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WUSF is part of the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network, which provides up-to-the minute weather and news reports during severe weather events on radio, online and on social media for 13 Florida Public Media stations. It’s available on WUSF 89.7 FM, online at WUSF.org and through the free Florida Storms app, which provides geotargeted live forecasts, information about evacuation routes and shelters, and live local radio streams.

The difference between calm and chaos during hurricane season

Photo via FEMA

In Florida, hurricane preparation works best when it begins before the season ever tests it—even a small step now can lower risk and reduce pressure later.

The final takeaway from hurricane prep week may be the broadest—and the most important: start now.
In Florida, where no two seasons look exactly alike and no two storms leave the same kind of mark, the people in the strongest position are usually the ones who made decisions early—before the forecast turned urgent, before the roads filled, and before the pressure set in. Here's meteorologist Leslie Hudson with more:

And finally, remember: the goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress—because even one step taken early can change how safely and confidently you move through the next storm.

Leslie Hudson is an experienced Multimedia Journalist and Digital Meteorologist whose career is marked by significant professional milestones. A trailblazer in the industry, she holds the distinction of being the first female AMS meteorologist in the Orlando market. Her extensive background in public safety and emergency management led to her being appointed by Florida’s Governor to the State of Florida’s Hurricane Catastrophic Fund Council from 2002 to 2007. Notably, she was the sole meteorologist in the state selected for this prestigious council.
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