MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — With the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season just days away, public officials gathered Tuesday at the National Hurricane Center in Miami-Dade County to remind residents across South Florida to prepare now and have a plan in place before a storm threatens the area.
Representatives from the Red Cross, NOAA, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spoke ahead of what forecasters predict could be a relatively normal — or even below-normal — hurricane season.
Still, officials stressed it only takes one storm to cause devastating damage.
“We had catastrophic Cat 5 Hurricane Andrew make landfall in 1992 in an otherwise very quiet hurricane season,” said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center. “It does not take a major hurricane making landfall directly in your community for there to be dangerous impacts. Whether it be the wind, storm surge, tornadoes, heavy rainfall, rip currents, all the hazards tropical storms can bring.”
Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said deputies are prepared to respond if storms threaten the region.
“We will increase patrols in vulnerable areas as storms approach, strengthen partnerships with our community organizations for resource distribution, prepare for swift evacuations while setting up emergency shelters,” Cordero-Stutz said. “You should know our deputies are fully prepared for evacuations and any other challenges that may arise.”
County officials also said they are working to help newcomers to South Florida prepare for hurricanes, including visitors expected for the FIFA World Cup.
The sheriff and regional emergency management officials said they have a detailed plan in place if a storm impacts the area during the international event.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.
Click here for more information on how to stay prepared for the Atlantic Hurricane Season with the Local 10 Weather Authority’s 2026 Hurricane Survival Guide in English and en Español.
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