Polk State encourages preparedness ahead of 2026 hurricane season
The 2026 hurricane season begins June 1, and Polk State College officials encourage students, faculty and staff to be prepared.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a below average season, with a likely range of eight to 14 named storms. Three to six could become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or greater, including one to three major hurricanes that are deemed Category 3 or greater. An average hurricane season generates seven hurricanes and 14 named storms.
Should any predicted storm pose a threat to Polk County or the surrounding area, Polk State officials will communicate regularly to assess forecasts and determine whether changes to College operations will be needed to ensure safety and security.
Polk State announces information related to changes in College operations via polk.edu, Polk State’s social media accounts, phone messages, text messages to students and employees and messages to Polk State email accounts, as well as through local TV, radio and newspaper outlets.
In advance of this hurricane season, Polk State encourages each student and employee to log in to the Polk Portal and check that all contact information is current.
To ensure that information is correct, staff and students will select the “Open General Dashboard” card, which will direct them to the “My Profile” page. Staff and students will then select the “Personal Information” option, which will display their email addresses and phone numbers.
If information is incorrect, students can request that it be corrected by emailing the Registrar’s Office at registrar@polk.edu. Employees who need information corrected should email Human Resources at hr@polk.edu.
In the event of a storm, facilities and security personnel remain vigilant and ensure that all buildings are safe and secure before welcoming students and employees back on campus.
The most important thing that a Polk State student or employee can do at the start of hurricane season is to think about personal preparations, such as obtaining critical resources, maintaining a list of contacts, determining evacuation routes and building survival kits.
Some suggested resources for preparedness include:
- Hurricane Preparedness, Employee Awareness – This brochure provides information for employees regarding hurricane preparations to assure the safety and security of students, employees and College property.
- Polk County Emergency Management – This site provides information regarding disaster preparedness and emergency public shelters, including pet-friendly and special-needs shelters.
- Florida Division of Emergency Management – This site provides information regarding emergency plans for disaster preparedness.
- National Hurricane Center – A division of the NOAA, the NHC provides watches, warnings, forecasts and analyses of hazardous tropical weather.
Florida’s Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday was eliminated in 2026, but a permanent exemption has been given for some disaster preparedness items such as batteries, portable generators, tarps, gas cans, tie-down kits, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.