Don't be caught off guard during weather emergencies - Stay Safe, sign up for HCFL Alert
Feb. 2-6 is Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week and is observed each year by the National Weather Service and Florida Division of Emergency Management. The week is a time for Hillsborough County to share resources about the state's potential natural hazards including hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, wildfires, and rip currents. The week is also an opportunity to help people learn how to prepare and weather them safely.
The County is joining state emergency officials in promoting the week to encourage residents to be prepared year-round by signing up for HCFL Alert, the County's official emergency notification system.
Planning ahead is a big part of the emphasis, and the County's emergency managers urge residents to prepare for the worst by having a plan before disaster strikes. Families, businesses, and people with special needs can use the County's Annual Disaster Guide to prepare for conditions that can deteriorate rapidly, threatening lives and property.
Follow Hillsborough County on social media as County experts highlight potential hazards and share tips on how to prepare and stay safe.
Each day of Severe Weather Awareness Week is devoted to a natural hazard:
- Monday, Feb. 2: Lightning
- Tuesday, Feb. 3: Marine Hazards and Rip Currents
- Wednesday, Feb. 4: Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
- Thursday, Feb. 5: Hurricanes and Flooding
- Friday, Feb. 6: Extreme Temperature and Wildfires
Residents and visitors can also stay prepared year-round by signing up for HCFL Alert to receive time-sensitive, important messages about emergencies. HCFL Alert also allows residents to opt-in for certain non-emergency information in Hillsborough County, including local road closures and County events.
Hillsborough County emergency managers use HCFL Alert to keep residents informed before, during, and after storms by providing real-time messages regarding sandbag distribution, evacuation orders, flooding dangers, and other important information.
To learn more about Hillsborough County's Office of Emergency Management and to sign up for HCFL Alert, visit HCFL.gov/StaySafe.