City of Gulfport Hurricane Center

Before the Storm

The first action that everyone should take is to HAVE A PLAN. Be prepare and have a hurricane or disaster kit on hand. Take the necessary steps to prepare yourself, your family, and your home and business in the event that you need to evacuate. Do not wait until a storm approaches; know your zone and make a plan now.

• Sign up to receive emergency notifications.
• Know Your Zone and learn your hurricane evacuation level
• Review Pinellas County’s Hurricane Guide
• Build your kit.
• Know Your Risk

Special Needs Registry Program

If you need assistance during an evacuation for yourself or a relative/friend, call Gulfport Fire & Rescue at (727) 893-1062. This program can prevent hurricane-related injuries and death of the special needs population of the City of Gulfport.

PET PREPAREDNESS

When preparing your family and home for a storm, it is important you include your pets. If you plan to evacuate, plan for your pet as well. Do not take unnecessary risks during a storm and please DO NOT LEAVE YOUR ANIMALS BEHIND IF YOU EVACUATE.

During a Storm event – Be prepared to evacuate, if necessary. Monitor the appropriate news channels for instructions. Find out how to get alerts from your cell phone when the power is out. Plan on three to seven days of uncertainty, depending on the storm, and be prepared with enough supplies in your storm emergency kit (food, water, medications, and entertainment).

Follow the instructions in the Hurricane guide for what to do and when to act.

The City of Gulfport will provide storm-related information through our communication emails and social media channels.

Important information such as:

• What Shelters are opening
• What Evacuation orders are called
• Information on how to report power outages
• What City Facilities / Services are closed / cancelled.

Important information, following a storm event, there may be non-working traffic signals in the City. If you encounter an inoperable signal, approach the intersection as a four-way stop.

After the storm passes, use a battery-powered radio to listen for news reports about damage, road closures, power outages, and other emergency instructions.

Continue to follow the City of Gulfport on social media for updates.

Communication is key!

It is important to be registered to receive the City’s storm-related information through our communications emails and social media channels.

On this page, mygulfport.us/hurricane-center, we link you to vital information that will help you before, during, and after the storm.

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After the storm, the City will provide additional resources to address debris collection as residents recover from the storm aftermath.

In addition, these important tools to help business owners and residents make decisions are located on the Hurricane Center page.

• https://pinellas.gov/evacuation-zone/
  • Knowing your evacuation zone is the first step to planning for an emergency. It helps you make decisions about the safety of yourself and your family, and make plans in advance of a storm. Once you know your zone, review other guides that can help you Know Your Risk, Make a Plan, Stay Informed and Get Involved.
    • https://pinellas.gov/know-your-risk/
• https://pinellas.gov/make-a-plan/
  • Once you Know Your Risk, you can Make A Plan for how to respond if a hazard is threatening your safety. Your plan should include everyone in your family—adults, children, people with special needs and pets. You can also include your neighbors, friends or extended family in your plan. If you are interested in helping others prepare for and recover from a disaster, visit with Jim Wright, the Volunteer Coordinator, Gulfport CERT team.
• https://pinellas.gov/stay-informed/
  • In the 2023 Ready-Set-Protect Webinar Series, Pinellas County Emergency Management and affiliated community partners discuss preparation, evacuation zones, emergency shelter options, special needs, and insurance considerations, providing information and resources to assist the community in best preparing for hurricane season.
  • Watch the video located here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGE0pkjolm8
• https://pinellas.gov/make-a-plan/build-your-emergency-kit/
  • Assembling an emergency kit now can help you make sure you and your family have what you need in an emergency. Keep these items ready to go in case you need them on a moment’s notice.

BE STONG, BE RESILIENT, BE SUCCESSFUL

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Alert Pinellas – Emergency and Community Notification Service for Pinellas County and the City of Gulfport, Florida. This system enables the City to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of delivery methods. It’s easy to sign up for this FREE service. Visit mygulfport.us/alertpinellas for more information.

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Email News Signup –  Receive City of Gulfport emergency announcements electronically in your email inbox. Visit, mygulfport.us/enews or click here (email news signup green button) and follow the prompts to register your email address with the City.

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City of Gulfport, Florida Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mygulfport. Announcements and information are disseminated on social media so followers receive timely and accurate information.

• General City of Gulfport Information | info@mygulfport.us or (727)893-1000
• City Clerk/Records Custodian | ldemuth@mygulfport.us or (727)893-1012
• City Manager | CityManager@mygulfport.us or (727)893-1009
• Human Resources | sfarrell@mygulfport.us or (727)893-1021
• Utility, Water, and Sewer billing questions | utilitiesinfo@mygulfport.us or (727)893-1016
• Sanitation and Recycling | publicworksinfo@mygulfport.us or (727)893-1090
• Parks Department | tconner@mygulfport.us or (727)893-1092
• Municipal Marina | dfrain@mygulfport.us or (727)893-1071
• Building Department and Community Development | permits@mygulfport.us or (727)893-1024
• Gulfport Public Library | libraryinfo@mygulfport.us or (727)893-1074
• Gulfport Recreation Center | mgutierrez@mygulfport.us or (727)893-1068
• Cultural Facilities and Events | casinoinfo@mygulfport.us or (727) 893-1070
• Gulfport Senior Center | GPSeniorCenter@mygulfport.us or (727) 893-5657
  • GEMS Transportation Service | (727)893-2242

In the case of a fire, police or medical emergency, call 9-1-1.

• • https://pinellas.gov/evacuation-zone/
    • Knowing your evacuation zone is the first step to planning for an emergency. It helps you make decisions about the safety of yourself and your family, and make plans in advance of a storm. Once you know your zone, review other guides that can help you Know Your Risk, Make a Plan, Stay Informed and Get Involved.
  • https://pinellas.gov/know-your-risk/
  • https://pinellas.gov/make-a-plan/
    • Once you Know Your Risk, you can Make A Plan for how to respond if a hazard is threatening your safety. Your plan should include everyone in your family—adults, children, people with special needs and pets. You can also include your neighbors, friends or extended family in your plan. If you are interested in helping others prepare for and recover from a disaster, visit with Jim Wright, the Volunteer Coordinator, Gulfport CERT team.
  • https://pinellas.gov/stay-informed/
    • In the 2023 Ready-Set-Protect Webinar Series, Pinellas County Emergency Management and affiliated community partners discuss preparation, evacuation zones, emergency shelter options, special needs, and insurance considerations, providing information and resources to assist the community in best preparing for hurricane season.
      • Watch the video located here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGE0pkjolm8
    • https://pinellas.gov/make-a-plan/build-your-emergency-kit/
      • Assembling an emergency kit now can help you make sure you and your family have what you need in an emergency. To simplify the process, Pinellas County Emergency Management recommends that you keep these items ready to go in case you need them on a moment’s notice.

The Ready Business Hurricane Toolkit helps leaders take action to protect employees, protect customers, and help ensure business continuity as well.

• Hurricane Ready Business Toolkit

The Special Needs Registry Program can prevent hurricane-related injuries and death of the special needs population of the City of Gulfport.

What is the Special Needs Registry Program?

The Special Needs Registry Program assists Florida citizens with special needs (mentally or physically challenged individuals) with transportation and sheltering during an evacuation.  It is a state-mandated program created in 1993 (F.S. 252.355). This program is for those who have tried everything possible to accommodate themselves and no options exists.

How the Special Needs Registry Program works

Call Gulfport Fire & Rescue at (727) 893-1062 and ask for the Special Needs Registry Program or click the following link to register, https://pinellas.gov/special-needs/.

If an evacuation order is issued, services will be provided to you.

• You must be packed and ready to go.
•  You will be taken to a public shelter (i.e. nursing home, school, or hospital).
• You must bring something on which to sit/lay down on.
• You must bring instructions for your care if needed.
• You must bring a 72-hour supply of any special dietary or medical needs.

If you need information for yourself or a relative/friend, call (727) 893-1062 today. You are encouraged to register before the start of the hurricane season (June 1st).

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• FL511.com for tools on traffic information statewide, regional or roadway-specific; Florida 511 mobile app; Twitter @fl511_tampabay; or call 511 toll free for updates in English and Spanish. 
• View road closures
• Pinellas County roadway conditions on Twitter: @pinellastraffic

The City of Gulfport is located on the shores of Boca Ciega Bay which is a major source of flooding in the City. The upland areas of Gulfport are characterized by flat terrain that slopes from an elevation of sea level to three feet in various locations along the waterfront to nearly forty feet in the northeast area of the City. The low lying and flat areas throughout the City are subject to freshwater flooding from street and yard runoff. Approximately one-third of the City is located within the 100-year floodplain mapped and adopted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Since all of the high density condominiums within the City are located in the 100-year floodplain, most of Gulfport’s population is vulnerable and at risk of flooding. Therefore, being prepared for a storm or flooding conditions, which includes your residence, is vitally important. The flood hazard map, or Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), included below was revised by FEMA and adopted by the City in 2003. The 100-year floodplain is where properties may experience flooding during 100-year and 500-year flood events and other major storms. Although the FIRM has a 2003 date, below is the most up-to-date flood map.

Despite the significant improvements in Gulfport’s storm drainage systems throughout the city, freshwater flooding problems due to rainfall are still evident in the low lying sections of town. Causes contributing to the flooding include stormwater runoff created by and low ground elevations resulting in salt water flooding backing up through the storm sewer system from high tides of Boca Ciega Bay. Many times, rain will saturate the ground to a point where the ground will no longer absorb the water. With nowhere to go, the water will then add to the street, sidewalk and driveway runoff. Ponding of the water will begin to grow. Finally, the water will flood yards, encroach toward homes. If the rainfall is heavy or falls over a long period of time, the flood waters will enter homes. The FIRM’s that show local flood hazard areas within the City can be viewed at the Gulfport Municipal Library and at the Community Development Department in the City Hall Complex. Also, the Community Development Department has historic and current Flood Insurance Rate Maps for viewing and for map information purposes.

• American Red Cross
• Hurricane and Flood Mitigation
• Florida Community Emergency Response Team
• Florida Department of Financial Services
• Florida Office of Insurance Regulation for Hurricane (assistance) Updates

• Pinellas County Kids Corner

• Ready.gov Youth Preparedness

• Children and Youth Preparedness Social Media Toolkit

Many sources of information exist that can be tapped into to answer these questions. Some of the best sites include:

• fema.gov – the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, for preparation, planning, communication plans, emergency or hurricane kits, mitigation, and flood insurance.
• floridadisaster.org – the Florida Division of Emergency Management for family, home and business disaster mitigation preparation.
• nhc.noaa.gov – the National Hurricane Center for tropical weather information.
• noaa.gov – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for national and local weather alerts.
• floodsmart.gov – for information regarding flood insurance.
• pinellascounty.org – for evacuation level maps.
• ready.gov – for information regarding hurricane preparations.
• flash.org – the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes for information regarding strengthening homes and safeguarding families.

Pinellas County Resources

Pinellas County Emergency Management (727) 464-3800

Residents are encouraged to call (727) 464-4333 for information throughout a storm threat.

City of Gulfport

Watch GTV640, the City’s government cable access channel 640. (Spectrum Cable Only) 

The Citizen Call Center is only activated during a storm threat. (727) 893-1000.

National Hurricane Center

Central Florida Hurricane Center

NWS Tampa Bay Area Radar

Local Tide Chart

Buoy reports from NOAA

FOX 13 Tropical Weather

Bay News 9 Tropical Weather

Tampa Bay 10 Tropical Weather

Local television stations within the Tampa Bay area that broadcast the emergency information, along with their internet websites, include: