Hurricane Season Prep: Flagler County Sheriff's Guide

BUNNELL, Fla. — Sheriff Rick Staly urged Flagler County residents to prepare for hurricane season, which begins June 1, by assembling supply kits, making evacuation plans, and signing up for emergency alerts.

"Preparedness starts at home," Staly said. "Have your plan, your supplies, and your trusted information sources ready now so you can act quickly and safely when severe weather threatens."

Residents should build a disaster supply kit with flashlights, extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, and a phone charger. Include seven days of non-perishable food, water, and medicine for each household member. Keep extra cash on hand and store copies of important documents in a waterproof container. Those with medical equipment dependent on electricity should have backup power plans and extra prescriptions.

Create a written evacuation plan and share it with household members. Determine whether your address is in an evacuation zone, identify evacuation routes, and decide where to go if ordered to leave. Include a communications plan with key contact numbers. Residents should also prepare neighbors or relatives who may need help and make arrangements for pets by identifying pet-friendly shelters and gathering supplies and records.

Evacuation often means traveling only tens of miles, not hundreds. Residents should choose the nearest safe destination to reduce travel time and congestion.

To stay informed, residents can sign up for ALERTFlagler, Flagler County's free emergency notification system, at flaglercounty.gov/County-Services/Emergency-Management/Emergency-Alerts-ALERTFlagler. Monitor NOAA Weather Radio and local media for official updates, and follow the Sheriff's Office on social media for community updates before, during, and after storms.