The week is designed to inform about hurricanes, flooding, lightning, wildfires, and other extreme weather

Hillsborough County, Fla. (Jan. 30, 2026) - Severe weather has severely impacted Hillsborough County, with hurricanes, tornadoes, and days of extremely cold weather. 

Hillsborough County wants residents to continue to be prepared for these natural phenomena and is joining state emergency officials to promote Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week Feb. 2- 6. 

Each day of Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week will inform residents about a natural hazard: 

Monday, Feb. 2: Lightning

  • Stop outdoor activities if lightning is threatening, seek shelter inside an enclosed building, and stay away from windows and electronics.

Tuesday, Feb. 3: Marine Hazards and Rip Currents 

  • When possible, swim at a lifeguard-protected beach, pay attention to beach warning flags, and swim 100 feet or more away from piers and jetties to avoid rip currents.

Wednesday, Feb. 4: Thunderstorms and Tornadoes 

  • Make sure your home or business is prepared if a tornado impacts your area, stay inside an enclosed, structured building away from windows, and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts like tornado watches and warnings.

Thursday, Feb. 5: Hurricanes and Flooding 

  • Make disaster preparedness plans for families, businesses, and individuals with special needs, know evacuation routes and stock a disaster supply kit for at least seven days, and review insurance policies to ensure coverage is up-to-date.

Friday, Feb. 6: Temperature Extremes and Wildfire Safety  

  • For cold weather, bring outdoor pets inside or provide a warm shelter for them, cover cold-sensitive plants, and use safe heating sources indoors, and don't use fuel-burning devices like grills which release deadly carbon monoxide.
  • For wildfire safety, evacuate immediately if told to do so by officials, stay up-to-date on active fires and fire watches and warnings, and use a N-95 mask to help prevent smoke inhalation.

The goal is to continue to encourage proper preparation and safety for extreme weather, which can be unpredictable and damaging, and share resources and information about the state's potential natural hazards.  

A first step for Hillsborough County residents, business owners, and visitors is to sign up for HCFL Alert, the County's official emergency notification system. Hillsborough County emergency managers use HCFL Alert to keep residents informed by providing real-time messages regarding sandbag distribution, evacuation orders, and flooding dangers. HCFL Alert isn't just used for emergencies. HCFL Alert also allows residents to opt-in for certain non-emergency information in Hillsborough County, including local road closures, programs, events, and grant opportunities. 

Hillsborough County emergency managers urge residents to prepare for the worst by having a plan before disaster strikes. All residents, business owners, and visitors can use Hillsborough County's Annual Disaster Guide to prepare for the natural hazards that can impact our area.  

Follow Hillsborough County on social media to remain informed.

For more information about Hillsborough County's Office of Emergency Management and to sign up for HCFL Alert, visit HCFL.gov/StaySafe.