City Of Tampa | City Of Tampa website
City Of Tampa | City Of Tampa website
As the Atlantic Hurricane Season approaches, starting this Saturday, June 1, and running through November 30, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting above-normal hurricane activity this year. There are an estimated 17 to 25 named storms, 8 to 13 of which may become hurricanes.
The City of Tampa is urging residents to start preparing now for potential severe weather. Mayor Jane Castor, Fire Chief Barbara Tripp, Police Deputy Chief Ruth Cate, and Tampa Emergency Management Director John Antapasis invite media representatives to the Tampa Emergency Operations Center (EOC) on Friday, May 31, for an informative press conference.
Attendees will gain insights into the city's preparedness strategies, learn more about the 2024 hurricane season outlook from National Weather Service (NWS) Meteorologist Brian LaMarre, and receive a tour of the EOC immediately following the press conference.
On Wednesday, May 29, the City hosted its annual Emergency Response Center (ERC) Drills, during which city personnel practiced their procedures in the event of a real storm. This included driving routes that "push crews" would follow to clear debris and identify damage and testing the capabilities of city drones used for aerial damage assessments if roadways are not passable.
Drone footage taken by the City of Tampa Emergency Response Drone Team over Bayshore Boulevard & S. Brevard Avenue immediately following Hurricane Idalia in 2023 can be viewed below.
Residents can ensure they are 'Tampa Ready' by following these three simple steps:
- Make an Evacuation Plan
- Create an Emergency Kit
- Stay Informed
For timely updates, residents can text TampaReady to 888-777 or TampaLista to 888-777 for Spanish notifications. Further details on hurricane preparedness can be found here. Learn more about the City's #TampaReady campaign.
To kick off the hurricane season on Saturday, June 1, the City of Tampa is hosting a Hurricane Expo at the Barksdale Senior Center (1801 N. Lincoln Ave). This event offers community members the opportunity to engage directly with emergency management experts about hurricane preparedness. More information about the event can be found here.
Media outlets planning to attend Friday’s press conference must RSVP to media@tampagov.net
Contact:
306 East Jackson Street
Tampa, Florida 33602
(813) 274-8211
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