Hurricane Season: When?

The Atlantic hurricane season is on June 1st to November 30th.

However, take note of what the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meterological Laboratory said:

"There is nothing magical in these dates, and hurricanes have occurred outside of these six months, but these dates were selected to encompass over 97% of tropical activity."

 

Step 1: Emergency Plan

You should always have an emergency plan in place. This should include a Hurricane Kit (look to the left column for details), an allocated "safe room" (is on the first floor, all-concrete and with no windows), knowledge of the nearest hurricane shelter/evacuation routes and a checklist of things to do. You should act upon your plan when your area is given a hurricane warning.

The checklist should include (but is not limited to):

  • Protecting Important Papers/Photos | Put all of important identification, papers and photographs into secure (waterproof, resealable) plastic bags or containers. Store them in the safest place in your home.
  • Take Pictures of Your Property| This will help you later on with insurance claims and damage appraising.
  • Putting up Shutters on Windows and securing Garage Door
  • "Check in Contact" | Choose an out-of-state friend or family member as a contact for everyone to call. Every member of your family should know this contact's phone number.
  • Secure Loose Objects and Furniture | This can be outdoor furniture, toys, etc.
  • Car | Make your your vehicle is fueled and running smoothly. If you choose to stay at home or in your dorm/apartment, make sure the vehicle is as close it can be to your home as possible or in an enclosed parking garage.
  • Close all Interior Doors | to protect you and the rest of your home from flying debris
  • Refrigerator | set refrigerator controls to the coldest setting. This will keep your food fresh longer. After you have lost power, avoid opening the fridge often to maintain it cold longer.
  • Being Informed | It is important to know the updates on the storms, help coming, safety of going outside, etc. You may do this online, however a power outage is not only probably, but almost guaranteed. You should have a battery operated radio and extra batteries so that you and your family may stay informed throughout the storm.

Step 2: Staying Informed

Make sure to track tropical depressions, storms and hurricanes. By being aware of their progress, you can be up to date and make your preparatory decisions on time and with time.

What the ALERTS Mean


STORM WATCH: Indicates tropical storm or hurricane “conditions” are possible in your area within the next 36 hours.
STORM WARNING: Tropical storm or hurricane “conditions” are expected in your area within 24 hours. “Conditions” indicate that winds, surge, waves, flooding, tornadoes, or any combination of those typical of a tropical storm or a hurricane are possible.
For Example: Hurricane Watch= hurricane is possible in your area within 36 hours

Terminology?

As disclosed on weather.com:

1. Tropical wave | A low pressure trough of persisting winds that blow from east to west.
2. Tropical disturbance |An organized area of thunderstorms generally 100-300 miles in diameter. Typically, a tropical disturbance maintains its identity for at least 24 hours and is accompanied by heavy rains and gusty winds.
3. Tropical depression |An organized area of tropical low pressure in which sustained winds are 38 miles per hour or less.
4. Tropical storm |A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained wind speeds of 39-73 miles per hour. and accompanied by thunderstorms.
5. Hurricane |A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour and accompanied by thunderstorms. In the Northern Hemisphre, hurricane winds circulate in a clockwise rotation.

More Information

For More information on local emergency plans, check out these links: