FEMA Region IV Administrator Delivers Remarks Before the 20th Anniversary of Florida’s Historic Storm Season

WASHINGTON -- FEMA and the National Hurricane Center are joining more than 2,000 emergency managers, volunteer partners and private sector organizations for this year’s National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, Florida.

The conference is being held in the state where 20 years ago, four major hurricanes -- Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne -- hit within a six-week time frame and affected nearly every part of the state, damaging at least 20% of the state’s housing stock and killing more than 100 residents. Each storm brought new lessons about the threats of storm surge, inland flooding and compounding hazards.   

FEMA Region 4 Regional Administrator Robert Samaan, who spoke in the general session, referenced 2024 being the agency’s year of resilience and said past storms are one of the main reasons why the agency is investing record amounts of money into helping local communities build infrastructure stronger. 

“Looking back at the 2004 hurricanes and the nearly $3.7 billion FEMA spent rebuilding lives and communities, we are working now on allocating an unprecedented amount of pre-disaster mitigation funds to make communities safer before the storm,” said Regional Administrator Samaan. “Smart spending can help reduce future costs, particularly in repetitive flood loss.”

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Regional Administrator Robert Samaan speaks alongside the National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan (right) and Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie (left) during a press conference at the National Hurricane Conference. (FEMA photo)

National Hurricane Center Director Mike Brennan opened the conference's general session highlighting statistics from 2017 to 2023, when 20 hurricanes made landfall in the United States, with nine of them being major storms, in addition to 20 tropical systems making landfall. Brennan spoke about important forecast changes coming in 2024, and his advice for local meteorologists.

Anticipating a highly active 2024 hurricane season, FEMA and the National Hurricane Center meteorologists urge people in hurricane-prone areas to prepare themselves, their families and their homes for potentially devastating storms: know your risks; make a plan; pay attention to alerts and local officials; and evacuate immediately if told to do so.

Most importantly, individuals can take the following steps to help be more prepared ahead of the start of hurricane season: 

• Sign up for local alerts, monitor local news and weather reports and download the free FEMA App. The app allows you to receive real-time weather alerts for up to five different locations nationwide and receive preparedness tips. 
• Make sure everyone in your household knows and understands what to do in case of an emergency. Begin filling out your emergency plan today by visiting Ready.gov’s online “Make a Plan” fillable form. The plan allows you to store all your important emergency information in a digital file on your phone, or email to other family members. 
• If you don’t have one, begin building an emergency kit of supplies you and your family may need in case of an emergency. Your kit should include supplies you may need at home, as well as items you may need if you must evacuate quickly to a safer location, and include items each member of your family may need, for several days. 
• Additional information on preparing ahead of the season is available in several different languages at Hurricanes | Ready.gov.