We are in the midst of the 2025 Hurricane season here in Florida. And once again, we are encouraging each of you to make plans for the possibility of a storm coming through our area.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released their predictions for the 2025 hurricane season, and they suggest the possibility of an ‘intense’ season. They predict between 13 and 19 named storms, with six to 10 of those becoming hurricanes and three to five of those becoming major hurricanes.
Given that, we ask each of you… do you have a plan, whether for hurricanes or another crisis that might occur? If not, we encourage you to create a plan as part of your hurricane readiness preparations. We also know this kind of planning can be overwhelming, so we want to help as much as we can.
Getting Started
Gather your family together for a planning meeting and discuss important elements that you need in your plan. It’s vital that you discuss this so everyone is on board. Include all family members whether your family is a traditional nuclear family or a chosen family of friends and neighbors.
Be sure to include plans for your pets. A new law makes it a crime to leave a pet during a hurricane.
While this may sound like overkill, be sure to put your plan in writing. During a crisis, it can be hard to recall the specifics of your plan. If you have family staying with you, they might not be aware of your plan. Commit it to writing, print it, and then post it where it is easily accessible (stick a copy on your fridge or a bathroom mirror).
What to Include in a Plan
You will want to include names and contact numbers of everyone in your immediate family group. Include contact information for schools and places of business in the event an emergency happens while you are somewhere other than home.
Determine where you will go during an emergency. If a hurricane were to hit when everyone is home, do you have one particular room in your home where everyone will stay together? If a hurricane comes through when you are separated, be sure to plan who will go pick up minor children or adults without transportation. Select a meeting point, whether it is your home or another location.
Include a list of medications each individual takes (and be sure to keep at least a seven day supply on hand).
If you have pets, determine how you will care for them, whether you choose to shelter at home, go to a community shelter, or evacuate. Make plans to care for those animals God has entrusted to us.
If there is a person in your family group with disabilities, spend extra time determining what would allow that individual to feel safe in a potentially chaotic or unsafe situation.
Here in Polk County, there are special shelters for the disabled and for families with pets. Online registration is available for shelters for individuals with special needs. Shelter information will be updated as emergencies occur.
What to Include in an Emergency Kit
Florida natives and hurricane veterans likely have their own checklist of items to include, but if you are new to the area of simply haven’t done this in the past, here are a few general items to include, as suggested by the National Institute on Aging.
- Non-perishable food and water for seven days
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Sanitation and hygiene supplies
- Communication devices with manual chargers
- Change of clothes and shoes
- Eyeglasses and hearing aids
- Medication and equipment
- Sleeping bags and blankets
- Important documents
FPC Communications
If there is an emergency situation, FPC will communicate with the congregation via both email and text.
We encourage you to reach out to your fellow members and check on them. Add a list of people to check in with to your emergency plan. As we watch over one another, we are sharing the love of Christ in every interaction.
Hurricane Kits
The youth group is selling hurricane kits for $35 each. You can buy a kit for yourself as well as donate a kit to one of our homebound members. If you would like to help deliver to our homebound, we would love to have the help. Get in touch, and we will get your delivery scheduled.