East Hillsborough News

Tornadoes can cut across Hillsborough County with little to no warning. These violent whirlwinds can form over land or water, and wind speeds can reach over 200 mph. This is what makes them so deadly.

Drill for Preparedness

To help residents, organizations, and businesses prepare, the Tampa Bay Health & Medical Preparedness Coalition hosted The Great Tornado Drill on Wednesday, Feb. 8. 

Groups throughout the Tampa Bay region were invited to host a drill or discuss what actions to take if a tornado threatened.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue's Office of Emergency Management participated by hosting a tornado drill at the Public Safety Operations Complex. 

This team of professionals is responsible for developing the County's emergency plans for disasters or large-scale emergency events. 

Emergency managers also educate residents on what to do in the event of a disaster, tornadoes included.

Many of Florida's tornadoes happen during the spring and summer months, but the reality is they occur in all seasons. According to FloridaDisaster.org, time of day does not matter, either. A strong tornado can occur mid-afternoon or at midnight. The likelihood is the same.

Severe Weather Awareness

Visit Severe Weather Awareness Week 2023 Tips to gain insights on how to prepare for a tornado and other drastic weather conditions.

Hillsborough County's official notification system for emergency messages and urgent information is HCFL Alert. Sign up to receive messages by email, phone, and text at HCFLGov.net/HCFLAlert, or call (813) 272-6602.

For more information, including the County's Disaster Planning Guide, go to HCFLGov.net/StaySafe.

Original source can be found here.