County and Partners Urge Disaster Preparedness for Extremely Active 2024 Hurricane Season

Leon County Government and community partners are urging residents to prepare for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which starts tomorrow, June 1. With predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicating an extremely active season – forecasting up to 25 named storms, up to 13 hurricanes, and up to seven major hurricanes – being prepared is more crucial than ever.
 
“All County residents should get prepared for hurricane season by staying informed and making emergency plans,” said Leon County Commission Chair Carolyn D. Cummings. “As the recent tornado outbreak has shown, when our community works together we can answer any challenge.”
 
Residents are encouraged to take proactive steps to ensure their safety and resilience before, during, and after storms. Essential preparations include creating an emergency kit, developing a family communication plan, and staying updated through the County’s Emergency Information Portal at LeonCountyFL.gov/ei.
 
“Leon County works tirelessly to ensure that our community is prepared and capable of responding to disasters,” said Leon County Administrator Vincent S. Long. “This commitment to ensuring that our community is safe and prepared has led to Leon County being named the nation's first #HurricaneStrong community by FEMA and the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes.”
 
To further increase citizens’ readiness for the season, Leon County has unveiled and distributed its 2024-25 Disaster Survival Guide. Printed copies of the guide are available at all Leon County and City of Tallahassee facilities along with the American Red Cross at 1115 Easterwood Drive.
 
Residents can visit LeonReady.com for a variety of disaster resources to help you, your family, and your neighborhood prepare for and respond to disasters. LeonReady.com allows County residents to take the following preparedness steps:

• Download the online version of the 2024-25 Leon County Disaster Survival Guide to get the critical information you need to be prepared before, during, and after a disaster.
• Sign up for the Neighborhood Readiness Trainings hosted by Leon County Emergency Management for unincorporated County neighborhoods. To date, more than 600 residents have been trained on disaster resilience through the County’s Neighborhood Readiness Training program.
• Sign up for Leon Alerts to receive time-sensitive emergency messages to your email or phone related to incidents, such as severe weather and evacuations.
• Download the Citizens Connect App, Leon County’s best source for emergency news and alerts.

 
Additionally, residents can check to see if your property is in a flood zone, learn how to reduce their flood risks, and learn more about flood insurance by visiting LeonCountyFL.gov/FloodProtection.
 
“At Leon County, we understand the significance of resilience in the face of disaster,” said Leon County Emergency Management Director Kevin Peters. “We know all too well the dangers a major storm can pose to our community, which is why we encourage residents to stay especially vigilant and prepared ahead of this active hurricane season.”
 
For more information on how to prepare for hurricanes and other disasters, visit LeonReady.com.
 
For additional information, contact Kevin Peters, Leon County Emergency Management, at (850) 606-3700 / PetersK@LeonCountyFL.gov, or Mathieu Cavell, Leon County Community and Media Relations, at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.   

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