Free 2021 Hurricane Guide released by TBRPC

Free Hurricane Guide provides key storm survival tips

Free 2021 Disaster Planning Guides and Evacuation Maps are now available in Citrus, Hernando, Manatee and Sarasota counties. The guide, published annually by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, is also available in Spanish for Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Hurricane season begins June 1 and lasts through November 30, but residents should start to prepare before the season begins. Even those who have weathered many hurricane warnings still need think about how to best prepare, evacuate and recover should a storm strike.

The Disaster Planning Guide is filled with important information and suggestions on evacuating, sheltering in place, preparing pets, insurance and protecting your property.

Hurricane evacuation zones can change, and residents should check the latest map to know their evacuation zone and be ready if local authorities mandate leaving. The county-specific guides also include an updated list of shelters, including which shelters are designated for people with special medical needs and which allow pets.

These county-specific guides also offer many more helpful suggestions, such as:

• Establish two family meeting places: one near your home and another outside your neighborhood.
• Send copies of important documents, including insurance papers, to a contact person outside the area for safekeeping. Important documents should also be scanned and uploaded to a cloud-based digital storage service.
• Microchip your pet now so that you can be reunited if you are separated during a storm.
• Stock essentials in your hurricane kit, such as a flashlight, portable radio and plenty of nonperishable foods.
• Get a garbage can with a tight-fitting lid and spare bags of cat litter. They can be used as an emergency toilet.
• Plan your evacuation route ahead of time and place paper maps in your car in cellular service and GPS maps are unavailable.
• Withdraw extra cash and fill your fuel tank as a storm is approaching. Bank ATMs and gas pumps will not work if the electricity is out.
• Register with the county and your utility/power company if you are dependent on electrical medical equipment. This will provide for getting you transport to a medical shelter, and priority when power is being restored during a power outage.

A digital version of each county’s Guide is available at TampaBayPrepares.org, while printed copies are available in Citrus, Hernando, Manatee and Sarasota counties at many post offices, libraries, and government buildings, while supplies last.