Knowing and Recognizing the Importance of Maintaining a Hurricane Preparedness Plan!

DISCUSSION: When it comes to preparing and being ready for hurricane season, there is nothing more important in being completely ready and having a plan in hand. Whether it’s being aware and knowing exactly where you’re going to go and when you’re going to leave for a given destination, or even knowing what supplies you’re going to need on hand at the last minute, there are a myriad of different things that anyone would need to prepare for to be ready for an incoming tropical storm of any intensity.
 
First and foremost, before any hurricane season gets into full swing, is most important to always have an emergency evacuation plan. The context of an emergency evacuation plan will often depend upon how close you are into a given coastline and how far away from the given coastline you need to get to be in a location that is deemed to be sufficiently safe in the event of a major tropical cyclone making landfall. For example, if you live along an immediate coastline or even near a mangrove forest or swamp land region, you may need to get substantially faraway serves neither location will provide sufficient coverage and protection from the incoming wind and corresponding storm surge induced by a tropical cyclone. Moreover, organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (or FEMA) are responsible for establishing and maintaining the divisions of regions which are deemed to be flood zones in coastal states (and/or regions) across the United States of America. So, knowing whether you happen to live in a flood zone or not is a major first step in being prepared for any scenario which may come about at a given point in time.
 
Another major factor which is critical to be sufficiently prepared for a threat from an approaching tropical cyclone involves knowing all the food, medications and other personal items you may need with you if you are away from your home for a prolonged period. Often, after a major hurricane makes landfall in a given region, it can often be days, weeks, or even months until you may be able to return to your home city in some cases. Therefore, it is absolute critical to be prepared for the worst but hope for the best in all situations when it comes to tropical cyclone threats. So, regardless of whether you have never been impacted by a tropical cyclone your life or if you have had a tremendous amount of experience with tropical cyclone impacts from the past, you should NEVER take any experiences for granted and always remain vigilant of any future potential tropical cyclone threats and tropical cyclone forecasters are indicating as such.
 
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© 2019 Meteorologist Jordan Rabinowitz