Now is the Time to Prepare for Hurricane Season

The official Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30, and while many experts predict the 2014 season to be a tad quieter than normal, it’s always best to be prepared.

Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, and tornadoes. With wind speeds of 111 miles per hour or more, Category 3, 4, and 5 hurricanes are major according to this scale. Category 1 and 2 hurricanes can also cause damage and injuries. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 30, with the peak season from mid-August to late October. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season begins May 15 and ends November 30. In advance of these powerful storms, be prepared to evacuate when ordered to do so, strengthen your home’s outer shell, elevate electrical panels and utilities and waterproof lower levels.

Prior to any potential disaster, it is important to create an emergency plan for your family and pets, identify locations of special need shelters and prepare an emergency supply kit with first aid, healthy meals and water.

An emergency supply kit should include healthy, nonperishable foods and supplies that meet a family's and pet's health and medical needs. Other items to include in an emergency supply kit:

Water - at least one gallon per person, per day, for a minimum of three days

Healthy foods like canned vegetables, fruits and nuts. Store at least a three-day supply of foods that require no    refrigeration, preparation or cooking, and little or no water

Battery-powered radio

Flashlight and extra batteries

First aid kit

Manual can opener

Cell phone with chargers -- inverter or solar

Medications: Under a federally declared emergency, residents can get an extra 30-day prescription supply with no price increase, even for recently filled prescriptions. Talk with a health care provider and pharmacist about emergency medication supplies.

For more Hurricane Preparedness information visit http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes  or download the FEMA Hurricane Guide here.