Escambia County Observes Florida Preparedness Month 2026

Florida Preparedness Month kicks off today, Sept. 1, and Escambia County encourages residents to remain prepared before, during, and after a storm by being "One Week Ready" with at least seven days' worth of supplies following a major hurricane. The State of Florida recognizes September as Florida Preparedness Month in conjunction with FEMA's National Preparedness Month "Ready" Campaign.

The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season falls on Wednesday, Sept. 10, with most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October. Florida Preparedness Month serves as a reminder for Floridians to review disaster plans and prepare for the remainder of hurricane season. Escambia County residents and visitors are encouraged to monitor weather alerts, keep a stocked disaster supply kit, and develop a disaster preparedness plan.

"With peak hurricane season approaching, we want to encourage residents to have a hurricane plan," Escambia County Emergency Manager and Deputy Public Safety Deputy Director Travis Tompkins said. "If you experienced Hurricane Ivan or Hurricane Sally, then you know firsthand how devastating a hurricane can be to our community. Escambia County has seen a significant increase in population over the last several years, and many of our new residents have never experienced a hurricane. They may not know what to expect or how quickly conditions can change. Meet your new neighbor or talk with a new member of your church, community group, or a new coworker. Ask them if they have a hurricane plan. Encourage them to have enough food, water, and other essential supplies for everyone in their household for at least seven days. Keep your vehicle's gas tank at least half full and rechargeable batteries and power banks charged and ready. We need everyone's help getting the preparedness message out. Know your zone, know your home, and know your plan."

Follow these steps to make sure you and your family are prepared this hurricane season:

1. Know Your Zone. Familiarize yourself with evacuation zones and routes. Escambia County residents can look up your address at MyEscambia.com/knowyourzone to see if your home is in evacuation zone A, B, C, D, E or none as well as view the impacts of storm surge in your neighborhood. Knowing your evacuation zone is one of the most important hurricane preparation steps you can take. It is very important that you look up your evacuation zone each year to find out if and when you should evacuate, even if you have looked it up in the past, as zones can change. Most importantly, don't rely on previous storm experience.
2. Know Your Home. Is your home prepared for a hurricane? If you need to evacuate, pack an emergency supply kit. It should contain seven days of clothes, nonperishable food, pet food, water and a battery-operated radio and flashlight with extra batteries. Also include a first-aid kit with items such as gloves, adhesive bandages and prescription medications. Find a printable disaster shopping list here. Please remember to be "One Week Ready." Everyone should be equipped to provide for themselves, their families and their pets for at least seven days following a major hurricane.
3. Know Your Plan. Plan how you will assemble your family and loved ones, and anticipate where you will go for different situations. Get together with your family and agree on the best ways to contact one another in an emergency. Inform out-of-town family and friends of your emergency plans and stay in contact. Plan your evacuation route and destination before an evacuation order is issued. Be sure to make preparations for pets and family members who may need special accommodations, such as a wheelchair ramp, oxygen tank or specific medications. More information on planning an evacuation for a person with disabilities or special needs is available at MyEscambia.com.
4. Stay Informed. Know where to go for trusted sources of information during a hurricane event. Sign up for alerts from Escambia County Emergency Management to receive notifications, including evacuation orders, directly to your phone and email. Watch this video to learn how to enable emergency alerts on your cell phone. Monitor local news for hurricane watches and warnings in your area and follow directions of local officials. Make sure you have a battery-operated or hand-crank radio available should the power go out. Review and sign up for the different types of information/notifications available directly from Escambia County on the Emergency Management website.

Additional online safety resources:

• For the latest road closures and traffic updates, travelers can access Florida's 511 service at fl511.com.
• Download the Escambia County Disaster Guide.

More information on what to do before, during and after a storm is available online at MyEscambia.com/BeReady. Residents can follow Escambia County Emergency Management on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates on emergencies impacting our community.