When hurricanes make landfall, they can cause massive damage from powerful winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, tornadoes, and landslides.
Hurricanes can travel up to 200 miles inland. Although hurricanes are often downgraded to tropical storms as they move inland, these storms can cause massive damage in their own right: flooding, significant damage to property, and in the worst case scenarios, injury and loss of life.
In 2022, there were 14 named storms and three hurricanes – Ian, Nicole, and Fiona – made landfall in the United States. Hurricane Ian became the fifth-largest hurricane to ever make landfall, with 2.5 million Florida residents forced to evacuate and over 100 deaths, most from drowning.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts 2023 will be a slightly below-average year for hurricanes, with 15 named storms expected, six to eight of them becoming hurricanes, and two to three of those becoming “major” hurricanes. (The reason for the slightly weaker hurricane season is impacted by El Niño weather pattern, which will likely cause a wetter-than-normal winter for much of the Eastern United States.)
When is Hurricane Season?
There are many different hurricane seasons. The Atlantic Hurricane season is the period from June to September when hurricanes and tropical storms typically form in the Atlantic Ocean and can reach some American states.
For tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic that reach land, the months when you are in the least danger of experiencing a hurricane are June and July. The most dangerous month is September.
When is Hurricane Season in Florida?
While hurricanes in Florida can occur anytime during hurricane season, the middle of August until late October is the most common period for hurricanes to make landfall in Florida.
Northwest Florida, near the Panhandle, is the area of the state where hurricanes are most likely.
We mention Florida because it is the state most impacted by hurricanes. More than 41% of all U.S. hurricanes since 1851 have made landfall in Florida.
When is Hurricane Season in Texas?
Texas has the second-highest occurrence of hurricanes in the United States. August is the most active month for hurricanes in the Lone Star State, closely followed by September.
Whether you live near the Gulf or on the Eastern seaboard, you must prepare your community for a hurricane during the summer months.
In this article, MCA will offer tips and emergency preparedness checklists for dealing with hurricanes and other natural disasters that may strike your community.
Disaster Response from MCA
When a community experiences a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, or severe storm, MCA will work tirelessly with public relief organizations, local governments, and citizens to reestablish communication and regain control of the situation.
We offer mission-critical communications in voice, data, and video that help communities nationwide prepare and respond when disaster strikes.
For local, state, and federal emergency managers, MCA is devoted to providing humanitarian aid and critical support for disaster relief efforts.
Disaster Preparedness Checklist
Preparing for communications challenges is essential to any emergency preparedness checklist. During a catastrophe, you need to stay connected with first responders, disaster relief crews, and your community.
- By referencing the checklist below, ensure you’re properly equipped for hurricane season or any disaster that may impact your community.
- A Surplus of Two-Way Radios: Prepare for needing at least 15% more two-way radios than you currently have to give to assisting agencies and volunteers.
- Two-Way Radio Chargers and Antennas: Plan on having 15% more radio chargers and antennas.
Programming Cables: Many radios can’t be programmed over the air, but need to be connected by cable to a computer to make talkgroups. Again, the 15% more rule applies in this case. - Software Updates: Don’t be caught with radios that don’t work during and after a disaster because you didn’t make necessary software updates. Check with MCA to see what your radio systems need to function properly.
- Replacement Parts: Ensure you have the necessary replacement parts for all your communication equipment.
- Check Fuel Generators: Test and fuel generators for at least 8 hours. Controller boards fail after a few hours if and when they have power distribution issues.
- Test Coastal Alerting Systems: Any near-shore community knows that they need mass notification systems to alert the public of dangerous weather conditions. Test them regularly to make sure they are operating as intended. If your systems need an update, click here to learn more.
- Verify Spare Equipment: Take stock of spare equipment, antennas, and line infrastructure boards to ensure you have the correct versions.
- Prep Site-On-Wheels: Locate any site-on-wheels in the area and place them on standby.
Contact Your Crews: Contact local tower crews for any post-storm restorations. - Line Up Your Technicians: Identify any technicians outside the disaster zone who can help in disaster recovery efforts.
- Contact All PSAPs (Public Safety Answering Points): Connect with all the public safety supervisors and managers in your area to ensure they have what they need.
- Contact Your EOCs (Emergency Operations Centers): Make sure your emergency operations centers are well-stocked with water, snacks, and other non-perishable food items.
- Stock Up on Portable Networking Devices: Connectivity devices such as the TRaCK Box provide users a portable and rapidly deployable network to temporarily reestablish communications after a disaster has struck.
Responding Effectively to a Disaster
The resiliency of the people we’ve served consistently stands out from the communities we’ve helped in their disaster relief and recovery efforts.
At the same time, when responding to a natural disaster such as a hurricane, you need to be prepared for everything. MCA helps emergency managers and their communities to ensure they have the communication equipment they need to brave any catastrophic event.
Our communications equipment and solutions run the gamut: from two-way radio systems and devices to portable networking solutions, MCA will work with you and your community to reestablish communications after a hurricane or other natural disaster.
>>To Download Our Hurricane Preparedness Checklist, Click Here<<
About MCA
Mobile Communications America (MCA) is one of the largest and most trusted integrators in the United States offering world-class voice, data, and security solutions that enhance the quality, safety, and productivity of customers, operations, and lives. More than 65,000 customers trust MCA to provide carefully researched solutions for a safe, secure, and more efficient workplace. As your trusted advisor, we reduce the time and effort needed to research, install, and maintain the right solutions to improve your workplace.
Our team of certified professionals across the United States delivers a full suite of reliable technologies with a service-first approach. The MCA advantage is our extensive service portfolio to support the solution lifecycle from start to finish. www.callmc.com