Hurricane preparedness 2024: See the checklist [Video]

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The official start of hurricane season is less than a month away and forecasters are already predicting a busy season full of named storms. 

It’s too soon to tell if Florida or the Tampa Bay area will be affected, but it only takes one storm to cause a lot of damage to the area. 

But there’s good news: There’s still time to prepare, and the first full week of May is coincidentally dedicated to making sure you know what to do before, during and after a storm. 

Whether it’s your first hurricane season or you’re a seasoned veteran, we’ve broken down what you should know to help ensure you’re informed, prepared and connected.

Before any other preparations ahead of hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) says the first step you should take is figuring out your risk, particularly when …