Counties across the Tampa Bay area are opening emergency shelters ahead of Hurricane Milton. View the current list.

Living in a flood zone requires proactive preparation that goes beyond hoping for the best. These products can help.

That’s the case for Visit Central Florida — which is hosting its free annual Hurricane Prep Week. Visit Central Florida is equipping every family that stops by this week with a bag of resources.

An area of low pressure continues to move west across the Florida Panhandle as it brings rain and thunderstorms mainly south of its center, the National Hurricane Center said.

City and county officials in the Tampa Bay area — as well as Florida's top officials — are urging residents to take action ahead of time before storms threaten.