TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis is recognizing September as National Preparedness Month (NPM). NPM is recognized each September to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year. The 2021 theme is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.”

CFO Jimmy Patronis said, “It is critical for Floridians to be prepared for the next disaster and that is why I am recognizing September as National Preparedness Month. This year is especially important for Floridians to prepare since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently released their latest hurricane outlook and it called for even greater odds for an above-average hurricane season, with 13 to 20 named storms and seven to 10 hurricanes. Florida was recently spared from Hurricane Ida, but we cannot let our guard down. We are currently in the peak of hurricane season, so now is the time to prepare if you have not done so already. As we have seen in the past, storms can develop extremely fast leaving little to no time to prepare. Visit PrepareFL.com for important storm tips and resources.”

CFO Patronis’ Insurance Consumer Helpline is available to assist Floridians with insurance-related questions, help you review your policy, understand your coverage, file a claim for damage and offer assistance in the event that you are having trouble communicating with your insurance company. Call the toll-free helpline at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236), to talk to a knowledgeable insurance specialist Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit MyFloridaCFO.com.

For additional hurricane financial preparedness tips or resources, visit PrepareFL.com.

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About CFO Jimmy Patronis 
Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis is a statewide elected official and a member of Florida’s Cabinet who oversees the Department of Financial Services. CFO Patronis works each day to fight insurance fraud, support Florida’s firefighters, and ensure the state’s finances are stable to support economic growth in the state. Follow the activities of the Department on Facebook (FLDFS) and X (@FLDFS).