NEWS RELEASE
Hurricane Preparedness: How Residents Can Prepare Now
Date:Friday, May 29, 2026
BUNNELL, Fla. — With hurricane season beginning June 1, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents to take action now by understanding their risk, beginning pre-season preparations, making sure they have multiple ways to receive forecasts and alerts, and knowing what to do before, during and after a storm.
FCSO Deputies Remove Debris After Hurricane Milton 2024 (FCSO)
Hurricanes can bring major impacts from storm surge, high winds and flooding. Early planning dramatically reduces risk and worries when timely evacuation is critical.
“Our deputies and professional staff prepare year-round to protect Flagler County, but preparedness starts at home,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Have your plan, your supplies, and your trusted information sources ready now so you can act quickly and safely when severe weather threatens.”
Build a disaster supply kit based on your household’s needs. Include items such as flashlights, extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, and a portable crank or solar-powered USB charger for cell phones. You should have enough non-perishable food, water, and medicine for each person for a minimum of seven days, since electricity and water can be out for an extended period. You should also keep extra cash on hand and make copies of important documents and place them in a waterproof container. If you or a loved one has medical needs, make sure you have extra prescriptions and a plan for any electricity-dependent equipment.
Make a plan and share it. Know if you are in an evacuation area and evacuation routes. Decide where you will go if an evacuation order is issued and communicate that plan with everyone in your household. Write the plan down, keep a copy where it’s easy to access, and include a communications plan with key contact information. Planning ahead also gives you time to check on neighbors or relatives who may need additional help preparing or evacuating. Include pets in your plan by identifying pet-friendly sheltering options and packing needed supplies and records.
Remember: evacuating does not necessarily mean traveling hundreds of miles. You may only need to evacuate tens of miles—not hundreds—and should select a destination nearest to home whenever possible to reduce travel time and avoid congestion on evacuation routes.
Stay informed and be ready to act. Monitor reliable, official updates, and follow instructions from local officials—especially if an evacuation is ordered. Make sure you can receive warnings more than one way, such as phone alerts, local media, NOAA Weather Radio, and official weather notifications. Residents can sign up for ALERTFlagler—Flagler County’s free emergency notification system—to receive alerts for enrolled address(es) and choose how and when they want to be contacted: https://www.flaglercounty.gov/County-Services/Emergency-Management/Emergency-Alerts-ALERTFlagler
Follow FCSO on our social media platforms, where Sheriff Staly will provide community updates in the event of an approaching storm, during the storm and after a storm.
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