And so another hurricane season is upon us.

Like tax season, we are now blessed with hurricane season. I am writing this post to help all those new to our Jacksonville area understand that while we have been blessed in years past and spared major storms, we cannot be guaranteed that we will escape storms in the coming years. So with that, I am here to discuss some helpful sites if and when we have a storm on Florida's First Coast.

National Hurricane Preparedness Week is intended to raise our general awareness of how important it is to be fully prepared, should a hurricane hit. Although the most recent hurricane seasons here in Jacksonville have been fairly mild, it’s always smart to be prepared, to devise a plan, and to assemble the necessary supplies in case of an emergency. You don’t want to be that last-minute person trying to stock up on water and supplies, only to find that all the shelves are empty. To help you prepare, Florida’s 9-day sales-tax holiday for hurricane preparedness supplies kicks off today, Saturday, May 31, and runs through Sunday, June 8. Visit the Florida Department of Revenue for a complete list of tax-exempt items. In case a hurricane threatens to strike in our area, check out these local resources for helpful information:

WJXT’s Hurricane Tracker App: This interactive tracking app gives you up-to-date info and alerts.
WJXT’s Hurricane 2014 Survival Guide: This guide includes all the info you need to prepare for a storm, including a supply and first aid kit checklist, tips from the Red Cross, evacuation routes, and more!
Duval County Emergency Management’s Jax Ready Emergency Survival Guide and Jax Ready’s Facebook page gives news and updates, and you can download the Jax Ready App.

Other Resources:

• NOAA Preparedness Guide

• Ready: resources for kids and parents to be prepared in case of a disaster. It includes games for kids and teaches parents to help children cope during and after a disaster.

• Young Meteorologist Program: This one is fun for the kids–Owlie takes them on a “Severe Weather Preparedness Adventure” and upon completion of the game, they will earn a Young Meteorologist Certificate.

Being ready when a storm hits is so important. You need to make sure that you have enough water, batteries and food for many days as the authorities may not be able to get to you with so many affected. Plan now and have your water and supplies ready. Add a jug of water each time at the store, add a few more batteries, make sure the flashlights and candles are within reach. Make sure you have an evacuation plan as well as a solution for elderly with you as well as pets. Many shelters will not take in pets, so plan accordingly ahead of time. Make a list of hotels and before a major storm is to hit, make sure you can get to a hotel if necessary.

#LizBobeck