North Carolina State University researchers are predicting a normal hurricane season this year, with 13 to 16 named storms in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Five to seven of those named storms are expected to become hurricanes, with the possibility of two to three storms becoming major hurricanes. The National Hurricane Centerhas yet to release their 2019 hurricane predictions.
With the start of the Atlantic hurricane season less than a month away, state and federal officials are urging homeowners, renters and businesses to prepare now. Here are reccomendations from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on how to prepare:
- Know your risk. Visit FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center to learn your risk of flooding.
- Stay informed. Download an emergency weather app on your phone. Purchase a weather radio.
- Plan to evacuate. Know your community’s evacuation plan, evacuation routes and how to receive alerts.
- Build an emergency kit. Keep it ready at home, at work and in the car.
- Buy flood insurance. Most home insurance policies do not cover flooding. National Flood Insurance Program policies take 30 days from the date of purchase to go into effect. To learn more about protecting your home, visit www.floodsmart.gov.
- Protect your documents. Keep computers and important documents in a waterproof container. Remember to create password-protected digital copies.
- Protect your property. Move valuables to higher levels.
