How Cities Prepare for Hurricane Season
On average, about ten named storms strike during Hurricane Season—three to six that become major hurricanes. These storms, which affect the Atlantic Coast of North America, typically happen between June and November, with a sharp peak beginning in late August and continuing through September.
With such a regular season, it makes it much easier to prepare in advance for these storms. Cities that reside along the Atlantic Coast are wise to create city-wide hurricane preparedness plans that not only protect the city, but help educate their citizens on how to brace themselves for a hurricane.
Miami pushes hurricane preparedness with storm surge simulator.
Since Miami is home to three separate Hurricane Evacuation Zones (home to more than half a million people), the city is keen on preparedness. They recently partnered with Florida International University to create the Storm Surge Simulator which, “combines historical data and modern day technology to illustrate what storm surge could mean to you and your home.”
New York City developed a Hurricane readiness plan.
Hurricanes don’t just affect coastal/beachy areas. As we saw with Hurricane Irene, even large metropolitan areas like New York City need to be prepared. That’s why New York City created Ready New York: Hurricanes and New York City. The hurricane preparedness plan includes tips for developing a hurricane disaster plan, maps of New York City hurricane evacuation zones, as well as general emergency preparedness tips.
Tampa Bay values hurricane preparedness, even in the Gulf.
While Tampa Bay is on the Gulf side (not the Atlantic Coast), they are still affected by hurricanes. In order to help prepare their citizens, and reduce the cost of damages, they create yearly hurricane plans. These plans include historical hurricane data, as well as how to prepare for the storm—and what to do during and after a hurricane.
Is your city prepared for a hurricane? What about your household? Check out the resources above for a plethora of hurricane preparedness tips this hurricane season.
