Last Thing Florida Wants To Hear Right Now

We're only a day or so removed from Hurricane Debby's visit to Florida. And here we go again?

There are still some roads closed but the Howard Frankland Bridge and Sunshine Skyway Bridges are finally back open. The sun is back out this morning. Most have their power back. And then comes the news that there's a new system weather watchers are monitoring that's firing up in the tropics.

According to WeatherNation, the National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on a tropical wave in the Atlantic Basin right now. It doesn't have a name yet, but if it gets one, it'll be Ernesto or Francine. The path of this one is yet to be determined but the initial graphs show it heading toward Puerto Rico and we know very well what's in that direct line after Puerto Rico.

We were pretty fortunate with Debby. She was just a tropical storm when she passed by Tampa Bay. But that's the thing. Debby was 75 miles off our coast. And it wasn't even a hurricane. But look at the damage caused. That along with the reality that we are just now getting into the peak of hurricane season should be a warning to those who were unprepared for Debby.

RELATED: 7 brilliant pre-hurricane life hacks

WeatherNation charted tropical activity from 1944 to 2020 on their website today and there is definitely a skyrocketing rate of storms that begin in mid August. Things finally slow down in late October.

As for Tampa Bay this week, Debby has sucked a lot of the moisture out of our area so we'll see a good amount of sun for the next couple days. But then by the weekend, we're expected to be back in that typical Florida summer weather pattern with times of sun mixed with those pop up afternoon storms with thunder and lightning. Temps aren't going to budge - we'll be right around 90 for the next week or so.

Here is our list of 5 hurricane prep items you might have forgotten about.

Hurricane season is upon us, and each year seems to be worse than the last. Experts say owning a storm kit is essential because you might need to survive on your own in an emergency.  Anybody can remember to stock up on the essentials (bottled water, food and batteries) but do you have these useful items in your home incase of a big storm?

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also listed hurricane safety tips and resources so you and your family can be prepared.

I know this sounds bias, but it is essential to stay up-to-date with storm tracking. Live and local stations should be your main source of information in the case that you lose power, (and yes, we will be broadcasting for you.)

Okay, this one may seem obvious, until you run out. It’s always a safe bet to confirm that you have extra toothpaste, toilet paper, soap, and if you wear glasses or contacts, make sure you have a backup pair and contact lens solution. Oh and don't forget about prescriptions!

You don’t want to ruin important documents like social security, state issued ID and birth certificates, prescription medication, copies of insurance documents, to name a few. Bonus if you can convert other important documents to an USB flash drive!

If you plan on sticking out the storm at home, it might be a good idea to insure you have some basic home tools and a first aid kit in case there is any damage. A basic tool kit which includes a hammer, nails and screws, a saw, wrench, tarp, and screwdriver is recommended. These tools will also come in handy if you need to manually turn off utilities, like gas or water pipes.

Being so attached to our phones, internet, and video games it may be easy to forget how to keep ourselves entertained while there’s no power. To alleviate boredom and anxiety make sure you have a couple solutions to keep your family relaxed and distracted like: coloring and reading books, board games, toys, and puzzles are all great ways to pass time and let loose!