It’s hard to believe, but yet another hurricane season is upon us, with the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season officially beginning on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. However, due to early season storm activity in the last several years, the National Hurricane Center is currently considering extending the dates of the hurricane season. No final decision has yet been made.
According to Colorado State University, this season is expected to have above-average activity, with at least 19 named storms and 9 hurricanes, 4 of which will be Category 3 or higher.
Even more worrisome is a swath of warm water that is looping unusually far into the Gulf of Mexico for this time of year. Known as a Loop Current, this phenomenon has the capability to turn tropical systems into monster hurricanes along the Gulf Coast region. When a Loop Current reaches this far north this early in the hurricane season, especially during what’s forecast to be a busy season, it can lead to catastrophic results for residents from Texas to Florida.
Early preparation is extremely important, especially for the 2022 season, so here are some household and general preparedness tips for you and your family:
Have Extra Gas and Canisters on Hand — Having extra containers filled with gasoline would be a good idea. Gas should be stored at room temperature away from potential heat sources such as the sun, a hot water heater, space heaters and a least 50 feet away from ignition sources such as pilot lights
Start Buying Extra Water – Store drinking water well in advance. It is recommended that you have at least two weeks of drinking water on hand and experts estimate storing one gallon of water, per-person, per day. This supply does not include water that should be stored in bathtubs prior to a storm, which would be used for sanitary purposes and flushing toilets.
Trim Trees Around Your Property – Proper trimming of branches and trees in and around your property will help them survive a strong storm. In addition, you are reducing the potential for breakaway debris turning into dangerous projectiles.
Get a Waterproof Bucket/Container – It is a good idea to have an airtight, waterproof container on hand to store valuable items such as birth certificates, insurance papers, flashlights, batteries or anything else you do not want to get wet in the event water or rain comes inside your home.
Store Documents In The Cloud – Consider scanning all of your important documents and photos and storing them on a cloud-based server such as Google Docs or Dropbox. If your computer(s) or filing cabinets sustain water damage, you want to ensure all of your important information, files and photos are backed up at an offsite location.
Purchase a Generator – If it’s within your budget, consider buying a generator in case the power goes out. Be sure to leave the box unopened if you would like to resell the item after hurricane season ends.
Get an Insurance Checkup – Call your insurance company or agent and ask for an insurance check-up to make sure you have enough insurance to repair or even replace your home and/or belongings.
The above recommendations are just a few ideas on how to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. For a full hurricane preparedness checklist, visit: https://www.noaa.gov/hurricane-prep
For additional information on how a hurricane can potentially impact your home’s plumbing system, please call Kyle Plumbing toll free at 1-888-405-0770.
2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season Storm Names:
Alex, Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Martin, Nicole, Owen, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virginie, Walter
The post The 2022 Hurricane Season Begins June 1st and Forecasters Have Some Troubling Predictions first appeared on Kyle Plumbing.
