Hurricane season 2022 | Preparing for a hurricane
It’s hurricane season. And has been the pattern the past few years, forecasters expect a busy season. With the influx of new residents to Florida – estimated at 1,000 people a day! – there are many who haven’t experienced hurricane season before. Here’s what you need to know for your first hurricane season.
What is a hurricane? a tropical storm with winds that have reached a constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more. The eye of a storm is usually 20-30 miles wide and may extend over 400 miles. The dangers of a storm include torrential rains, high winds and storm surges.
What is the difference between a hurricane watch and hurricane warning? A hurricane watch means hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are possible in a stated area. Experts announce hurricane watches 48 hours before they expect tropical-storm-force winds (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) to start. A hurricane warning is more serious. It means hurricane-force winds are expected in a stated area. Experts issue these warnings 36 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected in the area to give people enough time to prepare for the storm.
When is hurricane season? June 1 through Nov. 30. The most active months are generally August and September
What are the 2022 hurricane names? NOAA says they are expecting 14-21 named storms, 6-10 of them becoming hurricanes and 3-6 of those becoming major hurricanes.
- Alex
- Bonnie
- Colin
- Danielle
- Earl
- Fiona
- Gaston
- Hermine
- Ian
- Julia
- Karl
- Lisa
- Martin
- Nicole
- Owen
- Paula
- Richard
- Shary
- Tobias
- Virginie
- Walter
Get yourself (and family) ready
Here are 10 things you should include in your emergency preparation kit for hurricanes:
- A 2-week medicine supply
- Flashlights, battery operated radio & extra batteries
- Backup cell phone batteries (portable charger)
- First aid kit with bandages, tweezers, scissors, antiseptic wipes, soap, cotton balls, pain reliever, thermometer and latex gloves.
- Copies of important documents including insurance cards, banking and credit card information, copies of birth/marriage certificates, veterinary records for pets and copy of will. It is also helpful to have an extra set of keys to your house and car.
- Non-perishable food for 7 days including 1 gallon of water per person per day
- Non-electric can opener
- Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties
- Cash
- Books, games, puzzles, etc. to keep you entertained for hours without power
Get your home ready
- Clear yard and move all objects – patio furniture, bikes, grills that could become a flying object – inside
- Cover windows and doors
- Get sandbags if you live in a area prone to flooding
- Have a safe room in your home. This should be an interior room without a window (this could be a bathroom or walk-in closet). Have an evacuation plan in place and know your nearest shelter if needed.
Don’t forget about your pets
- Food and water for 7 days
- Proper identification
- Medical records/microchip information
- Carrier/cage
- Leash
- Food bowl
- Medication
Bonus information
A few good things to note from a life-long Florida who has seen her share of hurricanes:
- Make sure your propane tank for your grill is full or you have a back-up (helpful for cooking without power)
- Fill bathtubs with water before you lose power. This can be used to flush toilets
- Keep gas tanks half full during hurricane season so you don’t have to wait in long lines if you have to evacuate
- If you have a generator, make sure you know how to safely use it (outdoors with proper ventilation), test it now to make sure it still woks and have extra gas on hand
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