Hurricane Season Is Here: Precautions to Know

By Nagham Elbizri on June 21, 2018

A hurricane is a kind of storm that is called a tropical cyclone, which forms over tropical or subtropical waters. Potential threats from hurricanes include powerful winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, tornadoes, and landslides. As we know, it originates in the Atlantic basin. The hurricane season starts officially on June 1, 2018, and ends on November 30, 2018.

via Pixabay.com

NOAA’S National Hurricane Center or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts and tracks these dangerous storms to warn people to take the necessary precautions due to the massive destruction and deaths that can be caused by these massive storms. People follow many steps to ensure they are safe depending on their location or their situation during the storm.

According to NASA, hurricanes are the most violent storms on Earth. They form over the warm waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. On May 24, NOAA released its forecast for the 2018 hurricane season, predicting that the season would be slightly more active than usual, with a 75 percent chance of an above-normal or near-normal season (above-normal means between 12 and 28 tropical storms and between seven and fifteen hurricanes) and (near-normal means between 10 and 15 tropical storms and between four and nine hurricanes).

On May 30, TSR or the Tropical Storm Risk Consortium of University College London, predicted nine named storms, four hurricanes and one major hurricane. If the number of the storms is less or higher it should not stop us from taking our precautions, or from being ready for any kind of hurricane. Most of the storms hit during peak hurricane season which is between August and October, on both coasts, according to the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center.

Each person needs to put a plan in order to stay safe. The plan needs to be worked out for all the family members including pets and animals. The first thing that should be done first is to keep up-to-date of the news and of the probable coming storms by watching or hearing the local weather channel or any source of local news channel.

 Many other important steps should be done before the storm:

  • Homeowners can reduce the risk of damage by trimming the trees or removing tree and limbs, because hurricanes often cause their damage when trees fall on the house or any kind of property.
  • Rain gutters should be fixed in place and free of debris.
  • Reinforcing the roof, doors and windows, including a garage door, is also important.
  • If the power is cut off, the power generators should be kept outside, as they produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
  • Building a safe room that is designed to withstand the punishing winds of a tornado or hurricane is a good idea.
  • People should figure out or should listen to the news to determine whether it’s safe to hunker down at home during a storm or whether they are in an evacuation zone. If so, there is likely a specific route that should be taken in the event of an evacuation, as many roads could be closed.
  • Local cellphone lines may become overloaded during a storm, so people should consider texting. Another alternative is to have a central out-of-state contact who can relay messages between separated family members or friends.
  • If someone lives in an evacuation zone, He needs to figure out accommodations during the storm (like staying with family members or friends to rent a motel to stay in a shelter).
  • Determining a preset meeting place with family members or friends is recommended.
  • During the storm, the pets or animals should be leashed or placed in a carrier, and their emergency supplies should include a list of their vaccinations as well as a photo in case they get lost.
  • Pets should also be wearing a collar with the information of an out-of-state contact in case they get separated from their owners.
  • People who live in a hurricane country need to have emergency supplies, placed in multiple locations throughout the house. the basic kit should include a gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, a three-day supply of non-perishable food, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, medication, a whistle to get help, dust mask, moist towelettes, garbage cans and plastic ties for sanitation, a wrench or pliers for turning off busted pipes, maps, a can opener for food, and cell phone chargers.
  • People should keep their car in a good working condition, and they should keep the gas tank full, and the vehicle should be filled with emergency supplies and a change of clothes.
  • The important documents should be kept in a safe place (creating a password protected digital copies is a good idea too).
  • People should review their insurance policies.
  • When a hurricane is 18-36 hours from arriving, people should cover all of their home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. Another option is to board up windows with marine plywood that is cut to fit and ready to install.

After the storm precautions:

  • People should not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters. Turning around is an option.
  • People should keep listening for current emergency information and instructions even after the storm finishes.
  • During clean-up, people should be careful. Wearing protective clothing and working with someone else is preferable.
  • People should not touch electrical equipment if it is wet or if someone is standing in water.
  • People should not wade in flood water, which can contain dangerous debris or underground power lines that may electrically charged the water.
  • People should save their phone calls for emergencies. Using text messages or social media is a good idea.
  • People should document any property damage with photographs. They should contact the insurance company for assistance.

This year we witnessed the early Hurricane Alberto which came before the official season and caused damages, flood, and killed at least two people in Florida. When people take their precautions and listen well to the instructions before and after the hurricane many deaths and many damages could be prevented. No one can forget the disastrous effects of hurricane Katrina. United and with the help of our government we can work more effectively to reduce the dangerous effects of these massive storms.

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