Atlantic Hurricane Season – Know Your Zone!

Do you know your zone? June 1 marks the official beginning of the Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs through November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted a more active than average season, which means that knowing whether or not you live in a hurricane evacuation zone is important so you have efficient and effective emergency preparedness plans.

Hurricanes and tropical cyclones are highly-destructive storms that can cause substantial damage to property and infrastructure. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to be in the landfall area of a storm to feel its impacts. Maryland often feels the impacts of remnants from Gulf and Atlantic storms that bring high winds and heavy flooding.

The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) Know Your Zone website has a lot of helpful information on identifying whether or not you need to evacuate in storms, how to prepare emergency kits, how to plan, and facts about hurricanes and other tropical storms. Knowing whether you need to evacuate or shelter-in-place helps keep roads and highways along evacuation routes from becoming congested so that those evacuating can get out quickly and safely before a storm makes landfall.

Another helpful resource is the federal government’s Ready.Gov website. It provides helpful information for making emergency plans and preparing for natural disasters.

For more information on hurricanes and other tropical storms, as well as advice for effective emergency planning, please take a look at MDEM’s press release here.