Inside Hillsborough County's Hurricane Preparedness Efforts

When it comes to hurricane season, preparation is a year-round effort in Hillsborough County. Long before a storm is forecast, County staff are coordinating with local, state, federal, nonprofit, and private-sector partners to strengthen emergency response plans, train personnel, and ensure critical resources are ready when they are needed most. While the County continues preparing behind the scenes, residents also play an important role in storm readiness. Developing an evacuation plan, building a hurricane supply kit, knowing your evacuation zone, and staying informed can make all the difference when severe weather threatens.

Training before the storm

Preparation begins well before hurricane season with extensive planning, coordination, and hands-on training among Hillsborough County departments. One of the County's largest annual preparedness efforts is Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Readiness Week, which brings together hundreds of County employees, state and federal agencies, schools, health care organizations, utility companies, nonprofit partners, and more. Throughout the week, participants review emergency plans, test communications systems, practice disaster response scenarios, and strengthen coordination between agencies that would work together during a major storm.

This year's readiness week included "Operation Florida Ready," a statewide hurricane preparedness exercise coordinated by the Florida Division of Emergency Management. The multiday exercise simulated hurricane response operations and allowed emergency managers across Florida to evaluate plans, identify areas for improvement, and ensure agencies work seamlessly together during a real emergency. These exercises help emergency responders, public safety personnel, and partner agencies prepare to make informed decisions and respond quickly when hurricanes threaten the Tampa Bay region.

Hillsborough receives national accreditation

This year, Hillsborough County successfully completed the [Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) assessment, earning national recognition for meeting rigorous standards in emergency management. EMAP is the nation's only independent accreditation process for emergency management programs. The voluntary program evaluates an agency's ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters. Successfully completing the assessment demonstrates that Hillsborough County's emergency management program meets nationally recognized best practices and is prepared to respond effectively to hurricanes and other disasters.

For residents, that means confidence that emergency planning, coordination, and response efforts have been independently evaluated against the highest professional standards.

Storm resources ready before they're needed

Preparing resources before a storm is just as important as responding after one. To help residents protect their homes from flooding, Hillsborough County has over 70,000 pre-filled sandbags ready for distribution when storms threaten. Having sandbags prepared in advance allows distribution sites to open quickly and efficiently as weather conditions warrant. Sandbags are most effective for reducing damage from shallow flooding and can help redirect water away from doorways, garages, and other low-lying entry points. However, they are not designed to stop deep or fast-moving floodwaters. Find out where to get sandbags during active operations as well as tips on how to use sandbags.

Residents should also know where to go if an evacuation becomes necessary. Hillsborough County operates emergency shelters when conditions require them, including general population shelters, special needs shelters, and pet-friendly shelters. Shelter locations are determined based on the projected storm and affected areas and are announced before opening. Residents are encouraged to know their evacuation zone, review shelter options before hurricane season, and have multiple evacuation plans if possible.

Stay connected and build your hurricane kit

Receiving timely information is one of the most important parts of hurricane preparedness. More than 101,000 subscribers now receive emergency notifications through HCFL Alert, Hillsborough County's official emergency notification system. Subscribers can receive important updates about severe weather, evacuations, shelter openings, and other public safety alerts. Residents who have not already signed up are encouraged to register before a storm approaches to receive critical updates when every minute counts.

Now is also the time to build or refresh an emergency supply kit. Florida's Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Exemption helps families save money on many hurricane preparedness essentials, including:

• Batteries
• Portable generators
• Smoke detection devices
• Fire extinguishers
• Life jackets
• Waterproof tarps
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent

Building a hurricane kit before a storm develops helps families avoid last-minute shortages and long lines at stores. Download Hillsborough County's 2026 Disaster Planning Guide for tips on building an emergency kit and more.

Prepared communities are stronger communities

County officials say preparing for hurricane season is a shared responsibility. Hillsborough County has invested significant time and resources into training emergency personnel, earning national accreditation, preparing emergency supplies, and ensuring critical information reaches residents quickly.

Those efforts are most effective when residents prepare as well. By knowing your evacuation zone, creating a family emergency plan, assembling disaster supplies, signing up for HCFL Alerts, and staying informed throughout the hurricane season, residents can help protect themselves, their families, and their neighbors when severe weather strikes.

Visit HCFL.gov/StaySafe to stay up to date on the latest emergency alerts, evacuation information, and orders when a hurricane threatens.