With the 2016 storm season approaching, it is better to be prepared than caught with only your hurricane shutters down. Here are some recommendations to be safe during the season
Although hurricane season in the Atlantic basin runs from June 1 to November 30, not all of these major storms will make landfall, and of those that do, few (if any) will be headed to the Riviera Maya. The last major hurricanes that hit our area happened in 2005, with Emily in June and Wilma in October. This was such an anomaly that nobody expects it to be repeated anytime soon. Hurricanes like Dolly in 2008, Ida in 2009, and Arlene in 2011 didn’t pack as much punch. However, you still need to be sure you are prepared if a storm should hit us.
Recommendations
What to do before a hurricane
- Listen to weather reports on the television and radio.
- Make sure you check emergency equipment, supplies, and first aid kits.
- Laminate a card with emergency contacts & important numbers.
- Store canned food and bottled water.
- Fill your grill & car´s tank
- Secure all important documents in waterproof container
What to do during a hurricane
- Stay in a safe place.
- Keep away from windows.
- Stay calm.
- Don’t go out while the eye of the hurricane passes over the area, as winds will pick up again in less than half an hour.
What to do after a hurricane
- If you had to evacuate, wait for authorization to return.
- Stay away from disaster zones.
- Walk and drive with caution.
The 2016 hurricane forecast is predicted to be from near-normal to hyperactive, due to a combination of factors including a possible transition to la Niña conditions and an atypical cold body of water in the North Atlantic Ocean, making it the unknown factors in many forecasts. Some meteorologists like those at AccuWeather say that this colder-than-normal sea-surface temperature could affect the prognosis, depending on whether currents will draw cold water from this phenomenon southward. Reports, even from Miami’s NHC (National Hurricane Center), can change on a weekly if not daily basis depending on fluctuating atmospheric events. Others such as Colorado State University’s Dr. Phil Klotzbach, in consultation with the late hurricane expert William Gray, so far have called for near-average activity in the Atlantic.
In case a hurricane does head towards the Riviera Maya, it is important to be prepared. Please use the recommendations we have outlined in this article. For additional information on hurricane preparations, please visit www.nhc.noaa.gov
