Predictions of an early starting season and 19 tropical storm systems forming has experts like Kevin Guthrie, executive director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, telling Floridians the time to take life saving precautions is now before the official start of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season on June 1.
“Last year’s active hurricane season demonstrated that hurricanes bring far more hazards than just wind and rain,” Guthrie said. “From tornadoes to flooding, don’t wait to update your disaster plans — preparedness today means resiliency tomorrow.”
David Casto, director of Emergency Management at Sumter County, agreed preparation is key during the Hurricane Preparedness Workshop recently hosted at The Villages Public Library at Pinellas Plaza, advising residents how to make a hurricane safety kit and stay informed with weather updates.
Develop Family Disaster Plan and Kit
Casto stressed that the time to prepare for hurricane season is now, not when there is a storm on the radar or when the edge of the storm is about to make landfall.
“I have met people who believe hurricanes can’t come (to The Villages) because we are too far inland, but that’s not true,” Casto said. “We in Central Florida have been lucky to have no major incidents since 2017, but people need to not get a false sense of security. Take every storm seriously. If you are waiting for the TV forcaster to tell you, you are already too late.”
“If we get a category three or category four, it is going to be scary. While it is scary it’s not the wind that I’m worried about. It’s the water that kills people,” he said. “I’m worried about people driving through flood waters, people in golf carts driving through flooded tunnel areas or people walking through water with live power lines being down.”
During the Hurricane Preparedness Workshop, which he has been hosting for over 10 years, Casto advised families to plan ahead by taking a basic first aid class, learning escape routes in case of necessary evacuation and identifying safe spots inside their home, such as living rooms or large spaces away from windows, doors and exterior walls.
Along with knowing the spaces to seek shelter inside their home, Villagers were advised on items to pack into a Hurricane Preparedness Kit that would last several days including: one gallon of water per person per day; non-perishable food for at least seven days; non-electric can opener; battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio; flashlights; extra batteries; first aid kit; blankets; extra cash; cellphones; copies of important documents. A full list of items to pack can be found at floridadisater.org/kit.
To help minimize damage to their home, Villagers are advised to proof their homes ahead of a storm by boarding windows and doors with storm shutters and picking up debris from their yard that may fly with heavy winds, according to Casto.
Casto also encouraged residents to take the time to get their insurance checked, make sure they understand their insurance policies and check if they are in a flood zone — with one inch of flood water being able to cause over $25,000 in damage. Florida residents can check the risk level of their property at floodsmart.gov/flood-map-zone.com.
The last workshop will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on May 20 at the E.C. Rowell Library, 2810 C-478-A, Webster. Registration for the event is required and can be done at sumtercounty.librarycalendar.com.
Stay Connected Having a battery operated weather radio can help people stay informed with the latest official public broadcasts from the National Weather Service Channel. Locals can stay informed by tuning into the nearest channels: Sumterville at 162.500 frequency; Inverness at 162.400 frequency; Ocala at 162.525 frequency.
Residents in each of the tri-counties of The Villages have an emergency alert system that can be used to including Alert Sumter, AlertLake and Alert Marion.
Sumter County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (Sumter County ARES),
a volunteer led public service of licensed amateur radio operators who assists with emergency communications, held a statewide stimulated emergency test with other groups that provide communication services during an emergency including Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), Community Emergency Response Team of The Villages (CERT) and Skywarn on April 12.
“We provide communication to the public when the normal communication lines are disrupted,” Mark Newby, the emergency coordinator with the Sumter County ARES, said. “This is important because when public radio systems are vulnerable or when all else fails, amateur radio is there — whether phone lines or the internet is up or down. We provide an important communication link.”
Newby said by doing several emergency stimulated exercises during the recent meeting, the groups were able to streamline their process and have faster response times to help get resources to those in need.
“Every exercise is a learning experience and with this we will all be able communicate easier,” Newby said. “We have a lot of resources available to people to keep them safe. There is no such thing as being overly prepared. Expect the unexpected. Just because we haven’t had (a bad hurricane) happen in The Villages, doesn’t mean it can’t.”
Finding Shelter Near YouIf weather becomes to dangerous, Floridians may be told to evacuate or to shelter in place.
Casto encourages people who are living in a home built in The Villages, or structurally sound buildings built since 2002, to stay home during storms because the homes are built to most recent building code. For those who don’t live in The Villages, Casto advised they stay with a friend or family member that is not in a flood zone.
Individuals in mobile homes, flood zones, or with special needs may need to consider evacuating from their homes to go to a shelter.
Each county emergency management provides a list of regular, special needs or pet friendly shelters. A complete list of evacuation routes along with a list of local shelters can be found on the Centers for Disease Control Prevention website.
Individuals who must seek shelter are asked to bring identification, bedding, food and water, necessary prescription medication, toiletries and sources of entertainment.
Florida stature requires all county emergency management department’s to keep a registry of those who need additional services provided during an emergency or disaster.
People with a medical or physical condition that requires special care or in need of transportation assistance, can register for The Sumter County Special Needs Program, offered by the Florida Department of Health. To register for the program, visit Sumterprepares.com or call 352-742-4850.
To confirm if the shelter near you is open before arriving, contact the Citizen Information Line at 352-689-4400 or visit sumtercountyfl.gov.
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