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First coronavirus and now this… Sixteen named storms, including 8 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, are predicted for the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, according to early predictions by experts at Colorado State University.
According to the predictions of the experts, the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is going to bring above-normal activity.
The forecast foresees 16 named storms in 2020, eight of which will be hurricanes and four of those will be considered major hurricanes ranging between category 3 to 5, which means sustained winds of at least 111 miles per hour. The Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1 and continues until November 30.
The predictions foresee a 69% chance of at least one major hurricane making landfall along the US coastline in 2020. This is higher than the average for the last century of 52%, according to the researchers.
In addition, the predictions allocate a 95% chance that at least one hurricane will make landfall in the US this year – the average is 84%.
The most important thing anyone living in areas that can be affected by hurricanes should take away from this news is to start getting prepared now.
Develop a family emergency plan. Start with planning and preparing your evacuation and communications strategy. Look for the best cell phone family plan and make sure that every member of your family has a cell phone so that you can stay in contact should you get separated.
Have an emergency kit that has at least a 3 day supply of food and water, as well as a flashlight and backup battery chargers for your cell phone and more.
The best source of information you can research online can be found at the national hurricane center. You can visit their hurricane preparedness page here to get all the details and facts.
As if the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) didn’t have its hands full already dealing with the coronavirus pandemic in all 50 contiguous states – the prospect of a more active than average hurricane season has just been predicted.
A day earlier than this latest hurricane forecast, FEMA announced it was contemplating setting up a second National Response Coordination Center to deal with the hurricane season. But now with this prediction of 4 major hurricanes, FEMA’s need to set up a second coordination Center is almost a certainty.
In addition, as FEMA personnel is stretched to the limits, the agency is also considering reaching out to retirees and rehiring them to temporarily expand its ranks with experienced individuals in order to have the necessary staffing to deal with major battles on two fronts.
