Emergency Management

Hurricane season in the United States runs from June 1 through November 30, each year.  Having a plan for your response to an approaching hurricane or tropical storm is critical to your successful management of the storm’s impact and aftermath.  The City of Plant City strongly encourages our residents and visitors to be prepared and to have a plan of action in place well in advance of any storm that may develop.  Advance preparation, as opposed to last minute scrambling, is your best strategy for minimizing the risks of hurricane season.  To aid you in your preparations and to assist you in dealing with any storms that may threaten our area, we are providing several readiness articles along with videos and Internet links to help you plan your response during a major weather event.

Emergency Preparation

• Federal Emergency Preparation
  English: https://www.ready.gov/
  Spanish: https://www.ready.gov/es/acerca-de-la-campana-de-ready
• Florida Department of Emergency Management:
  https://www.floridadisaster.org/  
  (Spanish conversion available on website)
• Hillsborough County Emergency Management:
  https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/residents/public-safety/emergency-management
  (Spanish conversion available on website)

What to know

• Alerts and Warnings
  • NOAA Weather Radio:
    https://www.weather.gov/nwr&ln_desc=NOAA+Weather+Radio/
  • Hillsborough County Emergency Notification System:
    https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/residents/public-safety/emergency-management/hcfl-alert
  •  Many local major media outlets have weather apps for notifications

What to do in April-May
https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-plan

• Install Fire and CO2 detectors in your home, replace batteries in existing units.
• Trim trees and shrubbery in your yard.
• Prepare your Disaster Supplies Kit.  https://www.ready.gov/kit
• Stock up enough non-perishable food and water for your family for 5 days.
• Review your home’s emergency plan with your family.
• Review your insurance papers and have copies in a waterproof package in your Disaster Supplies Kit.
• Coordinate a place for your family and pets to go in case of evacuation or substantial damage to your home.
• If someone in the home has special medical needs, register with the Hillsborough County Emergency Management office: https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/residents/public-safety/emergency-management/action-folder/register-for-special-needs-disaster-assistance  

What to do as the storm approaches
https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-action

• Ensure you have enough medications for your family and pets.
• Ensure your vehicles are full of fuel.
• Secure all loose items in your yard, such as chairs, tables, umbrellas, trash cans, etc.
• If asked to evacuate, do so immediately.
• If not asked to evacuate, shelter in place and stay away from windows in your home.
• Check on your neighbors and the elderly to ensure they are ready.
• Stay tuned to official sources of information – never rely on non-governmental or non-major media sources.
• Disaster Supply Checklist 

After the Storm
https://www.weather.gov/safety/hurricane-after

• Do not drive through flooded streets.
• Stay away from downed power lines.
• Do not connect generators to your home electrical system.
• Do not run generators inside your home or garage, or within 20 feet of your home.
• Place any debris on the right-of-way within 10 feet of the roadway in separate piles - see the graphic below:
  • Do not stack debris on the sidewalk or on the roadway.
  • Do not stack any debris within 3 feet of fire hydrants, cable boxes, mailboxes, utility poles, meter boxes, storm drains, and garbage/recycling containers.
  • Segregate the debris into different piles by type.
  • Cut vegetative debris into no longer than 5-foot lengths and stack
  • Bag any small twigs and leaves that equipment cannot pick up and place bags away from the stacked debris.  Bags should be less than 40 pounds each.

U.S. Small Business Administration Documents (Disaster Loans and Declarations)

Florida Hurricane Debby FEMA Assistance Information

Florida Hurricane Helene FEMA Assistance Information

Florida Hurricane Milton FEMA Assistance Information

Florida Commerce Announcments and Information