Preparing For the 2025 Hurricane Season

The 2025 Hurricane Season is a little more than three weeks away, which means those of us in Florida, the Gulf Coast and the US Southeast States need to begin making preparations. The season runs from June 1 to November 30.

 

After last year, with three major storms doing immeasurable damage, heed is the operative word.

Debby, Helene and Milton were all storms which started off small and suddenly exploded as they reached Central Florida in the Gulf. As they made landfall, they brought significant damage and chaos, which we are still dealing with, especially in the Carolinas.

According to Colorado State University's annual Atlantic hurricane season forecast, the 2025 seasonal outlook is anything but calm. Experts predict 17 named storms, with nine expected to become hurricanes, and four forecasted to reach major hurricane strength (Category 3 or higher).

Hopefully, the US Mainland and the various Carribean islands and nations will be spared this year.

In Florida, Disaster Preparedness Tax Holiday will be in effect again. The legislation will create a “disaster preparedness” sales tax holiday from June 2 – 15, 2025 for disaster preparedness supplies.

Some examples of tax-free items include: flashlights and lanterns costing $40 or less; reusable ice costing $20 or less; radios costing $50 or less; tarps and ground anchors or tie down kits costing $100 or less; coolers and portable power banks costing $60 or less; batteries and fuel tanks costing $50 or less; smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and carbon monoxide detectors costing $70 or less; and generators costing $3,000 or less. The holiday also includes a number of items related to the safe evacuation of household pets.

It would be wise to have an alternate destination should the Governor call for an immediate evacuation of your area, especially if you are on the coast.

Plan now because the season will be here before you know it.