As a reminder for those people who are living in coastal areas or affected by coastal weather, June 1st begins the start of the 6-month 2014 Atlantic hurricane season. And to build awareness, this week is the National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 25 through May 31).
The good news is that as of early May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting that the 2014 hurricane season will be near-normal or below-normal.
What does this mean? A near-normal or below-normal hurricane season means that for the next 6-months, NOAA is predicting a 70 percent chance of 8 to 13 named storms (with winds of 39 mph or higher). Of these named storms, 3 to 6 storms could develop into hurricanes (with winds of 74 mph or higher) and include 1 to 2 major hurricanes (with winds of 111 mph or higher).
Are you prepared for the 2014 hurricane season? If you would like to learn how you can prepare for the 2014 hurricane season, take a look at the suggestions provided on the NOAA Hurricane Preparedness site: www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php.
Here are also a few tips from the 2014 Florida Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders (found at: elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/pubs/EU/disaster_guide.pdf):
- Educate yourself: Learn about your community’s emergency plans, warning signals, evacuation routes, and location of emergency shelters.
- Be aware of potential home hazards: Be prepared to turn off electrical power when there is standing water or a fallen power line, or before you evacuate. Turn off gas and water supplies before you evacuate. Secure structurally unstable materials (building material, grills, and propane tanks).
- Own a fire extinguisher: Buy a fire extinguisher and make sure your family knows where to find it and how to use it. If you have an older extinguisher (over a year old), be sure that it is still functional and inspected by a professional.
- Secure important documents: Locate and secure your important papers, such as insurance policies, wills, licenses, stock certificates.
- Collect contact information: Post emergency phone numbers at every telephone or save the number in your mobile phone. Some examples of important numbers include your insurance agent, local hospitals, local utilities, local law enforcement, and fire/rescue.
- Do you have special needs? Inform local authorities about any special needs that you or a housemate has: for instance, bed-ridden or disabled individuals.
- Prepare a disaster supply kit: Stock your home, car, and workplace with supplies that may be needed during the emergency period (such as, food, water, prescription, and non-prescription medications). If you are diabetic, be sure to have a means to keep your medications cool while traveling or during a power outage. If you have a pet, look for a pet-friendly shelter and have pet supplies ready.
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