FEMA offers tips to prevent flooding

A few opportunities remain for do-it-yourselfers and contractors alike to learn how to get a jump on hurricane preparedness through a series of information sessions taking place daily through March 29 at a Lakewood Ranch area home-improvement store.

Experts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, alongside insurance specialists, will answer questions and offer repair and remodeling tips to prevent or reduce damage from future storms.

The event is taking place at the Lowes Home Improvement location at 7395 52nd Place East. That’s just west of the intersection of Interstate 75 and State Road 70, adjacent to the Tara community.

Sessions for homeowners and professionals run from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

The expert information will focus on mitigation best practices and projects that can be accomplished by DIYers. Insurance adjusters will also be on hand to discuss the National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA Survivor Assistance teams will also take part in the event.

Among the easiest and most effective preparations homeowners can make, according to a FEMA spokeswoman, are:

• Avoiding power surges: Either by disconnecting electrical devices before the storm or by connecting them to surge protectors. Whole-house systems can be installed by a professional or individual devices can be connected to smaller-scale protectors available at retail locations.
• Keeping up with nearby vegetation: On a broad scale, homeowners should be wary of any tree within falling distance. If such threats can’t be eliminated practically, dead, damaged or overhanging limbs should be pruned ahead of each storm season.
• Sealing out wind and water: Wind-driven rain can find its way into small openings. In a prolonged storm, this can create problems. FEMA recommends examining doors, windows and openings for pipes or cables and sealing them.

Courtesy image

Early forecasts for the 2025 season indicate a near-normal outlook, with 15 named storms, seven of which would become hurricanes, and three major hurricanes. There were 18 named storms in 2024.

Coastal residents and those inland will have new resources with which to monitor storms and assess risk. The National Hurricane Center in 2025 plans to issue advisories on threatening storms as early as 72 hours before landfall, as opposed to a maximum of 48 hours. Also, changes in the NHC’s familiar maps will take on a new look for the upcoming season.

The so-called cone of uncertainty will shrink by as much as 6 percent, reflecting higher confidence in the accuracy of landfall predictions. The maps will also display representations of inland watches and warnings, which previously had not been shown.

Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton all landed on Florida’s west coast — Milton near Siesta Key. Lakewood Ranch received unprecedented flooding due to the huge amounts of rainfall delivered by Debby. Neighborhoods that never had seen flooding before experienced it after up to 16 inches of rain fell in less than 48 hours.

Neighborhoods all along the Braden and Manatee rivers, as well as streams that feed those rivers, were inundated with floodwaters.

Photo by Liz Ramos

Damage estimates along the west coast of Florida exceeded $1 billion. Some of the most common failure points on Florida properties during the 2024 storms were:

• Windows: Storm shutters, shatter-resistant film and impact glass can make windows more likely to remain undamaged.
• Garage doors: Those not up to current codes should be replaced or reinforced.
• Double-entry doors: Beefed up deadbolts or slide bolts that extend into the foundation or door frame can help secure them from the pressure of high winds.
• Roofing: A pre-hurricane season inspection can spot loose shingles or other trouble spots. Hurricane straps, which connect walls to roof trusses, can be strengthened by a professional to current code requirements.

Tropical-weather season opens June 1 and lasts six months through November.