Georgetown, Del. (1:30 p.m. Fri, May 27, 2016): As summer kicks off, winter-weary Sussex Countians are surely making plans for vacations, backyard barbeques and plenty of fun in the sun. But another plan that should be high on the summer to-do list – preparing for hurricane season.
As the Atlantic hurricane season officially gets underway June 1, the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center encourages residents and visitors to have a plan and be prepared just in case extreme weather comes this way. Preparation is key to limiting damage and preventing loss of life, whether it’s for winter’s nor’easters and blizzards or the blazing heat and tropical systems of summertime, said Sussex County EOC Director Joseph L. Thomas.
“In emergency management, we often say ‘it only takes one,’ ” Mr. Thomas said. “All it takes is one storm to devastate a community. Hopefully, it’s a quiet season. But everyone should be ready for the worst, no matter the forecast.”
The 2015 hurricane season was slightly below average in the Atlantic, though Delaware did have bouts with a couple tropical systems, including the influence of Hurricane Joaquin, which passed well offshore but, coupled with a stalled coastal storm, caused significant tidal flooding in October. Already this year, one storm, Hurricane Alex, formed five months ahead of the official start to hurricane season, the first storm to form that early since at least 1955. What that portends for the 2016 season, only time will tell, forecasters say.
For the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting a more active year than in 2015, though still considered ‘near normal’, with 10 to 16 named tropical systems possible. Of those, four to eight could become hurricanes, with up to four of those possibly reaching Category 3 strength or higher, according to NOAA’s May 27 forecast. The El Niño weather pattern – the warming of waters in the Pacific Ocean off South America – that has inhibited hurricane formation in the Atlantic the past couple seasons is expected to diminish over the summer months. That pattern, when present, causes wind shearing in the Caribbean and Atlantic that often thwarts the development of tropical systems in the Atlantic basin. Without a strong El Niño, conditions in the Atlantic and Caribbean could be more favorable for tropical development.
An average Atlantic hurricane season sees 12 named storms, including six hurricanes, with three classified as major. Whatever the forecast, whether above average or below average, residents and property owners should never be lulled into a sense of complacency; it only takes one storm in any season to destroy property and threaten lives, Mr. Thomas said.
One step residents can take ahead of hurricane season is to create a Safety Profile for their household with the County’s free Smart911.com service to provide potentially critical, life-saving information up front to first responders. Profiles can contain as much or as little information as users want, including details about their properties, special medical conditions and family contacts.
To help make the storm season safer for everyone, there are a number of steps you can take to make your home and family ready for hurricane season:
- If you live in a flood-prone or other vulnerable area, be prepared to evacuate. Plan your evacuation route now. Emergency managers will notify the public, via the media, of what areas should evacuate and when. In the event you evacuate, take a storm kit. Take valuable and/or important papers. Secure your house by locking the windows and doors. Turn off all utilities (gas, water, electric, etc.). Notify a family member or someone close to you outside the evacuation area of your destination.
- Secure all outdoor items. Property owners also will need to secure their boats. Area residents should clear rainspouts and gutters and trim any trees that may pose a problem during high winds.
- Have a family disaster kit. This kit should include the following items:
- A three-day supply of water. This should include at least one gallon of water per person per day;
- Non-perishable foods and a manual can opener;
- A change of clothes and shoes for each person;
- Prescription medicines;
- A blanket or sleeping bag and pillow for each person;
- Personal hygiene items;
- A flashlight and extra batteries for each person;
- Special needs items, such as formula and diapers for infants, as well as items needed for elderly or disabled family members;
- A portable radio with extra batteries;
- Money. During power outages, ATMs will not work;
- Fuel. Gas pumps are also affected by power outages, so it is a good idea to have fuel in advance.
- In the event of an approaching storm, travel during daylight hours. Do not wait until the last minute to make plans or to purchase gasoline and supplies. When a storm watch is issued, you should monitor the storm on the radio and television. An evacuation could take 24 to 36 hours prior to a storm’s onset.
- If ordered to evacuate and seek shelter elsewhere, follow the instructions of local emergency managers on where to go and when. Authorities will announce shelter locations in advance of their opening. Make provisions for your pets, as many shelters will not accept animals.
- If not ordered to evacuate and you decide to take shelter in your home, have your disaster kit ready. Keep your important papers with you or store them in the highest, safest place in your home, and in a waterproof container. Even if you seek shelter in place, you need to secure your home by locking the doors and windows. Turn off all utilities (gas, water, electric, etc.). Monitor the storm by portable radio to keep up with the latest information. Stay indoors. Try to stay in an inside room away from doors and windows.
- Use your phone sparingly. Make only essential calls and keep the calls brief. Report emergencies to 911. When reporting emergencies, identify yourself and your location, making sure to speak clearly and calmly. If you have a mobile telephone, make sure it is charged and ready to use at all times. Remember, however, that cell service may be interrupted during and after the storm.
Hurricanes and tropical storms can have devastating effects. In the event a hurricane affects our area, expect polluted water, limited communications, no electricity, overflowing or backed-up sewers, undermined foundations, beach erosion and heavy damage to homes and roadways.
Do not re-enter the area until recommended to do so by local authorities. As you re-enter the area, be aware of possible hazards such as downed trees and power lines. Be aware of debris and water on roadways. Upon re-entry, have identification and important legal papers ready to show officials proof of residency. Continue to use your emergency water supply or boil water until notified that the drinking water is safe. Take precautions to prevent fires.
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For more information on preparing for hurricane season, including evacuation maps and preparedness brochures, visit Sussex County’s hurricane homepage at sussexcountyde.gov/hurricane-information, or the NOAA Weather Ready Nation homepage at www.weather.gov/wrn/.