Is a hurricane coming to Florida? Here's what to do when a hurricane is on the way
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season seems to be ramping up for Floridians as three tropical storms rapidly formed over the weekend. The busy weekend is a wake-up call for residents who may have started getting comfortable with the idea that we may see a below-normal hurricane season.
Tropical Storm Emily, the first named storm to strengthen over the weekend, developed in the Central Atlantic Sunday before weakening to a post-tropical cyclone, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Tropical Storm Franklin developed in the eastern Caribbean, hours after Tropical Storm Emily, and is expected to strengthen. Franklin is one to keep an eye on as it could become a hurricane within the next four days.
Tropical Storm Gert is the latest to develop, forming east of the Leeward Islands. Gert, the eighth named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, is predicted to be short-lived and could dissipate by Tuesday.
Latest news in the Atlantic: NHC tracking 2 tropical storms. Franklin could become hurricane. See spaghetti models
Colorado State University says that the last half of August "typically marks the real ramp-up for Atlantic TC (tropical cyclone) activity. The primary threat formation area for major hurricanes in late August is in the eastern and central tropical Atlantic.”
Now’s a great time to revisit hurricane plans, replenish supplies and make sure you’re not caught off guard. Here’s a step-by-step guide on what to do when a hurricane is headed to Florida.
What to do before a hurricane is headed your way
Preparing for a hurricane is typically done in phases: Things to do before a hurricane is on the way (usually done at the beginning of hurricane season) and preparation for when a hurricane is imminent. Here’s a quick look at what to do at the beginning of every hurricane season:
Put together an emergency hurricane kit — An emergency kit, sometimes called a hurricane supplies kit, is a list of items a person or family needs to survive on their own for several days. A kit will include items like food, water, first aid kids, batteries, flashlights and more. Scroll down for a full list of supplies.
Know your zone — Do you know if you live in an evacuation zone or a low-lying, flood-prone area? Knowing your zone is crucial in understanding your risk during a hurricane and foundational to creating an emergency plan. Zones have many designations and can be found here.
Create an emergency plan — An emergency plan is a useful way to ensure everyone in your family knows what to do during an emergency. Plans can be tailored for any type of disaster and can accommodate the specific needs of your household. Basic plans include a family communication plan, a shelter plan, details on your evacuation route and more. Not sure how to get started? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has a great template you can use here.
Sign up for alerts and warnings — AlertFlorida is a statewide notification initiative that helps people learn how they can receive emergency alerts and other public safety notifications in their community. After entering your county or city, the website will detail how you can ensure you receive alerts.
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short emergency messages from authorized federal, state and local authorities that broadcast targeted alerts from cell towers to any WEA‐enabled mobile device. Most modern cell phones have this enabled by default.
Review your insurance policy — The worst time to realize you have an issue with your homeowner's insurance policy is right before a storm when property and casualty insurance companies suspend writing new policies.
Document insured property — Now is a good time to take inventory of insured property. This should include photos or videos and written descriptions that include the year, make, model numbers and serial numbers. Homeowners should consider scheduled personal property coverage for especially valuable items.
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What to do when a hurricane is coming your way
Preparing for a hurricane coming your way is a different affair. Here’s what to do, assuming you’ve already followed the previous tips:
Secure your home — You can help mitigate damage from a hurricane by clearing your yard of debris that could become dangerous in strong winds, covering your home with permanent storm shutters or boarding them up with 5/8-inch exterior grade or marine plywood, decluttering your drains and gutters and more.
Stay updated with the latest information — One of the best ways to keep track of severe weather is to find a local news source, download its mobile app and turn on notifications (weather alerts, at the very least). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service are the best sources for weather monitoring.
Evacuate if ordered — Anyone living in an area where an evacuation has been ordered should do so immediately.
What to do if not ordered to evacuate — Anyone not ordered to evacuate should still take precautions during hurricanes, as even Category 1 storms are dangerous. Here is what the NWS says to do:
Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level during the storm. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can.
Stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors.
If the eye of the storm passes over your area, there will be a short period of calm, but on the other side of the eye, the wind speed rapidly increases to hurricane-force winds coming from the opposite direction.
What supplies should you have for a hurricane?
The best time to assemble a checklist for hurricane supplies is June 1, when the Atlantic hurricane season begins. Here's a list of emergency management items you should keep secure throughout the season:
Flashlights and extra bulbs
Extra batteries
Portable cellphone chargers. Keep them charged. Be sure to have charging cords and wall chargers in case the power is working in your shelter or other safe place.
Clock (wind-up or battery-operated)
Battery-operated radio
NOAA emergency weather radio
Toilet paper
Matches (camping stores have waterproof matches)
Scissors
Plastic garbage bags
Working fire extinguisher
Clean change of clothes, rain gear, sturdy swamp boots
Fully charged battery-operated lanterns. Don’t use candles and kerosene lanterns. They are fire hazards.
List of phone numbers
Copy of insurance policy
What food supplies should you get for hurricane season?
Get enough nonperishable food to last two weeks. Then put it in a box and leave it alone. Canned and other prepared foods that are salty or dry or high in fat or protein might make for good provisions, but they’ll also make you thirsty.
Water: Enough for 1 gallon of drinking water per person per day, for one-week minimum. Water for two weeks is ideal. (Also, figure another 1 gallon per person/per day of water for washing hands, flushing toilets and for pets).
Ice or dry ice
Shelf-stable milk and juice boxes
Canned and powdered milk
Beverages (powdered or canned, fruit juices, instant coffee, tea)
Raw vegetables that don’t need refrigeration (will last only a few days)
Canned vegetables and fruits
Dried fruits
Prepared foods (canned soups, beef, spaghetti, tuna, chicken, ham, corned beef hash, packaged pudding)
Snacks (crackers, cookies, hard candy, unsalted nuts)
Snack spreads (peanut butter, cheese spreads, jelly)
Cereals
Sugar, salt, pepper
Bread
Dry and canned pet food
How far can you predict a hurricane?
Meteorologists can predict how many hurricanes a season is expected to see before it begins. Hurricane season forecasts and often published in the spring.
Starting on May 15, the NHC will issue tropical weather outlooks four times a day until the end of the season on Nov. 30. Systems can be detected well before they become storms or hurricanes, and these outlooks will indicate the likelihood the system will develop.
Hurricane paths can be predicted between 3 to 5 days in advance, leading to the charts showing the dreaded “cone of uncertainty.”
When are storm and hurricane updates posted?
Starting May 15 through Nov. 30, NHC issues a Tropical Weather Outlook each day at 2 a.m., 8 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. EDT.
For every active tropical cyclone, NHC issues a complete advisory package at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m., and 11 p.m. EDT. It includes an updated forecast and graphics with the track and intensity forecast, time of arrival of tropical storm and hurricane-force winds, key messages, a potential storm surge flooding map, and a storm surge watch/warning graphic. NHC also posts the same information on Facebook and Twitter to ensure a wide distribution.
When hurricane watches or warnings are posted for a portion of the U.S. coastline, NHC opens a television media pool to provide live interviews to national news/weather outlets and those local TV stations in the path of the storm.
NWS provides timely forecasts and decision support services to help local officials determine what public safety actions are needed, such as whether to evacuate, close roads and schools, or open shelters.
Storm and hurricane tracking resources
What’s happening in the Atlantic now: Tropical Storm Franklin makes landfall
Tropical Storm Franklin was making landfall about 7:30 a.m. along the southern coast of the Dominican Republic near Barahona, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.
Franklin is bringing very heavy rain and "potentially life-threatening flash flooding" over Hispaniola as it moves from the Caribbean Sea into the Atlantic.
Winds are expected to reach hurricane strength by early Saturday and continue to strengthen, reaching 90 mph by Sunday, making Franklin a strong Category 1 storm.
Meanwhile, Tropical Depression Harold is weakening but is still bringing heavy rain to portions of Texas and northern Mexico. Harold made landfall as a tropical storm at Padre Island, Texas, about 11 a.m. Aug. 22.
Elsewhere in the Atlantic basin, forecasters are tracking two other disturbances.
Invest 92L in the eastern Atlantic has a low chance for tropical cyclone development.
In the central Atlantic, Invest 7, which is the remnant of what was Tropical Storm Emily, is likely to regenerate into a tropical depression or tropical storm late this week or this weekend
Contributors: Cheryl McCloud — USA Today Network.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Is a hurricane headed to Florida? How to find out and prepare
