Emergency officials in Tampa Bay Area urging residents to prepare for hurricanes [Video]

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Storms and heavy downpours caused flash flooding and major damage across Florida this week.

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a State of Emergency in Sarasota County and several counties in South Florida.

Emergency officials in Tampa Bay are urging people to get prepared for severe weather, as hurricane season just began.

Clearwater emergency officials held a hurricane preparedness expo on Saturday morning.

Clearwater officials say nearly 3,000 sandbags were distributed Saturday.

“Last year, we had that no-name storm,” Clearwater Emergency Management Division ChiefJevon Graham said. “It brought more flooding than some of the hurricanes we have, so it’s definitely a concern that we’re dealing with.”

Graham says flooding is one of their top concerns with any type of heavy rain or storm.

READ: Storm system in Gulf of Mexico could become a tropical depression in coming days

“Storm surge is one of the biggest issues that we deal with, with any storm that comes …