Hurricane Preparedness Week

North Carolina, New Hanover – With less than a month to go before the start of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, state authorities recall the importance of being prepared for possible storm impacts on the North Carolina coast.

“North Carolina is prone to the impacts of hurricanes, tropical storms and other severe weather conditions,” said Governor Roy Cooper.

“It’s important to be prepared by having a family emergency plan and emergency kit, which will help you survive the impacts of a storm and recover more quickly,” he added.

National Hurricane Preparedness Week

At National Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 1-7, Will Ray, Director of Emergency Management for North Carolina, shared some tips.

“Being prepared also includes having flood insurance, which is not typically part of homeowners insurance policies,” Ray said.

“It is also important that we all take care of our neighbors, especially the elderly who may be more vulnerable,” he said.

Hurricane Preparedness and Tropical Weather

New Hanover County Emergency Management will host a Learn session on Wednesday, May 11.

This session, which will cover hurricane preparedness and tropical weather, can be attended in person and virtually.

In person:

Human Resources Training Room at the New Hanover County Government Center

230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington

Virtually:

To sign up, follow this link .

Risk of storms in the Atlantic and the Gulf Coast

Steven Still, director of Emergency Management for New Hanover County, noted that living by the ocean carries risk of Atlantic and Gulf Coast storms.

These storms, he explained, bring heavy rain, wind and flooding to the New Hanover County area.

“It’s important to have a plan for what you and your family will do before a storm hits so you can be in a safe place when it hits,” he said.

In addition, he recommended having an emergency kit ready and making sure you have food and supplies you may need during and after a storm.

As well as having a way to “stay informed with critical weather and life safety information.”

Impact on North Carolina

According to statistics from the North Carolina State Climate Office :

• 84 storms have made direct landfall on the North Carolina coast since 1851
• And 303 storms have made landfall elsewhere but continue to affect the state.
• That averages 2.26 tropical storms affecting the state each year.

“Having a plan before, during, and after the storm is crucial to staying safe and protecting your loved ones, while working to minimize potential damage to your home and property.”

Suggested Tips

Some of the suggested Emergency Management tips include:

• If possible, move inland.
• While local storm shelters may open depending on the severity of the storm, these facilities should be considered a last resort
• Visit the website Know your area to see your risk of storm surge flooding from hurricanes.
• Storm damage and flooding are generally more severe near the coast
• Therefore, evacuating to the interior of the state is a good practice to be out of danger.
• Have 72-hour supplies on hand, such as food, water, prescriptions, pet supplies, clothing, and other necessities,
• There is a high probability that power will be lost and roads will be unusable, so having non-perishable items is key.
• Start preparing your home now by trimming trees or removing dead or leaning trees;
• Have plans to easily secure your home before a storm,
• Especially windows and doors, as wind and flying debris can cause damage.
• Visit ReadyNHC.com For information on local hazards that could affect our area, sign up for emergency alerts.
• Subscribe to New Hanover County Emergency News Updates
• Plus, sign up for updates from the National Weather Service so you can stay informed.
• During an emergency, keep an eye on the local media and New Hanover County at Twitter , Facebook , Instagram y Nextdoor for continuous updates.
• Visit Prepare NC Informational and resource guide in Spanish from Enlace Latino NC

“Please remember that every storm is different. A Category 1 hurricane can be just as severe as a Category 5, just in different ways,” Still said.

“And while a similar-sized storm might have done little damage a few years ago, that might not be the case this time,” Still said.

Have a plan

Still stressed that no matter what happens, it’s important to be prepared and have a plan to ensure you and your family are safe.

Also, Still explained that if a person has medical, access or functional needs that would put them at greater risk during an emergency event, they can enroll in the Special Needs Registry County.

“We encourage you to do so so we can make sure you have a plan in place before an emergency.”

devastating effects

The authorities, in a statement, explained that tropical storms and hurricanes are common in North Carolina.

On this subject, they mentioned, the state is currently recovering from the devastating effects of multiple large storms, including Tropical Storm Fred, which caused devastation and six deaths in western North Carolina last year.

Additionally, in 2020 Hurricane Isaias and the remnants of Hurricane Eta hit parts of the state.

This, just like Hurricane Dorian in 2019; Hurricane Florence, Tropical Storms Michael and Alberto in 2018; and Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

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