Hurricane season (June 1-November 30) is fast approaching and it is time to get prepared. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — two of the agencies that collaborate within an extended public-private network to monitor weather phenomena and assist those impacted — report that an average of "ten tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico" each year and "six of these storms become hurricanes." Furthermore:
In an average 3-year period, roughly five hurricanes strike the US coastline, killing approximately 50 to 100 people anywhere from Texas to Maine. Of these, two are typically "major" or "intense" hurricanes (a category 3 or higher storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale). - Source: Hurricane Preparedness home page, accessed May 11, 2006
The result is devastation that takes numerous lives and causes billions in damages. Fortunately, as Max Mayfield, Director of the National Hurricane Center notes, "Preparation through education is less costly than learning through tragedy."
Storms cannot be prevented, but initiatives such as National Hurricane Awareness Week and distribution of Emergency Preparedness & Safety Tips from Westchester Emergency Volunteer Reserves-Medical Reserve Corps (WEVR-MRC) were created because:
History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. This year Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 21-27, 2006. - Source: Hurricane Preparedness home page, accessed May 11, 2006
Throughout Hurricane Preparedness Week and hurricane season, the media will join forces with public and private sector efforts to ensure widespread hurricane awareness and safety. The goal is to educate the public by answering questions such as:
• How can one assess their vulnerability and take appropriate actions during hurricane season?
• What are the meanings of terms commonly associated with hurricanes: storm surge, high winds, tornadoes, tropical depression and flooding?
• What is a hurricane warning versus hurricane watch and what action should each one initiate?
• What should you pack into a disaster supply kit?
• How and why should you develop an emergency plan (WEVR-MRC Emergency Preparedness & Safety Tip #1) and establish an OUT-OF-STATE emergency contact (WEVR-MRC Emergency Preparedness & Safety Tip #2)?
An important public service announcement is WEVR-MRC's Emergency Preparedness & Safety Tip #5 HURRICANE AWARENESS AND SAFETY. It will broadcast on the May 24 Lisa Tolliver Show at 1:30-2:00 p.m. during National Hurricane Week on New York Radio WVOX AM 1460. It will also be posted online at the Emergency Preparedness & Safety Tips blog. The tips, which could make the difference between life and death in the event of an emergency or disaster, are authored by Marianne Partridge, WEVR-MRC Program Manager at the Volunteer Center of the United Way. To learn how to join WEVR-MRC or to contact the organization, you can call The Volunteer Center at 866-VOL-CALL or visit volunteer-center.org or westchestergov.com.
Article comments
1 - Lisa Tolliver
I know, I know! The original article includes some typos. Please accept my apologies. I hope you're reading the corrected version (especially if you're my mother, the retired English teacher).