August marks the start of the most active part of Atlantic hurricane season, and Tampa officials are encouraging residents to use the time now to review evacuation plans, build emergency kits and sign up for alerts before the next storm threatens the Gulf Coast.
Why it matters: Tampa knows the impacts hurricanes can have after back-to-back storms affected the region in 2024. City leaders say preparation before a storm develops is one of the most important steps residents can take.
The city's newly released 2026 Hurricane Preparedness Guide walks residents through every stage of storm preparation, including:
- Making a family emergency plan.
- Finding your evacuation zone.
- Building a disaster supply kit with at least three days of food, water and medications.
- Protecting your home, vehicles and important documents.
- Planning for pets and family members with special medical needs.
Officials also encourage everyone to sign up for Alert Tampa, which provides emergency notifications for severe weather, evacuations, boil-water notices and other emergencies by text, phone or email.
If a storm threatens, the guide includes information on evacuation routes, shelters, sandbag distribution, transportation assistance and post-storm recovery resources.
Bottom line: Officials say the best time to prepare is before a storm is in the Gulf. The city's hurricane preparedness guide is available at https://www.tampa.gov/sites/default/files/document/2026/tampa-hurricane-guide-2026-accessible.pdf.
