Blackmon Mooring Blog

Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 22-28.  As part of the mission, Blackmon Mooring is encouraging everyone to take the time to understand the potential dangers and how to be prepared in the event of this natural disaster.

The Hurricane Basics - What is a Hurricane?

A hurricane is an intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or higher.

Hurricanes are categorized according to the strength of their winds using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. A Category 1 storm has the lowest wind speeds, while a Category 5 hurricane has the strongest. These are relative terms, because lower category storms can sometimes inflict greater damage than higher category storms, depending on where they strike and the particular hazards they bring. In fact, tropical storms can also produce significant damage and loss of life, mainly due to flooding.

What Can You Do? Get a Plan!

The 2011 Hurricane season is predicted to be very active. Be sure to have a family plan and brush up on your hurricane safety.

Here are some additional Hurricane resources:

Hurricane History (article)

Storm Surges (article)

Storm Surges (video)

High Winds (video)

High Winds (article)

Inland Flooding (video)

Inland Flooding (article)

Forecasts (video)

Forecasts (article)

May 15 marks the beginning of Hurricane season for the Pacific basin with June 1 marking the beginning for the Atlantic basin. This year hurricane activity is predicted to produce above-average activity. 16 total storms are predicted, 9 being hurricanes and 5 developing into major hurricanes.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Whether or not you live near the coast, with summer vacations ahead, it's a good time for everyone to be aware of hurricane safety.

Develop a Family Hurricane Disaster Plan

• Know your home's vulnerability to wind and flooding.

• Determine the safest room in your home. In some cases, your home may not be the safest place, but rather somewhere nearby.

• Determine your escape routes and meeting locations.

• Determine an out-of-state friend as your family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.

• Know whether or not you have flood insurance coverage. Most home-owner policies do not cover flood damage and you must purchase this separately. For more information on Flood insurance, visit: http://www.floodalert.fema.gov/

• Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.

• Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit. In addition, use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.

Securing Your Home

If you your home is under a hurricane watch, the most important areas of your home to protect are those which wind could enter.

Be sure to check your:

• Roof
• Straps (roof to wall connections)
• Shutters & windows
• Doors
• Garage Doors

You don't have to wait until a hurricane is about to hit to secure your home. Start getting in the habit of regular home inspections and updates when needed.  With just a little planning and preparation, your family and home can be prepared when disaster strikes.

For more information about hurricane safety, visit NOAA.gov.