2026 Hurricane Season Resources and Preparedness Guide
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Tracking the disturbances in the Atlantic. Live NHC advisories, live satellite, local headlines, and engineered flood protection, built by your neighbors who learned the hard way through Helene and Milton.
Storm Watch 2026 · Atlantic Tropics
Tracking the Disturbances in the Atlantic
Tropical waves in the central Atlantic near the Cabo Verde Islands · No threat to Florida at this time · Live GOES-19 satellite below
The National Hurricane Center is tracking tropical waves in the central Atlantic near the Cabo Verde Islands, with gradual development possible over the next several days as they move westward. There is no threat to Florida at this time. Tampa Bay: no action needed now, just keep an eye on NHC updates. Official advisories: nhc.noaa.gov
Tropical Atlantic · Infrared
Colder cloud tops = stronger stormsInfrared Band 13
One feed · Newest first
Live Storm Feed: NHC Advisories, Florida Alerts & Local Tropics Coverage
Official National Hurricane Center advisories, every active Florida watch and warning, and tropics coverage from Florida Storms, WFLA, and WMBB, merged into one timeline and refreshed every 5 minutes.
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Official advisory and alert data from NOAA National Hurricane Center and the National Weather Service. Local tropics coverage from Florida Storms (FPREN), WFLA Tracking the Tropics, and WMBB. Always follow the guidance of local emergency management.
Your Gulf Coast Hurricane Preparedness Checklist
Compiled from FEMA, NOAA, and Florida emergency management guidance, plus lessons from Helene and Milton across Tampa Bay. Check items off before the first watch is issued, not during it.
Know Your Zone & Plan
- Look up your evacuation zone at Know Your Zone (Pinellas: disaster.pinellas.gov)
- Register for Alert Pinellas / county emergency alerts
- Plan two evacuation routes and a meet-up point for family
- Arrange pet carriers, meds, and special-needs shelter registration if required
- Photograph insurance policies and store copies in the cloud
Secure Your Home
- Install or deploy flood barriers on doors, sliders, and garages
- Board or shutter windows; reinforce garage doors
- Clear gutters, drains, and storm drains of debris
- Trim trees away from roof and power lines
- Install backflow prevention to block sewage backup during surge
- Protect generators and critical equipment from flood exposure
Protect Belongings (Flood Prep)
- Move furniture, rugs, and valuables off the floor
- Elevate electronics and documents onto countertops or upper shelves
- Roll up area rugs; hang fabric items above potential water lines
- Bag or bin important papers in waterproof containers
- Unplug appliances in flood-prone areas before evacuating
Build Your Emergency Kit
- Water: one gallon per person per day (minimum 3 days)
- Non-perishable food, manual can opener, pet supplies
- Batteries, flashlights, battery or hand-crank radio
- First-aid kit, prescription medications (7+ day supply)
- Phone chargers, cash, hygiene supplies, work gloves
- Fill vehicles with fuel; keep gas cans safely stored
Before Landfall (48 to 72 hrs)
- Deploy flood panels; test seals and hardware
- Bring in outdoor furniture, planters, and loose items
- Shut off utilities if instructed or if evacuating
- Charge all devices; download offline maps
- Fill bathtubs with water for sanitation (if safe to do so)
After the Storm
- Do not enter flooded structures until cleared safe
- Document all damage with photos before cleanup
- Contact insurance and FEMA (if a disaster is declared) promptly
- Boil water if a boil-water notice is issued
- Inspect flood barriers and backflow devices before next use
Sources: Ready.gov Hurricanes, NHC Prepare, Florida Disaster, Plan & Prepare
Dam It Defense Solutions
A multi-layer defense system for protecting your home, engineered, fabricated, and installed in-house in St. Petersburg.
Primary Structural Protection
Flood Barrier Systems
Engineered aluminum compression barriers custom-fabricated to seal doors, garages, storefronts, and structural openings against storm surge and sustained hydrostatic pressure.
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Generators
Standby generator systems and protective solutions designed to safeguard critical power equipment from flood exposure while maintaining required airflow and service access.
Learn MoreStructural Access Point Protection
Vent Covers
Custom aluminum vent protection systems engineered to prevent water intrusion through foundation vents and mechanical openings.
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Backflow Prevention Protection
Installation of a specialized plumbing device to ensure water flows in only one direction, preventing contaminated water from reversing flow and entering a home in the event of a flood.
Learn MorePerformance & Architectural Solutions
Rain Shields
Precision fabricated aluminum shields designed to deflect wind driven rain and reduce direct water exposure to structural penetrations.
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Aesthetic Covers & Powder Coating
Architecturally finished aluminum systems available in custom colors and coatings to match residential, commercial, HOA, and municipal exteriors while maintaining structural integrity.
Learn MoreFlood panels are built with aerospace grade aluminum at 2.5× the thickness of most competing systems, rated for sustained hydrostatic pressure and repeat seasonal deployment.
Built by Neighbors. Trusted Across Tampa Bay.
Proud Partner of Cajun Navy Relief
After deploying flood prevention systems ahead of a hurricane, we reallocate resources, including our fleet of Humvees capable of navigating 30″ of water, to assist in search, rescue, and community aid alongside Cajun Navy Relief volunteers.
Fabricated Locally in St. Petersburg
Founded by aluminum manufacturing veterans with over a decade of experience. Every system is quoted, engineered, fabricated, and installed in-house by our licensed team, trusted by homeowners, HOAs, cities, and Fortune 500 properties across the Gulf Coast.
Learn more at damitdefense.com →
Recognized for Hurricane Response
Dam It Defense received the Community Partnership Award from the City of Holmes Beach for supporting Anna Maria Island residents during Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024.
Read our award story →Don’t Just Take Our Word For It
St. Pete friends flooded by Hurricane Helene built a flood barrier company with sturdy aluminum and modular height options.Read story →
A pair of St. Petersburg flood victims opened Dam It Defense to provide residential flood barriers after Hurricane Helene.Read story →
The company opened its first factory in St. Petersburg’s Warehouse Arts District a year after Helene.Read story →
Dam It Defense launched in 2025, sold several hundred systems, and grew into a local team of nearly 20 employees.Read feature →
Tampa Bay Disaster Resources & Recovery Programs
Curated from community partners including Storm Squad, bookmark these before you need them.
Pinellas County Home Repair Program
Pinellas County has reopened its state-funded Home Repair Program offering up to $75,000 in fully forgivable assistance for critical needs like roofs, windows, and AC replacements for qualifying low-income homeowners.
- Individual income up to $58,450 (family of four: $83,450)
- Available in unincorporated Pinellas and most cities (excludes St. Pete, Clearwater, Largo, Belleair Shore)
- Independent Living Grant up to $20,000 for accessibility improvements
People First Hurricane Recovery
Federal disaster recovery programs for residents who lived in Pinellas during the 2023 to 2024 hurricane season include:
- Homebuyer assistance up to $80,000 (outside flood hazard area)
- Homeowner reimbursement up to $50,000 for completed storm repairs
- Rehabilitation/reconstruction up to $375,000 for damaged homes
Pinellas Emergency Information
Visit disaster.pinellas.gov for:
- Evacuation zone lookup
- Public evacuation shelters
- Special needs registration
- Alert Pinellas notifications
- Pet preparation resources
Statewide & Federal Links
Community resource list adapted from Storm Squad Disaster Resources. Program availability and eligibility change, verify details on official county sites before applying.
Hurricane Season Questions Answered
When does hurricane season start in Florida?
Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. The National Hurricane Center typically begins issuing daily tropical weather outlooks in mid-May.
Should I put things on countertops before a flood?
Yes. Move valuables, electronics, and documents off the floor onto countertops, upper shelves, or stacked furniture. Even an inch of water can cause thousands in damage, elevation is one of the fastest pre-storm steps.
Are sandbags enough for Tampa Bay storm surge?
Sandbags can help with minor pooling but are labor-intensive and often fail under surge and wave pressure at doors and garages. Engineered aluminum flood barriers provide repeatable, structural protection season after season.
What is backflow and why does it matter in hurricanes?
During flooding, municipal sewer systems can become overwhelmed, pushing contaminated water back through drains and toilets. A backflow prevention device blocks reverse flow and protects your home’s health and plumbing.
Can flood barriers lower my insurance premium?
Many insurers recognize documented flood mitigation. Homeowners who install engineered barriers may qualify for premium reductions, ask your flood insurance provider about mitigation credits after installation.
How early should I install flood barriers before hurricane season?
The best window is now, before fabrication queues peak. Assessment, custom fabrication, and installation take time; waiting until a named storm is announced limits availability across the Gulf Coast.
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