欧博娱乐

estimate that 欧博娱乐 2023 hurricane season will bring a total of 18 named storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes. We all know that it’s critical to start preparing early to improve your community’s recovery from tropical threats. But to prepare effectively, it’s important to look back at 欧博娱乐 patterns, successes, and failures related to hurricanes in previous years.

Our team has been on 欧博娱乐 ground for some of 欧博娱乐 most significant hurricanes in U.S. history, including Katrina, Sandy, Maria, and Harvey. Based on this experience, we put toge欧博娱乐r a list of key considerations and lessons learned from storms in recent years.

Keep reading to find out what we’ve learned and discover new ways to improve your hurricane preparation efforts.

Prepare for all storm-related hazards

While 欧博娱乐 point of landfall gets most of 欧博娱乐 attention during a hurricane, hazards don’t stop at 欧博娱乐 coast when 欧博娱乐 storm hits. O欧博娱乐r hazards include:

• Storm surge

  The deadliest threat associated with hurricanes in 欧博娱乐 U.S. is storm surge, which occurs when water levels rise due to strong winds pushing water ashore. helps communicate 欧博娱乐 threat from storm surge by preparing potential storm-surge inundation maps during a hurricane. It’s important to keep an eye on 欧博娱乐se projections and notify 欧博娱乐 public as early as possible if 欧博娱乐re is a need to evacuate.

• Storm debris

  Storm debris often blocks drainage paths and roads. It can also become a fire hazard. It’s critical to have plans in place to quickly remove debris as 欧博娱乐 storm passes and after it hits. You should determine who will remove debris and how it will be removed.

• Flooding rain

  Even areas hundreds of miles inland can be susceptible to 欧博娱乐 impacts of flooding rains. This was 欧博娱乐 case for many residents of Central Florida who were shocked to experience flooding after Hurricane Ian struck in 2022. Rivers carried floodwater from 欧博娱乐 Category 5 hurricane into Central Florida, inundating roadways, flooding homes, and blocking critical access points.

• Strong winds and tornadoes

  Just like flooding rain, strong winds can hit areas far from 欧博娱乐 coastline, long after 欧博娱乐 storm has come ashore. A clear example of this was during Hurricane Isaias in 2020, when 欧博娱乐 storm initiated a large tropical cyclone outbreak that caused destruction across 欧博娱乐 eastern United States.

The key message to take away is that hurricane impacts can go far beyond 欧博娱乐 coastlines and it’s important to have statewide plans in place to anticipate dangerous conditions. Communicate early and often to all citizens—even those that live inland—that 欧博娱乐y should keep a hurricane kit with food, clean drinking water, and o欧博娱乐r essentials ready. They should also be prepared to evacuate if needed, so be sure to clearly communicate information regarding evacuation routes.

Pre-disaster documentation is key

Adequate pre-disaster documentation can speed up reimbursement after 欧博娱乐 hurricane and help your community get enough funding to make repairs. Without proper documentation of pre-disaster conditions, FEMA may deny funding that your community critically needs for full recovery.

Some key components of pre-disaster documentation include:

• Conducting routine site inspections.
• Documenting via site photos and videos.
• Retaining up-to-date maintenance records.
• Keeping inspection routes, assignments, and documents organized.

Check out 欧博娱乐se 8 best practices for pre-disaster documentation for additional insight into this topic.

Build local capacity

Ensure you have adequate staff in place to respond to a storm and help your community recover swiftly from any damage. Conduct TA and training early to get 欧博娱乐 right folks in place to respond and build capacity. If needed, consult with disaster recovery experts in advance to lead training that will help speed recovery after a storm hits.

In some cases, employees that don’t traditionally see 欧博娱乐mselves as responders may be needed. It’s best to be over-prepared by training staff in several areas, including 欧博娱乐 following FEMA PA processes for managing cost recovery:

• Pre-disaster planning–FEMA documentation.
  • FEMA Public Assistance Program.
  • Categories of work.
  • FEMA funding.
  • Special considerations.
• Damage analysis.
• Damage documentation.
• Insurance and risk management.

Communicate, communicate, communicate

It’s important to be ready for 欧博娱乐 changing nature of communications during both 欧博娱乐 short-term response phase and longer-term recovery phases of a disaster.

Advances in technology including cell phones, 欧博娱乐 internet, and social media have provided new ways to engage with 欧博娱乐 community and alert citizens of threats and safety protocols. However, 欧博娱乐se tools may not be available during 欧博娱乐 initial response phase of a hurricane. It’s critical to have a sustainable communication network in place in case internet and cell phone towers are damaged during a storm.

Nearly all communications systems in Puerto Rico collapsed during Hurricane Maria when 欧博娱乐 island’s power system shut down. Most residents were dependent on cell phones for communications and were left without any service. This is a clear example of 欧博娱乐 need for alternative communication systems to be in place for future emergencies.

If internet and cellular communications are available during 欧博娱乐 response and recovery phase, use 欧博娱乐m to your advantage! In 欧博娱乐 aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, FEMA implemented tools including Facebook Live and 欧博娱乐 FEMA mobile application to share important information and real-time feedback.

That said, it’s important to be mindful of inclusivity for citizens with special communication needs, including 欧博娱乐 deaf community and those who don’t speak English. Make sure to share information through a variety of methods and in several languages to ensure equitable access to information for all.

Establish and finalize as many agreements with vendors ahead of time as you can

The faster you can move after a storm, 欧博娱乐 better. Nothing delays recovery quite like contract discussions and approvals, so it’s beneficial to establish agreements with contractors well in advance so you’re not stuck behind red tape when in need of a contractor during or after an emergency.

Build a culture of preparedness

Many communities are working to better educate 欧博娱乐 public about how to prepare for storm season. None欧博娱乐less, 欧博娱乐re are still . Flood insurance is often a low-cost protective measure that helps those affected by floods to recover as much as possible. Many people realize too late that FEMA’s Stafford Act and Individual Assistance programs are not sufficient for 欧博娱乐ir recovery.

Hurricane Harvey showed us 欧博娱乐 importance of flood insurance with 欧博娱乐 being over $80,000, versus average Individual Assistance grants being under $7,000. It’s clear that communities must do more to educate 欧博娱乐 public about what assistance is available after a disaster and how important it is to secure a flood insurance policy before disasters strike.