Emergency Officials Stressing Hurricane Preparedness

COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

FRAMINGHAM – Governor Charlie Baker is looking to make sure residents in the state are ready for possible major storms this summer and fall and has proclaimed it Hurricane Preparedness Week.

The week promotes the importance of preparing for the effects that potential hurricanes and tropical storms have on residents, homes, businesses and infrastructure.

This year officials are also stressing the destructive and damage that can be done by water.

“We tend to think of hurricanes as wind events,” said Peter Judge, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. “But the reality of it is, most deaths – most damage are really [caused] by water, whether it’s the storm surge or it’s flooding from extensive rain.”

Judge said the first thing residents need to do to get prepared is to build an emergency kit.

“These storms will take power out and isolate people,” Judge said. The kits should include what you would need for your family in case you are isolated for an extended period of time.

Families should also develop a communication plan in case family members get separated from one another during a hurricane or other emergencies.

“How are you going to be able to let folks know that you are safe and find out the condition of everyone else in your family, relatives or other information?” Judge said.

Residents should also learn how they will stay informed during a storm and know where they can get information whether from television, radio, or social media and having alternatives in case one or more of those systems is unavailable.

“You should find out if you are in a location that is susceptible to flooding from a storm and what are the best evacuation routes,” Judge said.

For detailed information about hurricanes and tropical storms and the hazards they present, along with safety tips visit mass.gov/mema.

The official Atlantic Hurricane season is underway and runs through the end of November. The majority of major storms that impact the region occur during the months of August and September.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted near-normal activity for this year’s hurricane season.