Hurricane Connection

Tropical storms and hurricanes are one of Tallahassee's most dangerous weather threats. Torrential rains, heavy winds and tornadoes can take our town and cause severe damage, flooding and major power outages. It doesn't take much for our area (about 50MPH winds) to knock out power for an extended period of time due to the large number of trees in our city. Because we are not a coastal community, we don't have to worry as much about storm surge; however, there are a lot of other dangers associated with these dangerous storms.

• There's a lot to be done to prepare for a hurricane. This checklist from the Red Cross can help you prepare.
• Check your disaster supplies. Replace or restock items as needed. This includes checking expirations dates on food and sizes on kids clothing.
• Reinforce your garage doors. If wind enters a garage, it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
• Have a plan for your pet, including supplies, photos, vaccination records, etc. Visit Emergency Pet's Page for more information on keeping your pet safe during a disaster.
• Know how to contact key service providers and relief agencies in your area. The City provides a list for Tallahassee.
• When a hurricane threatens, bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture, etc).
• A lull during a hurricane often signifies the storm's eye, not its end. Wait for authorities to announce that the danger is gone before going outside.

Lightning strikes are an unfortunate side-effect of storms. View our lightning safety page to learn how to stay safe during an electrical storm safety.

Related Links & Information

Provided below are links to local hurricane guides and weather sites which will aide in preparing you for hurricane season. If a storm is currently threatening our area, please be sure to check the talgov.com homepage constantly for all the latest news on what the City is doing to prepare for the storm, as well as specific information related to potential impacts to our area.

• FLASH.org Hurricane Flash Card
• Capital Area Chapter of the Red Cross
• FloridaDisaster.org
• Hurricane Survival Guide
• National Hurricane Center
• Past Hurricanes
• Saffir-Simpson Scale
• Hurricane Names