Tropical Storm Bertha spared the Tampa Bay area, but Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says residents should treat the storm as a reminder that hurricane season is no longer hypothetical.
In the latest edition of her “Tampa Weekly” newsletter, Castor noted that Bertha was the first storm that Tampa Bay felt effects from during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. Bertha brought rough surf and dangerous rip currents to the region, forcing Clearwater lifeguards to pull more than a dozen swimmers from the water over two days.
“Bertha was our little nudge that hurricane season is not hypothetical anymore,” she wrote.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Bertha remained a tropical storm from July 19 through July 23. It made landfall July 22 near the Biloxi Wildlife Management Area in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, with sustained winds of up to 45 mph before moving into Texas.
According to the newsletter, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimates somewhere between eight and 14 named storms this season, with three to six becoming hurricanes and up to three of those turning into major storms.
Castor warned residents not to take too much comfort from NOAA’s outlook for a quieter-than-usual season.
“Below normal is good news on paper. It’s also exactly what forecasters said in 1992, the same year a ‘slow season’ produced Hurricane Andrew, so treat ‘below normal’ as a reason to prepare early, not a reason to skip it,” Castor said.
Castor offered residents three steps they can take now to prepare.
She encourages residents to begin purchasing emergency supplies early rather than waiting until a storm is approaching. Florida made several qualifying items permanently exempt from sales tax beginning in 2025 to replace the need to wait for a limited disaster-preparedness tax holiday.
The exemptions include certain batteries, generators, tarps, sunscreen, bug spray, life jackets and gas cans.
Castor also asks residents to sign up for Alert Tampa, the primary way the city reaches residents first for evacuation notices and other alerts that can’t wait for the evening news. Just text TAMPAREADY or TAMPALISTA (for Spanish) to 888-777 to enroll.
Lastly, Castor suggests that residents download the city of Tampa’s official Hurricane Guidebook, which she said is the first of its kind for the city. It includes essential emergency contact numbers, evacuation zone information and disaster preparedness checklists all in one easy-to-read book.
“Bertha was a warning shot, not a gut punch. Let’s keep it that way by being ready before the next one has a name. Prepped and proud, Mayor Jane,” she wrote.