Hurricane Season Traditionally Peaks in September - Don't Wait to Make a Plan

Hillsborough County, Fla. (Sept. 4, 2025) - September is the historical peak of hurricane season, and it is also Florida Preparedness Month.

The Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management and the Florida Department of Emergency Management remind residents to get prepared now and don't wait until a hurricane or tropical storm is imminent.

This is the time to prepare disaster supply kits, learn if your home is in an evacuation zone, create an evacuation plan that is tens, not hundreds, of miles inland, and develop a family meeting place in case of separation.

Preparing now can go a long way in helping reduce stress and making sure that  family and property are secure if a storm's path turns toward Hillsborough County.

A manageable and essential goal at this time is to get a disaster supply kit ready. Include supplies to last each member of a household at least seven days. A few examples of items to include in the supply kit are:

• General supplies of flashlights, batteries, first-aid kit, comfortable and sturdy clothing, and important phone numbers.
• Food supplies of nonperishable packaged or canned food and beverages, snack foods, juices, baby food, and any special dietary items.
• Important documents, such as home insurance papers, medical insurance information, banking and property information, medical records, and birth and marriage certificates

Customize the disaster supply kits for the people in your family. For instance, if you have children, include clothes, water bottles, toys, board games, and comfort items appropriate for them. For seniors, remember to include medications, medical documents, medical equipment, and medical insurance cards. And don't forget your pets. Their supply kits should have pet food, toys, veterinarian paperwork, leashes, carriers, collars, identifications tags, and medications.

Use Florida Preparedness Month as an incentive to remain vigilant this hurricane season. Keep in mind that September may be a hotbed for hurricanes for a few reasons: 

• Low vertical wind shear has little change in wind speed or direction with height, rendering it unable to weaken or break up storms. High vertical wind shear has the opposite effect. Higher windspeeds can break up and weaken tropical cyclones.  
• High water temperatures provide the heat and energy hurricanes need to form and intensify.
• There is less dry air blowing from the Sahara Desert in September. From July through August, the Sahara's dry, dusty air is at its peak and has 50% less moisture than a tropical atmosphere. Dryer air tends to suppress tropical disturbances.

Hillsborough County has information to help residents prepare for hurricane season

Visit HCFL.Gov/StaySafe to learn more. View the County's Disaster Guide, which is full of important information and tips for this hurricane season in both English and Spanish. Sign up for HCFL Alert, Hillsborough County's official notification system. HCFL Alert is designed to keep residents informed about local emergencies, everyday events, and important County news through voice, text, or email alerts.