The post Jane Castor urges Tampa residents to prep for hurricane season, study new evacuation zones appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
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There are new flood maps in Tampa, and Mayor Jane Castor is urging residents to know their new hurricane evacuation zones before hurricane season begins.
Castor highlighted the city’s new evacuation zones in her weekly newsletter. She urged residents to check for changes made since Hurricanes Helene and Milton that could affect them ahead of the upcoming hurricane season, which starts June 1.
The changes are more significant than in previous years, Castor said. Zone A expanded, some properties previously in Zone D are now in Zone C, and some neighborhoods that were not previously in an evacuation zone are now in Zone E because major storms could leave roads impassable and delay search-and-rescue access.
Castor also reminded residents that manufactured and mobile homes anywhere in Hillsborough County are always considered Zone A, regardless of where they are located.
“If your zone hasn’t changed, good. If it has, you need to know before June 1, not the day a storm is named,” Castor said in the newsletter.
The county’s updated evacuation zones come after Hurricanes Helene and Milton made landfall roughly two weeks apart, putting much of the region’s ability to handle storm surge, debris and power outages to the test.
Castor also noted her role on the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council, which released its final report last week listing 10 recommendations for changing how federal disaster aid reaches communities after storms. Those suggestions included faster direct funding, streamlined individual assistance and changes to federal disaster-aid criteria.
Castor said the current system is too slow and often leaves cities waiting months for assistance while residents are still dealing with the immediate aftermath of a disaster.
“Our recommendations push for faster, formula-based aid, so that when the next storm hits, Tampa doesn’t have to fight for what it’s already owed. Tampa went through Helene and Milton 13 days apart in 2024. That experience earned us a seat at that table, and we used it,” Castor said.
Castor said the city has also continued investing in infrastructure meant to withstand heavy rainfall and flooding, including stormwater system upgrades, pumping station improvements and emergency generator upgrades at fire stations. She also highlighted ongoing work on the South Howard Flood Relief Project and the Manhattan Avenue Stormwater Improvement Project, both of which are part of efforts to address flooding and drainage vulnerabilities.
The city is also preparing to release its first Tampa Hurricane Preparedness Guide, which Castor noted is specifically written for residents within city limits.
Castor urged residents to make use of the final days of May wisely ahead of hurricane season.
“Twenty-one days, Tampa. Let’s use them,” Castor said. “See you on the other side of November.”
Updated evacuation zones can be found online.
The post Jane Castor urges Tampa residents to prep for hurricane season, study new evacuation zones appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
