Hurricane season begins on June 1.
With that in mind, the American Red Cross's Tampa Bay chapter is urging residents to use precaution and be mindful of safety tips that could help them during the season, with ends November 30.
The 2016 Atlantic hurricane season forecast estimates 12 named storms, five hurricanes and two major hurricanes this season.
Here are some tips the Red Cross offered to get ready:
-Building an emergency kit with water, food, flashlight, battery-powered radio, first aid kit, medications, copies of important papers, extra cash and maps of the area, among other items.
-Talk with members of your household about an evacuation plan, and practice it before an emergency.
-Be informed about your community's hurricane response plan, and plan routes to local shelters. Also, make plans for pets.
