As North Carolina continues to rebuild after Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 caused damage in the billions of dollars, it’s also preparing for a new hurricane season.

Preparation, whether by homeowners, businesses and governments, is key when it comes to making it through the hurricane season with as little adverse effects as possible.

The Atlantic Ocean hurricane season begins Thursday and ends Nov. 30. One named storm, Tropical Storm Arlene, formed April 19, about six weeks before the official beginning of the hurricane season. Storms also form after the end of a hurricane season. An unnamed storm formed in December 2013, affecting the Azores for three days.

This hurricane season, Beaufort County has someone new making preparations to deal with storms that threaten the county. Carnie Hedgepeth, the county’s emergency-services director, took over those duties from John Pack, who retired at the end of April. Hedgepeth said two websites — www.ready.gov and www.readync.org — provide information for preparing for hurricane season.

“What readync.org does, it has some of the same emergency supplies list from (ready.gov), but it talks about how to plan how to protect important papers, understanding planning for your pets. Pets are a big part of our lives today and what would happen in an emergency situation,” Hedgepeth said. “Then there is a piece of this ReadyNC that you can have an app that gives local weather, road conditions, power outages, open shelters and things.”

That information is provided by the N.C. Department of Public Safety, he said.

“As we would open up something in our county and get fed into the state system, this app would have that for each county, you know, things that are going on around you,” said Hedgepeth, adding it’s known as the ReadyNC mobile app. The app is available by going to the ReadyNC website.

“The time frame is coming around. We have already started reviewing our county emergency operations plan, just keeping it up to date, doing things that need to be done,” said Hedgepeth, who attended the N.C. Emergency Management hurricane conference in Greenville last week. “We’ve started scheduling Ready Talks, or emergency-preparedness talks. … If a group would like for us to come and give them a small presentation, we would be happy to come to a church, civic organization or anything like that and give that information out.”

Workshops, seminars and other events related to preparing for hurricanes before, during and after they affect the region have been abundant in recent months. So have tips on how to prepare an emergency-supplies kit for use in the event a hurricane or other major storm strikes the area.

“The thing that everybody’s getting prepared for, what gets us in the preparation mode, is the understanding that hurricane season is coming. For us in the east, we know that is the disaster that has affected us the most. So, that’s what we prepare for,” Hedgepeth said.

Hedgepeth recommends county residents go to the county’s website — www.co.beaufort.nc.us — and sign up for HyperReach service by clicking on the red prompt at the lower right of the homepage. “That’s our emergency alert that we would send out things. … We’ll send up-to-date information as we receive it from the National Hurricane Center, (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and from the state emergency management,” he said.

NOAA is the parental entity of the National Weather Service.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami is adding advisories highlighting specific storm hazards: Storm surge watches and warnings will be issued when U.S. communities are at risk for life-threatening flooding. The “uncertainty cone” showing a storm’s projected path will be updated to show how far damaging winds can reach. An experimental “time of arrival” graphic will show people when tropical storm-force winds are expected to start hitting their areas.

“Key data will be available earlier than ever to make informed decisions,” said Robert Fenton, acting administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

 

Understanding the terminology

A tropical cyclone is a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has a closed low-level circulation. Tropical cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere.

They are classified as follows:

• Tropical Depression — A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.
• Tropical Storm — A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph (34 to 63 knots).
• Hurricane — A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 knots) or higher. In the western North Pacific, hurricanes are called typhoons; similar storms in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific Ocean are called cyclones.
• Major Hurricane — A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 111 mph (96 knots) or higher, corresponding to a Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

Hurricane-preparedness kit

• Water — 1 gallon per person per day (a week’s supply of water is preferable)
• Water purification kit or bleach
• First-aid kit and first-aid book
• Precooked, nonperishable foods, such as canned meats, granola bars, instant soup and cereals, etc.
• Baby supplies: formula, bottle, pacifier, soap, baby powder, clothing, blankets, baby wipes, disposable diapers, canned food and juices
• Nonelectric can opener
• Anti-bacterial hand wipes or gel
• Blanket or sleeping bag per person
• Portable radio or portable TV and extra batteries
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Essential medications
• Extra pair of eyeglasses
• Extra house keys and car keys
• Fire extinguisher — ABC-type
• Food, water, leash and carrier for pets
• Cash and change
• Seasonal change of clothing, including sturdy shoes

Sanitation supplies

• Large plastic trash bags for waste, tarps and rain ponchos
• Large trash cans
• Bar soap and liquid detergent
• Shampoo
• Toothpaste and toothbrushes
• Feminine hygiene supplies
• Toilet paper
• Household bleach
• Rubber gloves

What to do before a hurricane makes landfall

• Listen to a NOAAWeather Radio for critical information from the National Weather Service.
• Check your disaster supplies and replace or restock as needed.
• Bring in anything that can be picked up by the wind (bicycles, lawn furniture).
• Close windows, doors and hurricane shutters. If you do not have hurricane shutters, close and board up all windows and doors with plywood.
• Turn the refrigerator and freezer to the coldest setting and keep them closed as much as possible so that food will last longer if the power goes out.
• Turn off propane tanks and unplug small appliances.
• Fill your car’s gas tank.
• Talk with members of your household and create an evacuation plan.
• Planning and practicing your evacuation plan minimizes confusion and fear during the event.
• Learn about your community’s hurricane response plan. Plan routes to local shelters, register family members with special medical needs as required and make plans for your pets to be cared for.
• Evacuate if advised by authorities. Be careful to avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.
• Because standard homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding, it’s important to have protection from the floods associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, heavy rains and other conditions that impact the U.S. For more information on flood insurance, visit the National Flood Insurance Program website at www.FloodSmart.gov.

What to do and not to do after a hurricane or major storm

• Continue listening to a NOAAWeather Radio or the local news for the latest updates.
• Stay alert for extended rainfall and subsequent flooding even after the hurricane or tropical storm has ended.
• If you evacuated, return home only when officials say it is safe.
• Drive only if necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.
• Keep away from loose or dangling power lines and report them immediately to the power company.
• Stay out of any building that has water around it.
• Inspect your home for damage. Take pictures of damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance purposes.
• Use flashlights in the dark. Do not use candles.
• Avoid drinking or preparing food with tap water until you are sure it’s not contaminated.
• Check refrigerated food for spoilage. If in doubt, throw it out.
• Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.
• Watch animals closely and keep them under your direct control.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.