Hurricane season begins on June 1, and it is important for all of us living in Florida to begin our pre-season preparations now.

Did you know there are proactive steps you can take to get ready for the 2023 hurricane season and support flood control in your neighborhood? In recognition of National Hurricane Preparedness Week, we’re highlighting ways you can prepare your home and help keep water flowing through our interconnected drainage system. They include:

• Making sure drainage gates, ditches and swales in your neighborhood are clear of debris.
• Trimming your trees and removing dead vegetation in your yard. Do not trim trees if a major storm is in the forecast.

• Securing and storing objects that can easily blow away.
• Checking your community retention pond or lake for obstructed pipes and contact the appropriate authority for removal (could be your HOA, city, county, or local drainage district).
• Finding out who is responsible for drainage in your community. Visit SFWMD.gov/FloodControl.
• Making a personal plan for hurricane preparedness. Learn more at Floridadisaster.org.

As hurricane season approaches, the SFWMD may take a number of steps to ensure the primary system can receive rainwater from local drainage systems. If a major storm is approaching the region, you may see canals or lakes that are lower than normal. This is because our water managers will temporarily “draw down” the system to create more room for anticipated storm water.

SFWMD water managers and field stations work throughout Central and South Florida to keep the water management system ready for whatever nature sends our way, whether that’s a typical summer rainstorm or a more intense storm event such as a hurricane.