National Hurricane Preparedness Week Starts Today

National Hurricane Preparedness Week starts today, Sunday April 30 and runs through May 6, 2023.

Helpful Resources

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offers numerous resources to help you:

• Know your risk from wind and water
• Prepare before Hurricane season which starts June 1
• Understand forecast information
• Get moving when storms threaten
• Stay protected during storms
• Exercise caution after storms

The National Hurricane Center website also offers a treasure trove of educational resources for professionals, citizens, and students of all ages.

And just in case you’re a weather geek, don’t miss this page from the National Weather Service on hurricane safety tips and weather resources.

If you live near the Texas coast, you’re in the second most hurricane-prone state in the country (second only to Florida).

Below is an abbreviated table from NOAA that shows the states hit by the most hurricanes in various categories between 1851 and 2020.

Rank	State	Category 1	Category 2	Category 3	Category 4	Category 5	Major hurricanes	All hurricanes
–	Entire Atlantic & Gulf Coast	123	86	62	26	4	92	301
1	Florida	47	36	24	11	2	37	120
2	Texas	29	16	12	7	0	19	64
3	Louisiana	24	20	13	4	1	18	62
4	North Carolina	32	19	6	1	0	7	58
5	South Carolina	17	9	2	3	0	5	31

The peak of hurricane season is in September, but they can strike any time of year. All it takes is one to ruin your life if you’re not prepared.

Start Sooner Rather than Later

So prepare now. There’s no better time than National Hurricane Preparedness Week.

The time to stock up on emergency supplies is not when there’s a run on batteries, backups, and bottled water.

If you’re new to the Gulf Coast, it’s especially important to educate yourself. Storms can cut off evacuation routes, disrupt water and sewer, knock out electricity for weeks, create impossibly long lines at gas stations, and more.

Inland areas like Lake Houston don’t face much of a threat from storm surge. But we are susceptible to wind damage, fallen trees, riverine flooding, and street flooding.

Having interviewed dozens of flood victims, I can promise you. Invariably, the three things they most regret are NOT:

• Preparing early enough.
• Having flood insurance.
• Putting valuables such as legal documents, family photo albums, and family bibles on high shelves.

If you’re new to the area, explore the links above and develop a checklist. Even if you’re a veteran of major storms, a little brushing up never hurts.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 4/30/23

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