PREP WEEK: Hurricane Season 2018

After an extremely active hurricane season in 2017, it’s hard to believe the next season is already here. Hurricane season began on May 15 for the Pacific Basin, and June 1 for the Atlantic basin.

While seasonal forecasts call for a near- or above- average number of storms this season, there is no way to know for certain just what the season will have in store you YOUR area. It only takes *one* to impact your area to become a “bad season”.  So, it’s important to prepare before a storm threatens.

Impacts can occur both at the coast and inland, so it is most important that you determine your risk where you live. Coastal communities are most at risk of destructive winds, dangerous storm surge waters, and are more likely to live in mandatory evacuation zones if a tropical cyclone moves in. Communities even several miles away coastlines are still at risk, with the risk of high winds and flooding rainfall.

GETTING READY FOR HURRICANE SEASON

GET YOUR SUPPLY KIT READY

It is essential, if you live anywhere near a coastline or in an area where tropical systems could impact your home, you should put together a hurricane supply kit incase you end up stranded at home during or after a storm. Heres what you’ll need.

[Get your supply kit ready. Click here for a full list of essentials from FEMA ]

UNDERSTANDING THE FORECAST “CONE”

Here, you’ll learn how to interpret the forecast track “cone” from the National Hurricane Center, and also how we relay that information visually on WeatherNation. It is important you understand how to read that information so you can better understand what to expect in the forecast.

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE “HURRICANE HUNTERS”

Get a look into the storm and data collected by NOAA’s Hurricane Hunters and learn how the information they gather is critical to understand hurricanes and making a forecast.

You can learn much more and get storm ready by visiting Ready.Gov/Hurricanes