Hillsborough County is ready and urges residents to prepare now.
It seems like residents just finished (mostly) cleaning up the destruction from last year’s hurricanes. However, hurricane season in Florida begins on June 1 and runs through November 30. This year, experts predict 13 to 18 named storms, seven to 10 hurricanes, three to five major hurricanes, and three to six direct hits on the United States.
In case you’ve forgotten, or you just moved here, in October, a hurricane named Milton hit Plant City close on the heels of Hurricane Helene, and before that Hurricane Debby. All of the hurricanes dumped rain, and doubled the yearly average in the Tampa Bay region to 80 inches.
Plant City fell in the band of Milton’s heaviest rain. Data indicates about 13 inches of water fell here. The eyewall passed 15 to 20 miles south of Plant City, and tornadoes spun up as close as Dover and Durant. Milton was one of the most destructive hurricanes on record to impact Florida. In Plant City, Milton damaged 1,075 buildings plus 1,056 residences. The storm caused $24.7 million in wind damage and $21.6 million in flood damage. Between Plant City Fire Rescue, and PCPD, 126 people were rescued from flood waters in 75 incidents in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) joined in the relief effort in unincorporated Plant City.
In preparation for the season, Hillsborough County recently showcased some of its new equipment that can be used to support residents and rescue them if and when hurricanes make landfall. There are buses to move people to shelter sites, fire trucks, ambulances, inflatable boats, wave runners, and air boats—normal things. But there is some innovative equipment the county acquired for you.
Just 14 days prior to Milton, Hillborough County purchased four Sherps. These are all-terrain, amphibious, utility-task vehicles used for search and rescue. HCFR deployed one to pull Plant Citians out of flooded homes when the East Canal overflowed. Sherp tires are five feet high and the roof reaches 10 feet. The coolest thing about the $60,000 vehicles is that the tires provide enough buoyancy to float a Sherp. The deep, wide treads can serve as paddles, so a Sherp can traverse deep water if need be. In addition each tire holds an extra five gallons of gas to extend a Sherp’s time in the field. A rear tailgate drops to extend a bridge to stranded people so they can walk into the vehicle without having to get in dangerous waters. A ride along showed the vehicle easily climbs hills and navigates rough terrain. Manufactured in Ukraine, the 55 horsepower Sherps can climb 35-degree grades, clear 26 inches, go 25 mph on land, and four mph in water. The ATV can easily carry 11 rescued people at one time.
The Hillsborough County Office of Emergency Management also acquired a solar-powered mobile charging station that can be taken to communities impacted by a hurricane that have lost electricity. The station has 20 lockers with charging ports and electronic locks, so there is no confusion about whose devices are whose, and so they don’t get attached to sticky fingers when charging. The charging station also offers Wi-Fi access for up to 60 people at one time. When the three storage batteries are fully charged, the charging station will work for three to five days without being re-charged by the sun. The county owns three additional smaller solar trailers, and two solar charging tables.
Since, in some cases, electric vehicles can catch ablaze in flooding, and such fires cannot be easily extinguished with just water, HCFR also acquired technologically sophisticated blankets designed to extinguish electric vehicle fires.
“The year 2024 was an extreme season for us,” said Tim Dudley, Director of Emergency Management for Hillsborough County. “Those three storms were not direct hits. We often talk about the impacts from the center of the storm, but we still have to prepare, and not be complacent that it is not coming our way. Now we’ve learned that storms 100 miles off the coast, and 70 miles off the coast, back-to-back, will create the same impacts as if was coming directly toward us.
Now is the time to prepare, not a couple of days before a hurricane strikes when supplies are low and stress is high. It is important to create a kit of supplies for evacuation and for home. Kits should be put in containers that can be easily carried in a vehicle and put in a place with easy access. Some recommended items to include are:
• Three days’ worth of non-perishable food.
• Three days’ worth of water (one gallon of drinking water per person, per day).
• Flashlights with extra batteries.
• A waterproof container with cash and important documents.
• A manual can opener.
• A lighter or matches.
• A first-aid kit (include any prescription medications).
• A battery-operated radio (have extra batteries).
• Personal hygiene items and sanitation items.
• Fully charged, battery-powered, cell phone chargers.
As experienced Plant City residents know, during hurricane season, follow PC Weatherboy’s Facebook page to get solid hurricane forecasting well in advance of what normal news channels identify, and for specific forecasting for Plant City.
