The 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season is expected to be an active one with some experts predicting as many as 15 named storms. We all were thankful for the very light 2009 season -- only two named storms hitting the U.S. and none in Florida. It was, in fact, our least active season since 1997. My concern, however, is that residents may have become complacent, hoping or expecting this season to be just as uneventful.
El Nino Fading
There are a number of weather-related factors that affect storm development, and they are constantly changing. We know that El Nino, for example, the phenomenon that knocked down several Atlantic storms last year, is expected to fade away, resulting in more favorable conditions for storm development.
Prepare Now
As with any storm season, the keys to minimizing deaths and property damage are early planning. Please take the time now to do the following:
- write up or revise your emergency plan for you and your family;
- update insurance policies and secure important papers in plastic bags and watertight containers;
- inspect and repair your storm shutters; check windows, doors and the roof for cracks and leaks;
- trim trees and shrubs, and remove excess landscape vegetation around the yard;
- check the Surge Area Mapping System (SAMS) at pbcgov.com to see if you live in an evacuation zone;
- evaluate whether to stay in your home or leave the area when a storm threatens;
- if leaving, familiarize yourself with evacuation routes and firm up your out-of-town arrangements;
- if staying, start gathering your nonperishable emergency supplies and inspect your safe room;
- preregister for the county’s pet-friendly shelter at West Boynton Park: 233-1200;
- preregister for the Red Cross special needs shelter at the fairgrounds: 712-6400.
Other Resources
Check out the following Web sites for additional emergency preparation tips or to track storm systems throughout the season:
Earlier Warnings
Thanks to advances in tracking storms and forecasting their projected paths, the National Hurricane Center will announce storm watches and warnings 12 hours earlier than in previous seasons. This gives people more time to prepare and evacuate. What hasn’t improved, though, is the ability to predict the intensity of a storm. A hurricane forecasted to be a Category 1 at landfall can just as easily wind up being a 3 or 4.
Better Communication
Emergency management officials here in Palm Beach County are now using WebEOC, a new communications system designed to increase information sharing with our partners in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The software allows first responders, hospitals, state agencies and support groups such as the Red Cross to send and receive information during a crisis from any computer with an Internet connection. The system has already been used for disaster drills and to relay data following the Haiti earthquake.
Use Time Wisely
We’re all hoping that once again South Florida will be spared. But the only thing we can really control is our own preparation and being ready to act if a warning is issued. Please make use of the time you have to get everything in order for the months ahead. As always, I welcome your comments and questions. Please feel free to contact me or my staff at 355-2202.
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