As the Town-Crier went to press, Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the 2014 Atlantic hurricane season, was swirling off Florida’s east coast. While expected to bring some wet weather, Arthur is not forecast to seriously impact South Florida, as it stays off the coast heading northward, perhaps becoming a hurricane as it approaches the Carolinas.
Chalk it up to another near miss. While the torrential rains of Tropical Storm Isaac battered us in 2012, it has been nine long years since Hurricane Wilma, the last major hurricane to rip through our area. While this is certainly good news for us, it’s worrisome for officials responsible for making sure we all survive the next storm. The false ease provided by a storm-free stretch makes their jobs more difficult.
This time of year, all levels of government are busy making sure that they are prepared for the arrival of a major hurricane. Last weekend, local amateur radio operators tested their equipment as part of a national drill, and on June 17, the Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management hosted its annual orientation meeting with members of the news media and local public information officers at the county’s Emergency Operations Center.
While a meteorologist from the National Weather Service showed updated storm modeling techniques, the focus of Palm Beach County Emergency Management Director Bill Johnson was making sure that all efforts are made to keep the public on guard, even though forecasters are predicting lower than normal storm activity this year. It doesn’t take a dozen storms to bring a community to its knees. It only takes one. In 1992, that was Hurricane Andrew.
The most important thing that residents can do is to make sure that they are prepared for a storm in advance. Make your homes as hurricane-prepared as possible. Ensure that your home will be secure by purchasing hurricane shutters (or plywood, if that will work) and covering up any holes in your roof, garage door, etc. If you haven’t already done so, be prepared for a possible lengthy power outage. Stock up on the necessities such as water, batteries, candles, matches and non-perishable food items. If you have any prescriptions you can’t live without, have refills on hand. Because we’re increasingly reliant on cell phones, and many people no longer have landlines, it’s important to keep all batteries fully charged and have backups as well as car chargers. If you have a yard or patio, be aware of all the possible projectiles you would need to move, and have a plan for quickly storing them away.
Need more tips? Palm Beach County has created a new hurricane information portal for residents. It can be found at www.readypbc.com. The site helps residents make a plan, build a kit, get involved and be informed. The county is also continuing to support its smart phone application, DART, which debuted last season. DART is a powerful tool designed for use before and after a storm. It includes information on evacuation zones, the nearest shelter and what stores are open after the storm. A link to the DART app can also be found at www.readypbc.com.
Don’t let complacency leave you and your family in danger. Hurricane season is already upon us.
