![Santa Rosa County Emergency Operations Director Daniel Hahn — who facilitates natural disaster training — said, “What I really want citizens to know is every year is a new year, so do not be complacent. It only takes one storm to have a bad day … The most important thing to have during storm season is common sense, and that common sense tells you to have a stocked disaster kit.” [Special to the Press Gazette]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-4d4b77d6-453d-2e35-e053-0100007fe439-df24c69a.jpeg)
MILTON — Hurricane season begins June 1 and the Santa Rosa County Emergency Operations Center is preparing for severe weather.
Various local agencies have taken part in exercises with the EOC to be familiar with and improve communication between other organizations involved in aid before, during and after disasters ranging from hurricanes to tsunamis, according to Santa Rosa EOC Director Daniel Hahn.
The season should include 11 named storms, with two major hurricanes and four hurricanes, according to Dr. Phil Klotzbach, with the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project.
“What I really want citizens to know is every year is a new year, so do not be complacent,” he said. “It only takes one storm to have a bad day … The most important thing to have during storm season is common sense, and that common sense tells you to have a stocked disaster kit.”
Residents' supply kits should include:
- Water in plastic containers (enough to have one gallon per person per day)
- Non-perishable food (enough to last three days)
- First aid kit for the home and car
- A basic tool kit for temporary repairs
- Flashlights and a battery-operated radio
- Clothing and bedding in waterproof storage
- Household-specific items like baby needs and medication.
See www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency/supplies.cfm for more must-have items to weather the hurricane season.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: 7 items to weather hurricane season