City expands hurricane guide for year-round emergency preparedness
Published on September 10, 2026
As the Atlantic hurricane season enters what are typically its busiest months, the City of Gainesville has expanded its hurricane preparedness brochure into a comprehensive guide to help residents prepare year-round for a range of emergencies.
The new GNV Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Resource guide now includes additional information to help neighbors make safe decisions in the event of thunderstorms and lightning, hazardous materials incidents, flooding, tornadoes, wildfires and extreme weather.
Also new to the guide is a household budgeting worksheet to help people take a first step toward financial readiness as part of emergency planning. Natural and man-made disasters can impact families through unexpected expenses, loss of income and other financial strains.
“Being financially prepared is another important part of being ready for unexpected emergencies that can lead to long-term financial consequences,” said Gainesville Fire Rescue District Chief Sean Withers.
Expansion of the guide was made possible through a 2024 grant to the City of Gainesville tied to the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund’s Emergency Financial Empowerment initiative, which represents a new partnership between emergency management and financial empowerment. The collaboration is designed to help ensure residents can access supportive resources, especially those who may be more vulnerable to the impacts of disasters.
“The CFE Fund is thrilled to work together with local governments and incorporate the array of public and community financial empowerment resources to support individual and family finances for emergencies,” said Jonathan Mintz, president and CEO of the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, in a 2024 announcement.
The guide also lists key emergency contact information and resources and is available online in English and Spanish at SafeGNV.org. Printed copies are available at Gainesville City Hall. Residents are encouraged to sign up for local emergency notifications at alertGNV.org.