Hurricane Season is upon is, and with Irma still fresh on our minds, it would behoove us all to be ready for whatever comes our way in the next few months.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters are predicting a 70-percent likelihood of 10 to 16 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher) this year. Five to nine of those could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher). And one to four could become major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher).
As we learned with Irma, it only takes one to be a nightmare. Debris strewn throughout the community, days without electricity, damaged roofs, trees uprooted, sinkholes and nasty flooding on the Historic Side of The Villages – those were just a few of things we had to deal with this past September after Irma’s eye roared right over The Villages.
Few of us will forget dealing with flooded golf cart tunnels after the storm dumped an estimated 12 to 15 inches of rain on the local area in 12 to 18 hours. We certainly won’t forget homes affected by floodwaters from Lake Paradise and the standing water that kept golf courses closed for days on end. And it’s probably best not to get residents started on just how long it took to get debris cleared out of the community.
Yes, Irma taught us some valuable lessons, the most important of which is that residents must do everything they can to be ready – long before the storm arrives.
According to the National Hurricane Center, that means educating yourself now. Know if you live in evacuation area. Know your home’s vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind. And know where shelters are located and when they will open so you can move quickly if need be.
It’s vital to have a plan in place and to go over it with family members. Everyone must be prepared for the unexpected. And since some friends and family might not be together when a hurricane hits, know how you will find each other afterwards.
Also, don’t forget to fill up your vehicles with fuel. Gas lines will form quickly and stations will run out. And resupplies might not arrive until a couple of weeks after the storm.
Of course, one of the most important things you can do is to put together an emergency supply kit. The National Hurricane Center recommends you include the following:
• One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• At least a three-day supply of non-perishable food with a manual can opener
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• NOAA weather radio with tone alert
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Extra batteries (these sell fast so be prepared)
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place if need be
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers and a backup battery.
Additional items you might consider, depending on your situation, include:
• Prescription medications in the sealed bottles they came in
• Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids or laxatives
• Glasses and contact lense solution
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, diaper rash cream
• Pet food and extra water for your pet
• Cash or traveler’s checks
• Important family documents such as insurance policies, identification and bank account records
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person
• A couple of complete changes of clothing and sturdy shoes
• Household chlorine bleach and a medicine dropper to disinfect water
• Fire extinguisher.
It’s also important to keep a list of pertinent contacts, such as local emergency management and government offices, hospitals, utilities, the local chapter of the American Red Cross and your insurance agent. And don’t hesitate to call 911 if you have an emergency that requires help from law enforcement, fire departments or EMS units.
There are many wonderful things about living in the Sunshine State, but we’re pretty sure none of us would put dealing with hurricanes and tornadoes that sometimes come along with them on that list. But when you live on a huge peninsula that’s surrounded by water on three sides, you have to do whatever it takes to be ready when tropical storms and hurricanes form.
That was certainly evident this past week when Subtropical Storm Alberto danced up the Gulf Coast of Florida, bringing heavy rains and soggy conditions – several days before Hurricane Season officially started.
We have no doubt that we all learned some valuable lessons from Irma last year. It’s important that we use that knowledge to get even more prepared this time around. And we must remember to get ready long before storms are rapidly bearing down on us.
Finally, we encourage everyone to do what Villagers do best – take care of your friends and neighbors when storms hit. If someone’s alone, invite them to hunker down with you. And if you’re forced to go to a shelter, make sure those people go with you.
This community is about neighbors helping neighbors. It always has been. And we’re confident that it will be that way even more so if we find ourselves in the path of tropical storms or hurricanes in the coming months.
