Emergency officials warn against complacency this hurricane season
Published on May 29, 2026
Last year’s Atlantic hurricane season was an unusually quiet one, with no hurricanes making landfall in the United States for the first time since 2015. In Florida, no tropical storms reached shore.
Could that stretch continue during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1? The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts below-normal activity, forecasting 8-14 named storms and 3-6 hurricanes, including 1-3 major hurricanes.
Still, Gainesville emergency management officials urge residents to prepare for this hurricane season as they would any other year.
“The seasonal outlook is below normal but it’s not the time to let down your guard,” said Gainesville Fire Rescue District Chief Sean Withers. “It only takes one storm to cause major damage.”
To help neighbors prepare, the City of Gainesville’s hurricane preparedness brochure, “Prepare and Weather the Storm,” is available for download in both English and Spanish on sidebar of the Emergency Management webpage.
The guide includes recommended emergency supply kit items, steps for creating an emergency plan, key emergency contacts and links to trusted resources.
“Remember to print copies of your homeowners and auto insurance policies and other important documents for family members and pets, especially if you’re coverage has changed since last year,” Withers said.
Residents also are encouraged to sign up for local emergency notifications at alertGNV.org.
“Preparing now for hurricane season — and not waiting for a storm to threaten — is essential for staying ahead of any storm,” said NOAA National Weather Service Director Ken Graham.
Hurricane preparedness also is among the subjects discussed on the June episode of "GNV On The Move," the city’s monthly television program. The episode will air at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 6 on Cox Cable Channel 12, and at 5 p.m. Saturday, June 13 on WUFT-TV. It also will be available on demand through Roku and Amazon streaming platforms and on the City of Gainesville YouTube channel.