Maybe This Year?

By Bill Korbel

When I was a kid, hurricanes hit Long Island as often as the Yankees won the World Series; just about every year.  Now they hit Long Island about as often as the Mets win the World Series; hardly ever.  But that doesn't mean we can just ignore them because it is a mathematical certainty that one summer, perhaps this summer, a hurricane will again pummel the island.                                                                        

This year has started out to be quite busy with four storms already. We are still in July and if this pattern continues, we could easily see eight to ten more storms before the season ends.  Pure numbers, however, do not mean much.  All it takes is one storm, if you happen to be in its way, to ruin your whole day. 

So, please take some time to review your hurricane safety plans.  And don't put it off.  Some preparations take a bit of time and waiting until a hurricane warning is issued is much too late. Here are some things you should consider:

Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.

Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.

Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.

Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.

Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.

Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.

Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a disaster emergency kit. Here's a web site with details: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/supply_kit.shtml

Here are more links to help you prepare: 

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/disaster_prevention.shtml

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/index.shtm

For hurricane tracking and forecast information, here is the link to the National Hurricane Center:  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Bill Korbel

Comments

[goducks]

Yankees and Mets and hurricanes, very funny opening.