office, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and local law enforcement. Base Camp Tampa Bay and its agents are not responsible for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided here. Links to third-party government websites are provided as a convenience and were verified at time of publication — confirm current information directly with your county.