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Are you Ready For Hurricane Season?
May 01 - May 31, 2022 All Day |
Florida 2022 Hurricane Preparedness
Sales Tax Holiday
Consumers can purchase qualifying disaster preparedness supplies exempt from tax during the 2022 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday. Passed by the Florida Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis, the sales tax holiday begins Saturday, May 28, 2022 and extends through Friday, June 10, 2022.
Download the
St. Johns County
Hurricane Preparedness Guide
(PDF, 8MB)
Please visit DOH-St. Johns — Emergency Preparedness and Response to find out more about hurricane preparedness resources in St. Johns County.
Stay Informed this Hurricane Season
Receive alerts about emergencies by signing up for the
St. Johns County Emergency Notification System:
Additional Resources:
- Alert St. Johns—Emergency Notification System
- DOH-St. Johns Emergency Preparedness and Response
- FloridaDisaster.org – Division of Emergency Management
- National Hurricane Center
- NOAA Weather Radio
- St. Johns County Emergency Management
Determine Your Risk
The threats from hurricanes to you and your family can vary widely depending on where you live. It’s not just those along the coast that can experience significant, life-threatening impacts. Evaluate what you need to do to protect your home and family NOW, before the first storm of the season even forms.
Weather.gov Video: Hurricane Hazards Risk (Length 1:33)
Develop An Evacuation Plan
Make sure you have a hurricane evacuation plan. The first thing you need to do is find out if you live in a storm surge hurricane evacuation zone or if you are in a home that would be unsafe during a hurricane. If you are, figure out where you would go and how you would get there if told to evacuate. You do not need to travel hundreds of miles. Identify someone, perhaps a friend or relative who does not live in an evacuation zone or unsafe home, and coordinate with them to use their home as your evacuation destination. Be sure to account for your pets, as most local shelters do not permit them. Put the plan in writing for you and those you care about.
As hurricane season approaches, listen to local officials on questions related to how you may need to adjust any evacuation plans based on the latest health and safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local officials.
Weather.gov Video: Evacuation Plan (Length 1:20)
Assemble Disaster Supplies
Just having enough supplies to make it through a hurricane is not enough. You need plenty to make it through what could be a LONG recovery period too. Water and electricity could be out for a week or more. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family for a MINIMUM of one week. Also make sure you have extra cash, a battery-powered radio, flashlights, and a portable crank or solar powered USB charger to charge your cell phone. The CDC recommends if you need to go to a public shelter, bring at least two cloth face coverings for each person and, if possible, soap and hand sanitizer. Children under two years old and people having trouble breathing should not wear face coverings.
Weather.gov Video: Hurricane Supplies (Length 1:26)
Get An Insurance Checkup
This Hurricane Preparedness Week, call your insurance company or agent and ask for an insurance checkup to make sure you have enough homeowners insurance to repair or even replace your home. Remember, standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding. Whether you are a homeowner or renter, you will need a separate policy for flooding. Visit www.FloodSmart.gov to get started. Act now as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
- FLASH Insurance Guide: If Disaster Strikes, Will You Be Covered?
- Find available coverage at FloodSmart.gov
FloodSmart.gov Video: Flood Insurance (Length 1:30)
Strengthen Your Home
If you plan to ride out the storm in your home, make sure it is in good repair and up to local hurricane building code specifications. Have the proper plywood, steel or aluminum panels to board up the windows and doors. Remember, the garage door is the most vulnerable part of the home, so it must be able to withstand the winds.
- FLASH: How-To Videos
- Protect Your Home From Flooding Video (English / Spanish)
Weather.gov Video: Strengthening Home (Length 1:36)
Help Your Neighbor
Learn about all the different actions you and your neighbors can take to prepare and recover from the hazards associated with hurricanes. Start the conversation now with these Neighbor Helping Neighbor strategies but remember, you may need to adjust your preparedness plans based on the latest health and safety guidelines from the CDC and your local officials.
Weather.gov Video: Helping Your Neighbors (Length 1:26)
Complete a Written Plan
The time to prepare for a hurricane is before the season begins, when you have the time and are not under pressure. Take the time now to write down your hurricane plan. Know who issued evacuation orders for your area, determine locations on where you will ride out the storm, and start to get your supplies now.
Download the
St. Johns County
Hurricane Preparedness Guide
(PDF, 8MB)
Please visit Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County — Emergency Preparedness and Response to find out more about hurricane preparedness resources in St. Johns County.
Additional Resources
Remember, it only takes one storm to change your life and community. For more information on hurricanes and hurricane safety, visit:
- American Red Cross – Hurricane Preparedness
- CDC – Hurricanes and Other Tropical Storms
- DOH-St. Johns Emergency Preparedness and Response
- FloridaDisaster.org – Division of Emergency Management
- Hurricane Strong – Federal Alliance for Safe Homes
- National Hurricane Center
- National Hurricane Preparedness
- NOAA – Weather Radio
- NWS – Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources
- Ready.gov – Hurricanes
- St. Johns County Emergency Management
- St. Johns County Special Needs Shelter
The source for portions of this content is the National Weather Service — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). For more information on the guidance above, visit Weather.gov.
Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF). The free Adobe Reader may be required to view these files.
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