Hurricane Plans

A good hurricane season is one you don't remember. The bad ones are burned into our memories. Dr. Phil Klotzbach, Colorado State University says, "For most areas along the US coast, no matter how active or inactive the season, they will not be impacted by a storm... but it only takes one storm over your town to make it active for you." We’ve seen that one storm too often. From Erin (1995) to Opal (1995) to Danny (1997) to Georges (1998) to Ivan (2004) to Dennis (2005) to Katrina (2005).

The last thing you want to hear is... Dr. Bill Gray, Colorado State University offers, "We’ve raised the forecast a bit; we think we’ll have an active season." That’s just one seasonal outlook for the entire Atlantic, Gulf and Caribbean. That's an area of 10 million square miles. There are other outlooks that might sound better or worse but Bill Read, Director, National Hurricane Center catutions, "We can’t tell you from the relatively small number of storms, even in a very active season, exactly who or actually if anyone will be hit by one." That’s why this time every year we start preparing. That’s preparing our homes, our families and our communities for any trouble from the tropics. What can your home withstand? Do you have an emergency kit, a weather radio, an evacuation route, and a plan? Is your insurance in order?

Dr. Rick Knabb, Senior Forecaster, National Hurricane Center adds, "If you’ve never been hit don’t think it won’t happen." It may be wind, it may be water or it may be both. "For anybody in Mobile your preparation should be the same every season." The seasonal forecast tells you nothing about any given week, day or storm. We’ll watch each one as it forms and we’ll take action when one gets close but now’s the time to get ready. Alan Sealls, News 5