Hurricane Preparedness

NOAA's updated 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook indicates that an above-normal hurricane season is most likely, with the possibility that the season could be extremely active. Hurricane season began on June 1, and the statistical peak of activity is mid-September.

No matter the forecast for number of storms, major hurricanes, and land-falling hurricanes, it only takes one storm to cause many deaths and billions in damages. "Superstorm" Sandy was not technically a hurricane when it made landfall, but it caused billions in damages. Recovery efforts continue years later.

Hurricane hazards include damaging wind, hurricane-spawned tornadoes, flooding from heavy rainfall, and coastal flooding from storm surge. Cascading impacts result from damage to critical infrastructure including electrical power, telecommunications, and transportation. Hurricane Katrina proved that these cascading impacts include widespread supply chain disruption.

Hazard mitigation can substantially reduce the damage caused by hurricanes. Property insurer FM Global compared the loss history of its policyholders that implemented its loss prevention recommendations with those with outstanding recommendations to complete. FM found that those policyholders that fully implemented its preparedness recommendations had on average 75% to 85% lower dollar losses than those policyholders that did not implement such measures.

This 7-page Preparedness Bulletin provides extensive guidance for mitigating hurricane hazards, organizing a team for storm preparedness and response, developing a preparedness and recovery plan, and planning for business continuity and family support.

Program Development Resources: All Preparedness Bulletins are posted to our website. Be sure to check out the hundreds of links to program development resources and download the program self-assessment checklist based on NFPA 1600.