Avian Flu Diary: National Hurricane Preparedness Week: Day 1

2017 - Three Major Hurricane Disasters In Just Over 30 Days

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Today is the start of 2019's Hurricane Preparedness week, and while we always hope we'll be spared a horrific season, 2017 (see above) was one major hit after another (Harvey, Irma, and Maria), and last year Hurricane Michael became only the 4th Category 5 storm on record to hit the continental United States, and Hurricane Florence battered the Carolinas.

Nearly two years after the fact, there are still thousands of people trying to recover from the storms of 2017 - particularly in Puerto Rico - and many more remain traumatized by the experience.

While many people believe they have to live on the coast - near where a hurricane makes landfall - to be in any real jeopardy, the truth is people a thousand miles inland can be affected as well.

Perhaps the most infamous example came in 1972, when a lackluster Cat 1 Hurricane Agnes made landfall in the Florida Panhandle, then meandered north as a tropical depression, dropping massive rains across Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York a week later.

Of the 122 deaths associated with this storm, only 9 occurred in Florida where Agnes made landfall. The rest - 113 deaths - were due to inland fresh water flooding, with New York and Pennsylvania suffering the highest loses.

Odds are, no one sitting at home in New York state or Pennsylvania on the night of June 19th, 1972 gave much thought to a marginal hurricane that was making landfall more than a thousand miles to their south.

Other storms with far-reaching impact include:

Hurricane Hazel, which had already devastated Haiti (400-1000 deaths) came ashore on the North-South Carolina border in August of 1954. She claimed 95 lives in the United States and was responsible for as many as 100 deaths in Canada.

Hurricane Camille, a Cat 5 Monster which slammed into the Mississippi coastline in 1969, also killed 113 people in associated flooding in Virginia.

And Audrey, the horrific `surprise’ gulf coast CAT 4 storm of 1957 - that claimed more than 550 lives - killed at least 15 people in Canada.

As you can see by the examples above, the risks extend far beyond the point of landfall, and can include both wind damage (straight line, or twisters), and inland flooding.

The message from the National Hurricane Center on Day One of National Hurricane Preparedness Week is to determine your risk.

Sunday, May 5th

Find out today what types of wind and water hazards could happen where you live, and then start preparing now for how to handle them. Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem. Their impacts can be felt hundreds of miles inland, and significant impacts can occur without it being a major hurricane. Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 5-11, 2019) is your time to prepare for a potential land-falling tropical storm or hurricane.

NOAA Coastal Services historical hurricane tracks tool

Hurricane Return Periods

Even if you live outside of the reasonable reach of a hurricane's wrath, you almost certainly have other risks to considered. Earthquakes, tornadoes, Derechos, wildfires, floods, pandemics, and other disasters can be every bit as devastating as a hurricane.

While we look at hurricane preparedness specifically this week, there are plenty of reasons for everyone to prepare as well.

While the immediate crisis may last only 12 to 24 hours, the aftermath – where power may be out, businesses may be closed, and services may curtailed - can drag on for weeks.

Reasons why every home should have no less than a 72-hour supply of emergency food and water, a good first aid kit, emergency lighting (not candles!), a battery operated radio, and a disaster plan.

Having preps for two weeks is not unreasonable.

Basic kit : NWS radio, First Aid Kit, Lanterns, Water & Food & cash

If you and your family aren't already prepared for a week or two disruption in power, water, food or medicine distribution - or any other extended disaster - you should seriously consider doing so. A good place to get started is by visiting Ready.gov.

Some other preparedness resources you might want to revisit include: