2018 Hurricane Season: Let's Get Ready

May 23, 2018

The 2018 hurricane season is almost upon us and Child Care Aware® of America wants to ensure that you and those for which you care are ready!

According to the National Weather Service, in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, hurricane season begins on May 15 and ends November 30, while the Atlantic hurricane season officially starts on June 1 and will run through November 30.

Hurricanes may be on the minds of many because of what we saw last fall. In total, there were ten hurricanes in 2017, 17 named storms, and for the first time on record, three Category 4 hurricanes that made landfall in the United States: Harvey, Irma and Maria. September 2017 was the most active month on record for Atlantic hurricanes.

As for what to expect this year, the AccuWeather forecast is predicting a near normal to slightly above-normal year with between 12-15 tropical storms during the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. Of those storms, 6-8 are forecast to become hurricanes and 3-5 are forecast to become major hurricanes.

Preparing and planning now mean you will be ready should your area be affected by storms.

What You Can Do to Prepare Today

Being prepared is essential, so use the below guide as a way to start getting ready.

   

 

 

 

Learn about the Emergency Preparedness Training for Child Care Providers

Topics: Best Practices, Health & Safety, emergency preparedness

Julie Looper Coats

Written by Julie Looper Coats

Julie Looper Coats serves as the Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response at Child Care Aware® of America. Her professional service includes work as Senior Program Analyst for the Medical Reserve Corps project at the National Association of County and City Health Officials in Washington, D.C., where she supported Public Health Preparedness efforts across the country. Julie also has experience in emergency preparedness and response at the local level, working at the Oklahoma City – County Health Department from 2010-2014, where she managed the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps during several severe weather deployments, as well as provided support during the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon and other large-scale events. Julie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Emergency and Disaster Management.