PREPARE

The weekend before Tropical Storm Ian is anticipated to come toward Florida is a great time to start double-checking your hurricane kits -- or creating one.

Maps from the states of Florida and Georgia and the city of Jacksonville allow your your address and it will show the flood zone of your property and, in some cases, the best evacuation route.

I will post random extras that are a good purchase for the hurricane kit throughout the season. Here are a few more items that are not too expensive and can make a difference should you hunker down at home during a storm. Basically, these accessories can make getting by without power more manageable.

When the power goes out due to the power of Mother Nature, a generator can make life after a storm much more comfortable. However, if used incorrectly it can also kill you.

Clay County Emergency Management has released an updated map with the county’s hurricane evacuation zones.

This year, St. Johns County residents have new evacuation zones.

With several months left in hurricane season, health officials are encouraging residents to prepare ahead to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy.

Being prepared ahead of time increases your pet’s safety during a major weather event.

The biggest mistake you can make when it comes to preparing for a hurricane or hurricane season is not being ready financially.

Building your kit sooner rather than later will give you peace of mind and help you beat the rush for fast selling items when a storm threatens.

Your home is no doubt your most valuable investment. That’s why you have a homeowners insurance policy to protect it. But even the best policy won’t pay for every kind of hurricane damage.

If you’ve spent money on a portable gasoline generator the last thing you want is trouble starting it when a storm hits. Consumer Reports says there are simple steps to keep it up and running.

Don't forget about the kids when preparing for a hurricane. Building a kit for kids will help pass the time duing an evacuation. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

As we prepare for the start of the 2021 hurricane season, and with Florida offering tax-free hurricane supply shopping May 28 – June 6, generators may be at the top of your shopping list.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. Putting together a hurricane preparedness kit for children can be helpful during the long hours waiting out a storm. Better yet, let the children put together an emergency kit themselves that can cover three days. Games, snacks, toys and books are part of the plan to engage children and reduce stress. Long hours without power can be a challenging time for children who are used to occupying themselves with digital conveniences such as tablets, smartphones and apps. Make sure electronic devices have backup battery power supplies incorporated into the preparedness kit.

In fact, Woodard said the emergency operations center is changing the way it has worked in the past. This hurricane season, the EOC will guide the city virtually. Its a very efficient and effective way of reaching out to a large number of people in coordinating whatever efforts we need to coordinate, Woodard saidPlans for emergency shelters changing, tooWith the pandemic, Woodard said plans for emergency shelters are changing, too. The Red Cross is also making changes since this years storm season is very different because of COVID-19. Instead of know your zone, emergency leaders want people to know your code, meaning is your house built to safety code?

Published: May 25, 2020, 3:13 pm Updated: May 25, 2020, 3:19 pmJACKSONVILLE, Fla. The Florida sales tax holiday on disaster-preparedness items begins on Friday. The tax holiday allows shoppers to buy items, ranging from batteries to portable generators, without paying state and local sales taxes. The sales tax holiday does not apply to: the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items listed below and sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment, or airport. RELATED | NOAA predicts overly active hurricane seasonHere is a list of qualifying items. Click here for more information.

Floridians looking to stock up on storm supplies for the Atlantic hurricane season can save some serious cash by taking advantage of this year’s sales tax holiday.

There are a number of items you may need on hand to deal with a passing storm that don’t necessarily come to mind at the store.