Governor DeSantis urges Floridians to prepare early for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season with updated safety and readiness guidance
Orlando, Florida – As the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins, Florida officials are once again pushing a familiar but urgent message: preparation saves lives, and waiting until a storm forms is already too late. This week in Orlando, state leaders gathered to urge residents, businesses, and communities to take early steps to get ready for potential impacts.
Governor Ron DeSantis joined Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) Executive Director Kevin Guthrie, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue, and Florida National Guard Major General John Hass to highlight the importance of readiness across the state. The message was simple but direct—every household should already have a plan in place and a disaster supply kit ready at home before any storm approaches.
Alongside the preparedness push, Governor DeSantis also announced the creation of a new statewide initiative called The Coalition for Operational Readiness in Education (CORE). The program is designed to strengthen Florida’s future emergency management workforce by linking state agencies, education systems, and private-sector partners in a coordinated effort.
“We have made historic investments in infrastructure hardening and emergency management,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today in Orlando, at the start of the Atlantic hurricane season, I was proud to announce another step to ensure that Florida remains the national model for disaster preparedness and recovery.”
The announcement came during the Third Annual Florida’s Training for Emergency Management Symposium, hosted by FDEM. The event brought together emergency managers, local officials, nonprofit groups, private-sector partners, and academic leaders from across Florida and beyond. Held in Orlando, the symposium coincided with the official start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season and focused heavily on training, coordination, and real-time response strategies.
For state emergency officials, the timing is critical. Florida has faced repeated storm threats in recent years, and leaders continue to stress that readiness is not just a seasonal task but a year-round responsibility.
“Preparedness starts long before a storm forms,” said FDEM Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “Through training, collaboration, and education, we are building stronger, more resilient communities and ensuring emergency management professionals are equipped to respond when disasters occur. Every exercise, workshop, and discussion strengthens our collective readiness for the season ahead.”
The newly launched CORE initiative is expected to play a long-term role in that effort. Officials say it will bring together the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Florida Department of Education, FloridaCommerce, higher education institutions, and private-sector partners. The goal is to create a stronger pipeline of trained professionals who can support emergency operations in the future.
As Florida continues to expand its emergency response capabilities, leaders are also focused on ensuring that new technology, training methods, and operational strategies keep pace with increasingly complex disaster scenarios. CORE is intended to connect classroom learning with real-world emergency management needs, preparing students and workers for careers in disaster response, recovery, and coordination.
State officials say this approach will help Florida maintain its position as a national leader in emergency preparedness and response. By investing in education and workforce development now, they hope to build a system that can respond faster and more effectively when disasters strike.
But while large-scale programs like CORE are focused on the future, officials emphasized that immediate preparedness remains the responsibility of every Floridian. Residents are being urged to take a series of practical steps known as Florida’s Five Steps to Hurricane Preparedness.
These include knowing whether a home is in an evacuation zone, making a family emergency plan, and building a disaster supply kit with essentials such as food, water, and medications. Officials also advise keeping vehicles at least halfway fueled throughout the season, in case evacuation becomes necessary with little notice.
Another key message is evacuation strategy. Residents are encouraged to follow official instructions and evacuate only short distances when directed, rather than attempting long and unnecessary travel that could create additional congestion and risk.
For businesses, the state is recommending early planning as well. Officials are urging owners to review continuity plans, secure important records, and take steps to protect facilities before storms threaten operations. Those with medical or functional needs are also encouraged to register for county-level Special Needs Registries to ensure access to assistance during emergencies.
The state has also made resources available online, including a full disaster supply checklist at FloridaDisaster.org/Kit and additional planning tools at FloridaMakeaPlan.com.
As hurricane season unfolds, Florida leaders continue to frame preparedness as a shared responsibility between government agencies and the public. The message delivered in Orlando this week was consistent across all speakers: readiness is not optional, and preparation made today can determine safety tomorrow.
With new initiatives like CORE and ongoing public awareness campaigns, state officials say Florida is aiming to strengthen both its immediate response capabilities and its long-term resilience. For residents, however, the focus remains more personal—building a plan, gathering supplies, and staying alert long before the first storm forms in the Atlantic.
