The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season is rapidly nearing its June 1 start date. In most cases, these tropical weather systems make coastal landfall in the Southeastern U.S., as well as in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. But they’ve also been known to travel further north, and the impact of high winds can be felt more than 100 miles inland.
Colorado State University released its Forecast for 2023 Hurricane Activity last month. Even though researchers currently predict below-average conditions in the Atlantic basin, 13 tropical storms have been named so far. 6 of those storms will likely escalate into hurricanes, 2 of which are categorized as “major.” Hurricanes can be notoriously destructive—or even fatal—so here are a few actions you should take to plan for the season ahead.
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Protect Your Home from Storm Surges and Heavy Winds
A hurricane is a force to be reckoned with—along with the torrential rain and intense wind, these weather events can spawn tornadoes or flash flooding too. In fact, the most dangerous part of a hurricane often comes after the storm itself has passed. As heavy winds change atmospheric pressure, the seawater rises to abnormal levels, which can cause an extensive, powerful storm surge with the force to sweep away vehicles, flood entire homes, or drown humans and animals. As such, it’s vital to seal off all potential vulnerabilities in your home ahead of time. Reinforce the windows, garage panels, doors, roof, and wall openings. You can install aluminum or plywood hurricane shutters or board exterior entry points.
Know the Location of Your Nearest Emergency Shelter
If you live in an area that’s prone to flooding, be ready to evacuate before the hurricane makes landfall. Sometimes this will require driving to the next city or state, but most of the time, you’ll just need to leave the immediate flood zone in case of storm surge. When hurricanes or other natural disasters are on the forecast, many reinforced public facilities like schools, churches, arenas, or municipal buildings will convert into shelters where you can ride out the storm safely. It’s crucial to know in advance where the nearest, most accessible shelter is, so you won’t have to scramble to track it down in an actual state of emergency. Use this resource to find the exact location, then map out your evacuation route accordingly.
Restock Your Hurricane Supplies as Soon as Possible
Anyone who has dealt with a hurricane knows firsthand how quickly stores can run out of supplies in that frantic rush leading up to the storm’s arrival. So do not wait until the late minute to stock your home—start accumulating the basics you’ll need to weather hurricane season right now. Of course, sandbags are a must (especially in flood zones). Still, having a large stash of water bottles, nonperishable food, hygiene items, first aid essentials, warm clothes, heavy blankets, flashlight batteries, and other necessities is also a smart idea. If you don’t own a backup generator and severe weather radio, invest in both of these useful devices too.
Enlist a Remediation Service to Help with the Aftermath
Unfortunately, sometimes even the most careful, meticulous plans aren’t enough to fully prevent hurricane destruction. If your home, business, or property sustains damage from a hurricane this year, be sure to hire a professional remediation service to help streamline the disaster recovery process. The aftermath of extreme weather is often highly stressful, so don’t navigate it alone. A team of certified specialists can handle the water or debris cleanup, as well as structural repairs, document restorations, and other post-storm hazards. In some cases, they will even assist you with making insurance claims. Just contact your insurance provider before hurricane season to see how much your current home or renter’s policy covers.
Hurricane Season Is Around the Corner—Make Sure You’re Prepared
At this point, the official start of the 2023 hurricane season is just weeks away. There’s no reason to panic, but you do need to prepare. The more proactive measures you take on the front end, the less anxious you will be when a hurricane touches the ground. So follow these practical, beneficial action steps, and you won’t feel caught off-guard when June 1 rolls around.