Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News / Getty Images
(Jacksonville, FL) - Florida Senator Rick Scott joined law enforcement and emergency management officials in Jacksonville today to remind Floridians to stay prepared this hurricane season.
So far this hurricane season there have been no hurricanes, only four tropical storms.
But there are still three months to go this season, and Sen. Scott says despite the low activity, don't let down your guard - preparedness saves lives.
As Florida's former governor, he advises that while the tropics are quiet, get a plan and get prepared before supplies run out. "Purchase things like an emergency kit, seven days of food and water and an evacuation plan."
And remember, beginning Aug. 1, 2025, specific hurricane supplies will always be tax free in Florida.
Those items include batteries, portable generators, waterproof tarps, gas cans, fire extinguishers and bug spray. Just to name a few. See the full list here.
Tropical storms Andrea, Barry, Chantal and Dexter all had average windspeeds around 45-mph and caused no damage to the US mainland. Still Scott hopes "everybody takes this seriously.”
Reminding us that the most recent major storms to hit Florida were not wind events, they were water events. He says, "If you hear a Category One storm is on the way and the winds are low, but the storm surge is over 9-feet where you live, you're dead."
Adding, "If you wait to evacuate, emergency services will not be able to come to your rescue during the storm."
Meanwhile, Colorado State University is out with its updated Atlantic Hurricane landfall strike probability for 2025.
With a degree of uncertainty, Philip Klotzbach with the department of Atmospheric Science says they are still predicting an above normal season due to warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures.
He also anticipates a slightly above average probability for major hurricanes making landfall in the US and Caribbean.
He predicts 12-more named storms with three major hurricanes to develop over the next three months.