# 6513
The National Hurricane Center has released their 11am forecast update on T.S. Isaac, and while the storm remains poorly organized, the forecast envisions a strengthening system as it crosses Haiti late tomorrow.
How much mountainous terrain the storm must cross, and exactly when it begins an anticipated more northwesterly turn, will determine just how much of an impact this storm will have on Florida early next week.
The 11 am discussion warns that: SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY REMAINS ABOUT THE THREAT ISAAC POSES TO FLORIDA.
The forecast, for now, has Isaac at potentially hurricane strength off the west coast of Florida on Tuesday - but as the width of the `forecast cone’ suggests - it could be anywhere from off the east coast of Florida to the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.
As I’m sitting in the North East Quadrant of where the storm is forecast to be come Tuesday, I’ve already begun making plans.
While I don’t anticipate it will become necessary, I’ve several pre-arranged places I can bug-out to, if evacuations are ordered in my area.
Knowing where you will go is essential, if you live in an evacuation zone. In addition, I’m always ready to leave at a moment’s notice (see Inside My New Bug Out Bag).
My Bug-out-bag, Canteen, & Toiletry kit
A bug-out-bag should be a smaller version of a much larger emergency supply that every household should maintain. While a BOB should provide for 72 hours of your family's needs, if you live in hurricane country you should be prepared to stay at home, without outside assistance, for at least 1 to 2 weeks.
For more on how you can put together an emergency bug-out kit for you and your family, you may wish to visit Ready.gov for some additional advice.
A reminder that September is National Preparedness Month, and so I’ll be doing a lot of preparedness blogging next month.
If you haven’t already downloaded the Tropical Cyclone Preparedness Guide, now would be an excellent time to do so. It is a short (12-page), easy to follow guide that will walk you through the basics of understanding (and surviving) hurricanes and tropical storms.
When it comes to getting the latest information on hurricanes, your first stop should always be the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida. These are the real experts, and the only ones you should rely on to track and forecast the storm.
The second official information source you should have bookmarked is your local Office of Emergency Management.
If you are on Twitter, you should also follow @FEMA, @CraigatFEMA, @NHC_Atlantic, @NHC_Pacific and @ReadydotGov.
While it may seem to be a lot of work to get prepared to deal with an emergency, it really isn’t.
Preparing is easy.
It’s worrying that’s hard.
