Florida fire marshal warns SWFL: Don't wait to prepare for storms

NORTH NAPLES, Fla. (WINK) — Hurricane season is already underway, and Florida's top financial officer is urging residents not to wait until a storm is on the way to start preparing. 

Blaise Ingoglia, Chief Financial Officer of the State of Florida and the state's fire marshal, held a news conference to discuss what residents need to complete on their checklist ahead of a natural disaster. The main message was clear: do not wait until it's too late.

"Preparedness saves lives," North Collier Fire Deputy Chief Michael Jimenez said.

Although Southwest Florida hasn't experienced any major storms since Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Ingoglia says residents can never be too prepared. "We can be hopeful, but we still need to be vigilant," Ingoglia said. "We need to take proactive steps today, and that is one of the easiest ways to protect your loved ones and your property."

Naples neighbor Pedro Sainvil says he prepares every year when hurricane season rolls around. "Get water ready, flashlight, batteries, candles, skip route," Sainvil said. "Very important. Plan B is very important, and pray that everything goes well."

Ingoglia walked through the storm checklist, which he says everyone should complete before and after a natural disaster arrives. It includes knowing your evacuation and flood zones, gathering important documents and being careful of fraudulent contractors.

"Document every single thing you have because if there is ever an instance where there is a conflict between what you say the home was in, the shape it was in, or what you say was in the home, and what the insurance company says, you now have full documentation," Ingoglia said. "After the storm, report damage to your agent and insurance company, and keep a log of all communications with the insurance company adjusters."

As residents prepare at home, first responders are also thinking ahead. "After Ian, we realized that storm surge was, you know, one of the severe things that we had to worry about," Jimenez said. "So we adapted to that, and we made sure we had the proper vehicles, the proper training for different things that we had not seen in prior years."

Sainvil says once he gets all his affairs in order, all he can do is remain hopeful. "We pray for the best, but we just be prepared," Sainvil said. "That's all. Yeah, be prepared."

More information on how to prepare for a storm is available through WINK's 2026 Hurricane Guide.