Hurricane Season is Here — Be Prepared for Storms!

It’s no wonder that summer is many people’s favorite season. Days are longer, the weather turns sunny and temperatures warm up, providing the perfect conditions for time spent outdoors. However, warm temperatures also create the perfect conditions for severe weather — something everyone needs to be prepared for! 
 

Hurricane season runs from June through November, and we’re asking members to be prepared. What distinguishes a hurricane from other storm types is its wind speed. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric  Administration (NOAA), “When a storm’s maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, it is called a hurricane.” Hurricanes are ranked from one to five (one being the lowest, least damaging score a storm can receive) on what is known as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. “The higher the category, the greater the hurricane’s potential for property damage,” NOAA says.
 

While property damage can be a devastating result of hurricanes, injury and life-threatening conditions can be just as likely of an outcome. That’s why the Co-op encourages members to take preventative measures now so that when storms blow through, you’ll be ready. The best way to get started preparing for severe weather is to develop an emergency plan. Your emergency plan should include key points such as meeting locations — in the event that you and your family become separated — methods of contact should separation occur, and how you will respond to events, depending on the type of storm that occurs. Discussing and practicing for a variety of weather conditions will help those in your household be ready, no matter what mother nature throws at you.
 

After you have created your emergency plan, it’s time to build or buy an emergency preparedness kit, including the resources required to ensure you can effectively execute the ideas covered in your initial planning. In the event of a major outage, you and your family could potentially be without power for several days, so it’s important to include enough supplies for everyone in your household. Items to include vary, but a typical emergency kit contains non-perishable food items, enough water to last everyone in your family several days (reminder: the Red Cross says the standard amount is one gallon of water per person, per day.), a first aid kit and supplies, copies of important family documents, extra clothes and personal hygiene items, and additional items such as flashlights, radios and more.
 

Whether it’s a standard summer thunderstorm or a Category 5 hurricane, DEC asks that all members take the time to prepare for the potential hazardous weather the upcoming season can bring. As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and there is no time like the present to prepare for storms.