Jun 11, 2021 02:17:00 PM

Hurricane Season Is Here: Are YOU Prepared?

It's official - the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season began this month. With an “above average” season predicted, NOAA foresees 13 to 20 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes. “Now is the time for communities along the coastline as well as inland to get prepared for the dangers that hurricanes can bring,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “The experts at NOAA are poised to deliver life-saving early warnings and forecasts to communities, which will also help minimize the economic impacts of storms.” Scientists do not expect this year’s hurricane season to be as busy as last year, but it only takes one major hurricane to cause devastating effects to a community.

How do you prepare for Hurricane Season?
According to the CDC, there are a few tasks that should never be overlooked when planning for an incoming hurricane:

Write down emergency phone numbers and keep them on the refrigerator or near every phone in your house. Program them into your cell phone too.
Prepare an emergency supply kit.
Locate the nearest shelter and different routes you can take to get there from your home. If shelter locations in your area have not been identified, learn how to find them in the event of a storm.
Pet owners: Pre-identify shelters, a pet-friendly hotel, or an out-of-town friend or relative where you can take your pets in an evacuation. Local animal shelters may be able to offer advice on what to do with your pets if you are asked to evacuate your home.
Make sure your car is ready before the storm hits. Fill your car’s gas tank. Move cars and trucks into your garage or under cover. Always keep an emergency kit in your car. Visit Ready.gov for information on how to prepare your car and what to include in your kit. If you do not own a car, consider making plans with friends or family or call authorities to get a ride if you need to evacuate.

CDC guide to preparation for hurricanes

If you have a generator, is your system ready?
Performing required maintenance is key to ensuring your generator will operate as intended during a power outage. A well-maintained generator could be the difference in having power or being in the dark. Your generator may be just a single part of your hurricane preparation, but possibly one of the most important. Always remember how vital electricity will be after a storm. Electricity will power televisions & devices that deliver news; refrigerators that will store food and even air conditioning which may be one of the few comforts available directly after a storm. In addition, it will be impossible to get computer servers and alarm systems back online or to get employees back into a functioning office without electricity.