What should we do now to prepare for a hurricane?
Moving into hurricane season, it’s time to make sure the family is ready if they can be anywhere on the tropical weather road.
Kiko is dissipated in the Central Pacific, but there is a new obstruction that forecasters maintain tabs.
In an early morning consultation on Thursday, September 11, the National Hurricane Centre said it was tracking showers and thunderstorms associated with low-pressure areas off the southern coast of Mexico.
The system labelled EP95 continues to show signs of the organization, and environmental conditions are preferred for further development, Hurricane Centre predictors said in their advisory. Tropical depression could form on Thursday, September 11th, as the system is roughly parallel to southern Mexico and southwest coasts, but West Northwest Ward moves westward, according to the Hurricane Center.
Forecasters advise residents along Mexico’s southwest and southwest coasts to monitor the progress of the system as there is a possibility of 90% formation over the next 48 hours.
Meanwhile, in the Atlantic, the NHC said it was tracking the predicted tropical waves appearing off the coast of West Africa by Friday, September 12th. Forecasters said environmental conditions could move east or west over the weekend and early next week.
The predictor gives the system the chance to form a 30% chance over the next 7 days.
Storm Tracker
This predicted track shows the most likely pathway in the center of the storm. The full width of the storm or its impact is not shown, and the storm center can move out of the cone for up to 33% of the time.
How do hurricanes form?
Hurricanes originate in the tropical regions above warm waters. Thunderstorm clusters can develop across the ocean when the water temperature exceeds 80 degrees. If conditions are correct, clusters are swirling into tropical waves and storms known as tropical depression.
Tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm when its sustained wind speed reaches 39 mph. When the wind reaches 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.
Get ready for a hurricane now
Delaying preparations to potentially save lives could mean waiting until it’s too late. “Get disaster supply while the shelves are still in stock and flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period, so get that insurance inspection early,” the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recommends.
- Establish an evacuation plan. If you are at risk from a hurricane, you will need an evacuation plan. Now is the time to plan where you will go and how you will get there.
- Assemble disaster supply. Whether you’re evacuated or not, you’ll need supplies not only to get through the storm, but perhaps for the long aftermath, NOAA said.
- Get an insurance inspection and document your property. Contact your insurance company or agent now to ask for an insurance inspection to make sure you have enough insurance to repair or replace your home or belongings. Remember that housing and tenant insurance doesn’t cover floods, so you’ll need individual insurance for them. Flood insurance is available through your company, agent, or through your national flood insurance program. Flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period, so take action now.
- Create a family communication plan. NOAA says you should take the time to write down your hurricane plans and share them with your family. Determine where family gatherings are to be met and include out-of-town locations in case of evacuation.
- It strengthens your home. Now is the time to improve the home’s ability to withstand hurricanes. Trim the wood and attach the storm shutter, accordion shutter and impact glass. Seal the wall opening.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter for USA Today. You can follow him with X @geuna Alternatively, email him at gdhauari@gannett.com.
