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County emergency staff outline readiness steps for upcoming hurricane season
Summary
Hillsborough County emergency management and fire‑rescue leaders reported on preparations before the June 1 start of hurricane season: damage‑assessment software, pump and generator acquisitions, sandbag inventory, shelter readiness, debris contract negotiations and public outreach were highlighted.
With 11 days to the official start of the 2025 hurricane season, Hillsborough County emergency‑management and fire‑rescue officials briefed commissioners on steps taken to prepare for storms, including operational improvements and equipment purchases.
Chief Dougherty and Emergency Management Director Tim Dudley said staff had completed an after‑action review from last year’s storms, expanded damage‑assessment capabilities with CrisisTrack software, increased sandbag production and stockpiles, and pre‑positioned heavy equipment and mobile generators. Dudley said the county added fuel trailers and negotiated emergency contracts to secure up to 50 high‑capacity pumps, and that parks and conservation crews had produced 60,000 sandbags with plans to make an additional 10,000 by July.
Officials said shelter readiness teams have completed training and that the county will continue public‑education efforts, including Make‑a‑Plan Monday outreach and multilingual signage at shelters. The county is also photographing solid‑waste sites and coordinating hazardous‑materials messaging to speed post‑storm recovery and FEMA documentation.
County Administrator Bonnie Wise thanked staff and announced that Tim Dudley received a regional public‑administrator award for his work. Commissioners praised staff readiness and urged residents to review preparedness materials published by the county.
No board votes were required; staff said work will continue across departments to close remaining gaps prior to June 1.
