Hardee County Emergency Management

06/01/2026

🌀 Today marks the official start of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season! As you navigate the road to being prepared, make sure you plan for each stop below!

1. Know Your Zone, Know Your Home
2.
3. Build a Disaster Supply Kit
4. If You’re Halfway Full, You're Halfway There
5. You Only Need to Evacuate Tens of Miles, Not Hundreds

Visit FloridaDisaster.org for more

05/04/2026

🧰 Having your supplies ready ahead of a storm helps you stay safe, comfortable & self-sufficient if power or services are disrupted.

Be sure to restock with the basics this Florida Hurricane Preparedness Week:
✔️ Water (one gallon per person, per day)
✔️ Non-perishable food
✔️ Flashlights & extra batteries
✔️ Medications & important documents
✔️ Emergency weather radio

Think about your household’s specific needs—pets, kids, or medical equipment & plan accordingly.

🎒 Build it now, so you’re ready later. Get the full checklist at FloridaDisaster.org/Kit.

04/27/2026

🌀 We’re 5 weeks away from the start of the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season!

Now is the time to review your plan & make necessary preparations.

📘 Use our Hurricane Guide to help you get ready at FloridaDisaster.org/Guide.

04/15/2026

🚨 Hardee County Emergency Management is looking for residents who want to step up and serve their community.

We are exploring a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program and want to know if you’d be interested in participating.

CERT members are trained to assist with disaster response, support first responders, and help their neighbors when it matters most.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please complete our short survey. Scan the QR code or find the survey link in the comments below.

04/15/2026

Hardee County Emergency Management is gearing up for our All-Hazards Expo, and we’re looking for community partners to join us.

Event Information:
May 9, 2026
9 AM – 1 PM
Hardee County Civic Center

This free, family-friendly event connects residents with the resources they need to prepare for hurricanes, severe weather, and more.

We’re seeking partners who can share:
✔️ Safety tips & preparedness resources
✔️ Interactive displays or demos
✔️ Community services & support

No cost to participate. Just show up ready to make a difference.

For more information, please call us (863) 773-6373 or email [email protected]

Let’s help our community stay ready—before the next disaster hits.

04/13/2026

📢ANNOUNCEMENT📢
Burn ban has been lifted for Hardee County residents. However, caution is still strongly encouraged when conducting debris burning, including monitoring wind conditions, surrounding vegetation, and using proper control measures.

Hardee County Fire Rescue will continue to monitor conditions in the event that drought conditions worsen, or fire risk increases and will make recommendations as necessary to protect public safety.

03/12/2026

📢 The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering low interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit organizations that experienced economic losses due to the frost and freeze that occurred January 23 – February 5. Hardee County is included in the disaster declaration.
These Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) are available to help eligible businesses and nonprofits cover working capital needs caused by the disaster, including expenses such as payroll, fixed debts, accounts payable, and other bills that could not be paid due to the event. Businesses may qualify even if they did not experience physical damage.
Loan amounts may be up to $2 million, with interest rates as low as 4% for small businesses and 3.625% for private nonprofits, and terms of up to 30 years. Payments are not due for 12 months after the first loan disbursement.
Businesses and nonprofits can apply online at sba.gov/disaster or contact SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 for more information.
The deadline to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is November 4.

03/06/2026

⏰ Daylight Saving Time Begins on Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m. Set your clocks FORWARD one hour before bed next Saturday night.

02/24/2026