Official advice: Update emergency plans and contacts, check insurance, and pack disaster kits.
By Ramon Lopez
Original Air Date: June 6, 2025
Host: The 2025 hurricane season officially began last weekend. Local emergency management officials are urging residents to be prepared, and Ramon Lopez listened.
SPD officers assist residents in flooded Pinebrook near Phillippi Creek. Photo via Sarasota Police Department on Facebook.
Ramon Lopez: The area was heavily impacted by three severe storms in 2024. So Sarasota County Emergency Management is urging the community to take steps now to prepare for the 2025 hurricane season.
It began on June 1 and runs through the end of November. And forecasters are warning this year could once again bring an above-average number of deadly hurricanes and tropical storms.
As a result, Sarasota County emergency management officials urge residents to update their emergency plans, ensure contact information is current, check insurance coverage, consider flood insurance and assemble disaster “go” kits.
“As we recovery from Debby, Helene and Milton…We don’t know yet what this season will bring, so now is the time to take the steps needed to prepare for this year’s hurricanes,” says Sarasota County Emergency Services Director Rich Collins. “Understand the risks you may face, like storm surge and strong winds, and know your evacuation level,” he urges.
Rich Collins
Rich Collins: We saw in Helene four to six feet of storm surge across the barrier islands—that had never been seen before in the community—and then, just 12 days later, the potential of 12 to 15 feet. I think, as we reviewed this, that there are citizens that, “Well, we saw 10 feet of storm surge at Siesta during Milton.” We didn’t. It was only four to six feet again. But down in our south part of the county, Manasota Key, we did see 10 and 11 feet in a small area. So, we’re really focusing on folks understanding that, just because we say there’s 15 feet of storm surge, that could move well inland.
Sandra Tapfumaneyi
RL: Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi said “We saw last year how vital preparedness is, especially when every storm is different. So do not wait to gather your disaster supply kit items or make your plans,” she advises.
Useful tips include:
- Assess your risk level. Know when to evacuate as storm surge can travel for miles inland. Be prepared for extended power outages and severe flooding.
- Manufactured homes and RVs can’t withstand strong winds or heavy rain so are all included in evacuation level A.
- Map out an evacuation plan and put together a disaster kit that fits the specific needs of your household, including pets, for at least 10 days. A new state law requires pets to be evacuated to emergency shelters by their owners.
- Keep vehicle gas tanks at least half full during hurricane season to avoid gas shortages and long lines before a storm. Electric vehicles should be moved out of garages and away from homes before a hurricane hits. They catch fire when soaked by salt water.
For more information about how to prepare for hurricane season and available resources such as the county’s disaster preparedness guide, visit scgov.net/beprepared.
Sarasota County workers are preparing for the 2025 hurricane season.
This, after completing a Hurricane Season After-Action Review that identified the good, the bad and the ugly. That is, what disaster plans and operations worked well, what areas need improvement and the failed measures that are being reviewed and fixed in the wake of last year’s three major hurricanes.
County emergency service workers have launched a multi-phased effort to increase the county’s resilience to flooding and storm events. This includes better debris cleanup, enhancing disaster response equipment, and upgrading temporary staging areas for emergency response to ensure timely assistance.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Sarasota on Monday and spoke about the need for hurricane preparedness and the federal disaster response last year. He isn’t pleased with The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA.
Ron DeSantis
Ron DeSantis: One of the things that was the most frustrating for people is dealing with FEMA. FEMA, they want to be able to rebuild or this or that, and all of a sudden you have to go through this massive bureaucracy. Our view when we’re preparing and helping to meet the immediate needs and the state level is we do not want to get ground down in bureaucracy. That is the enemy of these things. I don’t know what FEMA is going to look like this hurricane season. I know that’s kind-of in flux. But certainly—hopefully, we don’t get anything.
RL: Meanwhile, Sarasota County may again try to buy the abandoned Gulf Gate golf course. It will pursue new appraisals on the property so it could be used to mitigate flooding and help clean stormwater before it drains into nearby waterways.
The county previously attempted to buy the 50 acres, but the owner’s asking price of $7 million was significantly higher than the county’s appraisal of $3.8 to $4.6 million.
And a possible roadblock is funding for the potential purchase that has not yet been identified. Another issue is elevated levels of arsenic and pesticides in the soil that will need cleanup.
County Commission Chairman Joe Neunder favors county acquisition of the shuttered golf course versus construction of 100 new houses there. Neunder said it would be a great project that has the backing of the Gulf Gate Community Association.
This is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Wednesdays and Fridays at 6pm.