Hurricane preparedness: 6 easy steps to take now to be ready

The official start of hurricane season for the Atlantic is June 1, and before we know it, the season will be here. This is why this week we are bringing you information not only about what we can expect this hurricane season but also ways that you can be prepared ahead of time.

2022 was another historic hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin. Although statistically the season was slightly below average, it served as a good reminder that it only takes one storm. The 2022 hurricane season left a total of 304 fatalities and it was the third costliest tropical season on record. There were 14 named storms, of which 8 became hurricanes, and from these, 2 became major category hurricanes.

Most meteorological models signal that there will be an El Niño developing during the peak months of the year; August, September, and October. El Niño usually causes stronger wind shear in the Atlantic, which decreases the chance for storms to develop, but this is just one ingredient in a well-complicated recipe. Sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic are warmer than average, and we know that warm waters are the fuel for storms to develop.

Although the season's forecast call for a near-average season with chances of slightly below-average activity, the most important fact to remember is that hurricane forecasts are used for guidance, and they cannot point us to where a storm, or hurricane, might land. It only takes one storm to make it a busy (and possibly devastating) season for you. Remember Ian? Nicole?

Since 2000, there have been 12 years where we have had storms forming as early as April, and even one in January (Hurricane Alex in 2016). This year, the National Hurricane Center informed the public that there was a subtropical storm that formed in January over the Northern Atlantic. This was discovered after a late analysis, so it won't take the official first name of the list. According to a statement from the NHC, "January storms aren't really related to the actual upcoming season. If anything they are more related to the previous season." So we can once again say that this season does not seem to be starting early.

An early storm can be as devastating as a regular-season storm if the right conditions and patterns are present. So it is best to be prepared ahead of the season, even ahead of the peak if no storms were to develop early in the season.

Don’t let one storm become a problem. Here are some preparations you can do now to save time, headaches, and money in case a storm threatens: