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Summer Safety | Disaster Prep Toolkit
The COVID-19 pandemic has kept people close to home so they can avoid the contagious virus. But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a more active than normal hurricane season. It is also wildfire season for those living in the Western half of the United States. So now's the best time to prepare for health care needs if an emergency requires leaving home to seek safe shelter elsewhere.
The Atlantic hurricane season typically starts in June and goes through the end of November. The Eastern Pacific hurricane season usually runs from mid-May to the end of November. Already, there have been three named storms, including Cristobal.
NOAA predicts 13 to 19 named storms bringing heavy rain and wind. Six to 10 could become hurricanes, according to NOAA, including three to six major hurricanes. "Major" is defined as category 3, 4, or 5, with winds of at least 111 miles per hour.
For those living in the Rocky Mountains, Texas, and the West Coast, wildfires are of particular concern. Peak season is from May through October. More wildfires occur in eastern and central states, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, or NIFC. Wildfires in the West are larger and burn more acreage, the NIFC said.
California's 2018 wildfire season was the most destructive on record, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, citing data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. In California alone, more than 7,500 fires burned nearly 1.7 million acres of land, damaged or destroyed over 23,000 structures, and caused 93 deaths.