May 26 to June 1 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week
With hurricane season around the corner (June 1-November 30), it’s as important as ever to be prepared and have a plan! The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an active to extremely active 2013 season for the Atlantic region with a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher). It’s important to remember that hurricanes are multifaceted storms and not only bring rain and strong winds but also prolonged rain that leads to flooding as well as the possibility of tornadoes.
To help you plan and be ready in case of a hurricane or hurricane related disaster, here are some useful resources:
- NN/LM Emergency Preparedness & Response Toolkit contains a variety of news and resources (from storm reports to table-top activities).
- The NN/LM SCR also offers a portal page of resources for Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery.
- The website for the National Hurricane Center offers comprehensive information for before, during, and after the storm.
- Find recommendations for a basic disaster supplies kit on FEMA’s Ready.gov website.
- The Hurricane app by the American Red Cross offers a one touch “I’m safe” messaging system that allows user to broadcast their safety status via social media , the locations of open Red Cross shelters, as well as a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light, and audible alarm.
- Visit the Disaster Information Management Research Center’s website for more information and resources on hurricane and disaster preparedness.