Tag: AMI Sun Hurricane Guide 2025
Prepare your hurricane kits now
MANATEE COUNTY – With the start of hurricane season on June 1, Manatee County reminds residents to stock disaster supply kits.
Recommended items are:
- First aid kit with bandages, antiseptic, tape, compresses, aspirin and aspirin-free pain relievers, antacid and important phone numbers;
- Flashlights and batteries for each family member;
- Portable radio and batteries;
- Mosquito repellent;
- Whistle and distress flag;
- Emergency charger for cell phones and other devices;
- Cash, as ATMs may not be operating;
- Charcoal, matches and grill (for outdoor use);
- Generator and fuel;
- Ice chest/cooler and ice;
- Plastic tarp, window screening, tools and nails;
- Non-electric can opener;
- Instant tire sealant;
- Fire extinguisher;
- Water purification kit;
- Clean-up supplies;
- Garbage can or bucket with tight-fitting lid and cat litter;
- Toilet paper, paper towels and pre-moistened towelettes or baby wipes;
- Up-to-date list of family medicines and dosages, along with a two-week supply of prescription medicines;
- Enough non-perishable food to feed your family and pets for at least 7 days, including special dietary foods or baby food and formula;
- One gallon of drinking water per person, per day, plus water for cooking and washing for 7 days;
- Extra batteries.
Hurricane shelters
The following hurricane shelters in Manatee County may be open depending on the direction and size of the storm. There are no assigned shelters, and few are furnished, so bring lawn chairs, cots, bedding and folding tables.
BRADEN RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL
6215 River Club Boulevard, Bradenton
BRADEN RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
6545 S.R. 70 E., Bradenton
BUFFALO CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL
7320 69th St. E., Palmetto
DAUGHTREY ELEMENTARY
515 63rd Ave. E., Bradenton
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
1306 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton
FREEDOM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
9515 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton
GULLETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
12125 44th Ave. E., Bradenton
HAILE MIDDLE SCHOOL
9501 S.R. 64 E., Bradenton
HARVEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
8610 115th Ave. E., Parrish
JOHNSON SCHOOL
2121 26th Ave. E., Bradenton
KINNAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
3415 Tallevast Road, Sarasota
LEE MIDDLE SCHOOL
4000 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton
MANATEE HIGH SCHOOL
1000 32nd St. W., Bradenton
MCNEAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
6325 Lorraine Road, Bradenton
MILLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
601 43rd St. W., Bradenton
MILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
7200 69th St. E., Palmetto
MONA JAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL
12205 44th Ave. E., Bradenton
MYAKKA CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City
NOLAN MIDDLE SCHOOL
6615 Greenbrook Blvd., Bradenton
ONECO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
5214 22nd St. Court E., Bradenton
PRINE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
3801 Southern Parkway, Bradenton
ROGERS GARDEN ELEMENTARY
515 13th Ave. W., Bradenton
SEABREEZE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
3601 71st St. W., Bradenton
TILLMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1415 29th St. E., Palmetto
WILLIAMS ELEMENTARY
3404 Fort Hamer Road, Parrish
WILLIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
14705 The Masters Ave., Bradenton
WITT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
200 Rye Road, Bradenton.
Stay connected
Here’s how to connect with local officials to receive up-to-date information about severe weather.
- Buy a weather radio, preferably one that uses batteries and has crank-power capabilities. Radio stations broadcast continuous updates and weather-related safety information from the closest National Weather Service office.
- Call the Florida Division of Emergency Management State Assistance and Information Line, or SAIL, at 800-342-3557. FDEM activates the toll-free hotline during emergencies.
- Connect with FDEM on social media. Follow FDEM on Twitter @FLSERT and find them on Facebook at facebook.com/FloridaSERT.
- Connect with local emergency managers on social media. Every Florida county has an emergency management office and many are active on social media. Floridians may search for and follow their community’s office on Twitter or Facebook to interact with them and get severe weather updates.
- Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts on mobile devices. Many cell phones are capable of receiving automatic WEAs that provide local emergency alerts. Floridians can receive WEAs at all times since cell network congestion does not affect messages and providers offer the service for free.
- Download the FEMA mobile app on your phone and set it to receive notifications.
- Pay attention to local media. Local radio, television and websites are great sources for continuous weather updates and advisories.
More hurricane tips
It’s easy to forget things when a hurricane is coming. Here are some reminders:
- Plan where you will evacuate in advance, and tell friends or family in other states.
- Register special needs residents in advance for county transportation to evacuation shelters.
- Check your insurance policies – wind, flood and liability – to make sure they are in effect.
- Find the elevation of your home and your evacuation zone at www.my.manatee.org.
- Anna Maria Island residents and business owners should obtain or locate their re-entry tags from their city before evacuating. They are available at Anna Maria City Hall, Bradenton Beach City Hall and the Holmes Beach Police Department. One tag per residence or business is issued.
- Consider buying a generator; ethanol-free gas to power generators is available at marinas.
- Find out where sandbags will be provided and stock up.
- Vacation rental agents should provide a hurricane guide in each rental unit during hurricane season.
- Bridges to Anna Maria Island may be closed as a hurricane approaches and water and electricity may be shut off, so evacuate when ordered.
- Turn off water, electric and gas mains when you leave to avoid broken pipes.
- Bring medicines, cash – both paper and coins for vending machines – and disaster kits to shelters.
- Research how to turn your cell phone into a wi-fi hotspot before you lose cell service.
- Research how to extend battery life on your cell phone before the battery goes dead or buy a spare battery pack for your phone; remember, you can also charge your phone in your car.
Prepare your home
Here’s some tips to secure your home, pool and yard before a storm.
HOME PREPARATION
- Install shutters on all openings, including windows, doors, sliding glass doors, French doors and garage doors
- If using plywood, purchase 5/8″ thick plywood well before a storm arrives, pre-measure, pre-drill and label each piece, or buy clips to attach plywood to window frames
- Install impact resistant windows
- Caulk or install weather stripping around windows
- Install three door hinges on outside doors
- Install deadbolts that extend one inch into the door jamb on outside doors
- Repair loose or missing roof shingles
- Inspect soffits for adequate fasteners
- Replace loose or missing soffits
- Outside, seal openings from air conditioning refrigerant lines, water heater pressure relief lines, water pipes, cable and satellite TV wires, telephone wires, Internet wires and exhaust fan vents from bathroom, kitchen, clothes dryer
- Inside, seal around electrical boxes and circuit breaker panels, electrical outlets, exhaust fan vents
- Bring loose items inside, including garbage cans, lawn furniture, decorations, hoses, hanging plants, grills
- Turn off or disconnect electric, gas, water and sewer before evacuating.
MOBILE HOME PREPARATION
- Inspect, repair or add tie-down straps and anchors according to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles standards
- Make sure straps are properly aligned and not on an angle
- Check to be sure the proper number of tie-downs have been installed properly
- Verify that ground anchors and stabilizer plates have been installed properly
- Be sure support piers are in contact with the frame
- Replace straps or ground anchors that show signs of corrosion or damage.
- Inspect and repair wood rot and termite damage in wall-to-floor connections, wall-to-roof connections, perimeter joists and trusses
- Inspect fasteners if home has a roof-over
- Close shutters
- Secure loose outdoor objects
- Turn off or disconnect electricity, gas, water and sewer
- Establish a community evacuation plan for your mobile home park
- Make a list of residents’ phone numbers, altern ate addresses
- Assign each neighbor a partner to help
