Florida Officials Emphasize Hurricane Readiness After Historic Tornado Outbreak

As the 2025 hurricane season approaches, Florida communities are emphasizing the importance of preparedness in light of last year's destructive events, including Hurricane Milton's tornado outbreak that severely impacted areas like Fort Pierce and Okeechobee County. Officials from counties such as St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and Leon are urging residents, especially those in vulnerable mobile and manufactured homes, to heed evacuation orders and maintain emergency supplies to ensure self-sufficiency post-storm. Despite federal challenges like staffing shortages at the National Weather Service and uncertainty in FEMA funding, local leaders remain committed to readiness and recovery efforts. In the Florida Keys, emergency management is bolstered by new infrastructure and surveillance capabilities, given the region's high hurricane vulnerability exemplified by Hurricane Irma in 2017. Meanwhile, Volusia County continues recovering from previous hurricanes, with damaged coastal properties still vulnerable and reconstruction ongoing, highlighting the ongoing risks to Florida's tourism-dependent economy. Across the state, community engagement and education efforts, such as those seen in Fort Pierce, aim to transform past experiences into proactive preparation for the anticipated active hurricane season.