ZUMA Press/Newscom
With the start of hurricane season on June 1, Americans living along the eastern seaboard and the Gulf Coast should make sure they are prepared should a major hurricane strike near them.
Beyond the standard supply of food, water, and batteries to last three days, Americans in a hurricane zone should know their evacuation routes, have important documents in an easily accessible and waterproof place, check to make sure all insurance coverage is up-to-date, and develop a communication plan so friends and family can know where and how they are doing.
The prediction for 2013 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is that the season will be “above normal and possibly extremely active.” As Tropical Storm Sandy demonstrated, it doesn’t take a Category 5 hurricane to cause enormous amounts of damage—it just takes striking in the right location. Believe it or not, the last major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) to strike land was Hurricane Wilma in 2005.
Let’s hope this span of seven years without a major hurricane continues for another year.
