Satellite image of Hurricane Sandy harassing the east coast.
Live in a hurricane danger zone?
This coming hurricane season, you might want to prepare more than ever before. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook, the number of predicted tropical storms this year is well above average.
Specifically, the NOAA currently is predicting 13 to 20 potential storms this season, “of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes,” according to a Discovery Health Blog. The average is usually 12 storms of which 6 become hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes. There is a 70% probability of outcome with each of these predicted ranges.
This does not bode well for the east coast, especially the region around the Caribbean Sea and Florida. But do not fret yet — there are precautions that can be taken in order to be prepared for such inclement weather. And just because you don’t live on the coastline doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions; serious hurricanes can damage inland communities for hundreds of miles because of high winds, tornadoes, and excessive rainfall.
Hurricane along the coast of Florida.
These tips are from Professor of Geography at the University of South Carolina, Dr. Susan Cutter, and from the National Hurricane Center website.
1. Always have a primary and secondary evacuation route planned.
2. Prepare to be self-sufficient for a full week, meaning stock up on food, water, cash, gas, and batteries.
3. Don’t forget to make sure pets have enough food and water to last, and the elderly have enough medication.
4. Have a designated point of contact outside of the hurricane danger zone. People living inside the danger zone can all contact this person to say they are safe.
5. Put together a basic disaster supplies kit including plenty of water, food, a battery-powered radio and extra batteries, first aid kit, flashlight, a whistle to call for help, moist towelettes, garbage bags, can opener, basic handy tools, etc. Find a full list here.
6. Lastly, remember to be patient. If you have to evacuate your home, wait until the area is declared safe before returning. Recovering from a natural disaster takes time, and patience is key. Everyone, stay safe this hurricane season!
