It's Hurricane Preparedness Week. Here's how to get ready
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Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
NEW YORK – Sunday kicked off Hurricane Preparedness Week , which raises awareness of the hazards posed by hurricanes as the start of the Atlantic hurricane season looms.
President Donald Trump has urged Americans to prepare for hurricanes as the official start of the Atlantic season is less than a month away. In a proclamation dated Monday , the president designated May 4-10 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week.
The Atlantic hurricane season spans June 1 to Nov. 30, while the Eastern Pacific season starts earlier on May 15. Although tropical cyclones can technically develop outside these periods due to favorable conditions, over 97% of Atlantic activity occurs within this six-month timeframe.
2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Guide: Here's What To Know About The Tropics This Year
With the help of FOX Weather, along with FEMA and Noaa, you can take action now to be better prepared for when the worst happens. With this helpful information, you can understand your hurricane risk and begin your preseason preparations.
According to NOAA, the first step in preparing for hurricanes is knowing your risk. Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem, so you need to know what types of water and wind hazards could happen where you live.
Why Is The Right Side Of A Hurricane More Dangerous?
Hurricanes may only be rated by their sustained wind on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, but it's important not to overlook the power of water when a tropical cyclone is bearing down on the U.s.
Water is the No. 1 killer during a hurricane or tropical storm that strikes the U.S., comprising nearly 90% of all tropical cyclone deaths, mostly by drowning in storm surge , rainfall flooding or high surf.
Avoid having to rush through potentially life-saving preparations by waiting until it's too late. Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period.
During a natural disaster, it may be necessary to survive on your own for several days. A stockpile of emergency supplies can help you make it through the crisis until normalcy is restored. According to FEMA, you should at least have an emergency supply of food and water that can last for several days.
Click here for a list from FEMA of the supplies every emergency supply kit should include. FEMA has more guidance about where and how you should store your kit at ready.gov/kit .
According to NOAA, understanding hurricane forecasts is a key part of preparation. These forecasts provide crucial details about a storm's projected path, potential rainfall, wind speeds and other vital information. With significant information available days in advance, learning how to interpret these forecasts empowers you to make informed decisions.
Be sure to download the free FOX Weather app to get the updates you need, straight from America's Weather team in our extensive Hurricane HQ coverage. Stay informed with hurricane alerts, forecasts and expert tips to safeguard you and your family.
Here Are The Buzzwords You'll Be Hearing During Hurricane Season
It's also a good idea to sign up for local alerts and download the free FEMA app .
Do you know what to do when a storm threatens? NOAA warns that you should prepare for hurricane season by taking the time now to understand the actions needed when time is of the essence.
You'll want to secure your property by covering windows and doors and bringing in loose items. Additionally, create a shelter plan that includes your pets, prepare a go-bag with necessary medications and supplies, ensure your phone and vehicle are charged, assist vulnerable neighbors and always follow evacuation orders.
The Florida Department of Emergency Management has created an interactive map where visitors and residents can type in an address to see if their home or business is in an evacuation zone and find the nearest exit route.
Know Your Zone: Florida Evacuation Map Shows Who Will Have To Leave Before A Hurricane Strikes
The evacuation routes are meant to help guide residents to safer locations and away from threats that coastal cities such as Jacksonville , Miami , Sarasota , Fort Myers , Tampa and Pensacola can face during a storm.
Knowing what to do during a storm could be the difference between life and death.
Whether you've evacuated or are sheltering in place, NOAA stresses you should know what to expect from the hazards you may face. Remain vigilant, stay up-to-date with the latest forecasts and alerts and continue to listen to local officials.
The first named storm of the 2025 Atlantic season will be Andrea, followed by Barry, Chantal and newcomer Dexter. The name Dexter replaces Hurricane Dorian , which was retired after the 2019 season.
Why Florida's Gulf Coast Is Susceptible To A Hurricane's Storm Surge
Click here for the remaining 2025 hurricane names with pronunciations.
NOAA said a key part of hurricane preparedness is understanding the dangers that remain well after a storm, from heat and downed power lines to floodwaters and more.
"This is NOT the time to put your guard down," the agency said. "Nearly half of hurricane fatalities occur after the storm."
Original article source: It's Hurricane Preparedness Week. Here's how to get ready
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USA Today
4 hours ago
- USA Today
Hurricane Erin strengthens to a fierce Category 5 storm in the Atlantic
Hurricane Erin rapidly strengthened into a Category 5 storm. It is not expected to make a direct hit on the U.S. but will create dangerous surf. Hurricane Erin, on Saturday, Aug. 16, strengthened into a fearsome Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 160 mph as the storm traveled west over the Atlantic, according to the National Hurricane Center. The hurricane is not expected to make a direct hit on the United States, but it will still drive dangerous surf conditions along the East Coast. "We still expect this to eventually make a more northward turn and stay offshore of the East Coast of the United States. So that certainly is good news when dealing with a storm this powerful," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski told USA TODAY. Under the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, Category 5 hurricanes are the strongest possible, with minimum winds of 157 mph. On the afternoon of Aug. 16, Erin was passing to the north of the northern Leeward Islands in the Caribbean and was just over 200 miles from San Juan, Puerto Rico. By evening, the hurricane was continuing to pass north of the northern Leeward Islands, prompting the Government of the Bahamas to issue a Tropical Storm Watch for the Turks and Caicos Islands. According to the National Hurricane Center, tropical storm conditions are possible in the Turks and Caicos Islands during the next 48 hours. Additionally, tropical storm force wind gusts are possible in the southeast Bahamas beginning Sunday, Aug. 17, the center said. Erin is only the fifth Category 5 hurricane on record to form this early in the hurricane season and the only Category 5 observed outside the Gulf or Caribbean this early in the year, according to WPLG-TV hurricane specialist Michael Lowry. The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and will last through the end of November. Active hurricane weather typically peaks between mid-August and mid-October. The first hurricane of the Atlantic season, on average, forms on about Aug. 11. Where is Hurricane Erin? Storm path tracker As of 8 p.m. ET on Aug. 16, Erin was about 160 miles northwest of Anguilla, among the northern Leeward Islands, and 150 miles northeast of Puerto Rico. It was moving west at about 15 mph with wind speeds of 150 mph. This forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Erin strengthened rapidly and is expected to grow Erin formed as a hurricane on Aug. 15. It was the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, and quickly became the first major hurricane as well. A major hurricane is one that reaches at least Category 3 status. "(B)y the middle of next week, Erin is forecast to at least double or triple in size, which will result in rough ocean conditions over the western Atlantic," the hurricane center said. Erin's hurricane-force winds had a mean diameter of 43 miles on Aug. 16 but are expected to increase to 132 miles in diameter by Aug. 19, while its tropical storm force winds are forecast to reach a mean diameter of 385 miles over the same period. The storm's outer bands of rain were already beginning to impact the northern Leeward Islands, forecasters said on Aug. 16. Heavy rainfall is expected in the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico for the rest of the weekend, bringing 2 to 4 inches of rain with localized amounts of 6 inches and possible flash flooding. In its 5 p.m. update, the hurricane center said, "Erin is expected to move just north of the northern Leeward Islands, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico through Sunday and pass to the east of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas Sunday night and Monday." Erin's intensity is expected to fluctuate during the next 24 hours, but it should "remain a strong hurricane during this time," according to hurricane center forecaster Jack Beven. "Although Erin is a somewhat compact hurricane now, the models are in strong agreement that the system will grow in size over the next several days," Beven said in the hurricane center's 5 p.m. update. "In fact, by the middle of next week, Erin is forecast to at least double or triple in size, which will result in rough ocean conditions over the western Atlantic." What is an eyewall replacement cycle? According to an 8 p.m. update from the hurricane center, Erin is possibly undergoing an eyewall replacement cycle. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says an eyewall replacement cycle is a natural occurrence for intense hurricanes, such as Erin, in which a new eyewall (ring of thunderstorms) forms outside the existing one, eventually replacing it. "As a hurricane grows older, it is common for the eyewall to eventually weaken and get replaced by a newer, larger eyewall," according to the NOAA. When a hurricane has a newer, larger eyewall, it can "bring dangerous weather over a larger region than the older, smaller eyewall would have," the government agency says. During the eyewall replacement cycle, hurricanes often undergo temporary changes in strength (both up and down). The NOAA added that what causes the newer, larger eyewall to form during this process is "not well understood." Ways communities in Coastal North Carolina can prepare for Hurricane Erin With Hurricane Erin predicted to move between the Outer Banks and Bermuda, North Carolina Emergency Management has offered guidance for people on the coast to prepare. In an Aug. 16 Facebook post, the state agency said people in Coastal North Carolina should: The NWS Morehead City, North Carolina, said on the afternoon of Saturday, Aug. 16, that a strong long-period swell from Erin will begin to arrive late on the night of Sunday, Aug. 17. Those in the area should expect heightened rip current threats through the upcoming week with swell and seas peaking Wednesday, Aug. 20, into Thursday, Aug. 21. The Dare County Sheriff's Office, located within the Outer Banks, said in a Facebook post on Saturday, Aug. 16, that people along the coast who "routinely see ocean overwash due to no dune between them and the ocean" should "be ready to protect (their) property and to move away from the oceanfront." What happens to a hurricane that doesn't make landfall? If a hurricane does not make landfall, it will eventually dissipate over the ocean, according to the Hurricanes: Science and Society (HSS). Once a storm moves northward – in the Northern Hemisphere – out of the tropical ocean and into mid-latitudes, "It begins to move over colder water, again losing the warm water source necessary to drive the hurricane," according to the HSS. "As less moisture is evaporated into the atmosphere to supply cloud formation, the storm weakens," the educational resource says. "Sometimes, even in the tropical oceans, colder water churned up from beneath the sea surface by the hurricane can cause the hurricane to weaken." According to the center's 5 p.m. update, the slow weakening of Erin is expected to begin on Monday, Aug. 18. If a hurricane does make landfall, it usually decays quickly because the storm requires evaporation from the warm ocean surface to survive, according to the HSS. What impacts will Hurricane Erin have on the US? Erin is expected to make a turn to the north and avoid making landfall altogether. It will pass somewhere between North Carolina's Outer Banks and Bermuda, National Hurricane Center Director Mike Brennan said. Despite staying well off the coast, Erin will cause dangerous surf conditions up and down practically the entire East Coast, from Florida all the way up to New England beaches, Pydynowski said. The conditions will include high waves and dangerous rip currents. The Outer Banks could see some beach erosion and coastal flooding from high waves, he said. Erin is expected to bring dangerous conditions to offshore waters and beaches along the Northeast Florida coast from Aug. 18 - 21, including rip currents and rough, high surf with breakers greater than 7 feet on the 19th and 20th, said the weather service office in Jacksonville, Florida. Weather conditions may seem ideal for a beach trip, but these types of conditions are when rip current fatalities tend to occur, Brennan said. Rip currents may not be visible from shore, so beachgoers should swim near lifeguards and pay attention to posted warnings. 'Catastrophic' Erin underwent unusually rapid intensification Rapid intensification occurs when a tropical cyclone (whether a tropical storm or hurricane) strengthens by at least 35 mph in a 24-hour period. In Erin's case, winds strengthened to roughly 80 mph in about a day. Erin was declared a hurricane (winds of at least 74 mph) shortly before 11 a.m. on Aug. 15. A day later, it had strengthened into a Category 5 cyclone (winds of at least 157 mph). Warm water ahead of Erin as it moved west, a lack of wind shear and its position far enough away from any land to interfere contributed to the strengthening, Pydynowski said. "These kind of rapid intensification events do occur, but that much that quickly is certainly more toward the uncommon end of things," he said. Data shows Hurricane Erin's remarkable power Since 1979, only Hurricane Allen in 1980 had a lower minimum central pressure by August 16, said Phil Klotzbach, a senior research scientist at Colorado State University. Lower pressure in a hurricane means a stronger storm. Since 1970, only 5 storms in the Atlantic hurricane basin have had 145 mph maximum winds or more by Aug. 16: Allen in 1980, Charley in 2004, Dennis in 2005, Emily in 2005 and Beryl in 2004, Klotzbach noted. Another disturbance off the East Coast Another tropical disturbance off the East Coast of the United States had little chance of forming as of Aug. 16, forecasters said. Disturbance 1 is an area of low pressure off the coast of North Carolina that has about a 10% chance of development into a cyclone, but will likely lose steam by early next week, the hurricane center said. It was producing showers to the east of its center over the Atlantic. Hurricane Erin spaghetti models Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts. How do hurricanes form? Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression. A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reach 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane. Prepare now for hurricanes Delaying potentially life-saving preparations could mean waiting until it's too late. "Get your disaster supplies while the shelves are still stocked, and get that insurance checkup early, as flood insurance requires a 30-day waiting period," NOAA recommends. Prepare now for hurricanes: Here's what you should do to stay safe before a hurricane arrives
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
Milwaukee County urges residents to report damage as part of an effort to seek federal aid
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley is mobilizing efforts to obtain federal aid in the wake of historic flooding in southeastern Wisconsin. On Aug. 12, Crowley conducted a walkthrough of the Milwaukee neighborhood around North 39th Street and West Hope Avenue to assess the damage and offer guidance and support. He urged all residents to report any damage to homes and property through the county's 211 social services hotline. That's because obtaining federal aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency is only possible if an area documents a certain threshold of damage costs, according to the county's Office of Emergency Management. The OEM's Deputy Director Chris McGowan could not immediately provide what that threshold is for Milwaukee County or how close the county is to meeting it. But McGowan did say the office is "already anticipating we will be over that threshold." The OEM is currently spearheading efforts to assess damage across the county with support from the City of Milwaukee, volunteer groups, the state's Incident Management Team and other county agencies. McGowan said the initiative could take between several weeks and several months. Initial estimates already indicate that 11% of the damage reported to 211 is categorized as "fully destroyed," which rivals a major hurricane, McGowan said. The more people who report damage, the more likely Milwaukee County is to reach that threshold sooner and qualify for federal aid, Crowley said during the walkthrough. The neighborhood Crowley visited to assess damage was hit hard by flooding For blocks, piles and piles of water-damaged items sat near the curbs outside of homes: mattresses, suitcases, printers, moldy clothing items and damaged photos were among the heaps. It's a similar story across the county, damage assessors said. Crowley and other responders stopped at the home of Collette Anderson and her son Da'lin, who said most of the cars on their block aren't working after the street flooded with around 3 feet of water for about 12 hours. Their home also sustained significant damage, the Andersons told Crowley. Da'lin said it meant a lot to see Crowley out in their community, offering guidance and support. Another resident Crowley visited, Tamela Montgomery, said the impact of flooding has been devastating to her neighborhood. "We start from the bottom, trying to get these things for ourselves, and it's all taken away in the blink of an eye," Montgomery said. She was shocked at the speed with which her home filled with water, destroying all the toys and games she'd bought for her five grandchildren. "It was horrific," Montgomery said. "We were swimming." Crowley said, "folks are not only losing their homes but their memories." How close is the county to qualifying for federal aid? Crowley said the county and the state are still gathering information on the total impact of the damage caused by the flooding. Already, the county has received thousands of calls, he said. "Whether or not we reach that threshold, our job is to show up for people while they're going through one of the worst times in their life," Crowley said. Crowley issued a countywide emergency on Aug. 10 Crowley said he has not had any contact with the Trump Administration. How Milwaukee County residents can report flood damage: Residents can report damage to the county by calling 211 or by filling out forms on the county website. Crowley said all county residents seeing damage, especially those without insurance, should report it. FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration also offer applications for individual loans and grants to people in areas with declared disasters. During the walkthrough, Crowley thanked local partners, state agencies and community groups who've been out across the county finding ways to help their neighbors. "The only way we're going to get through this is by continuously working together, leaning on one another," Crowley said. "We've been doing a great job of that. Let's keep going." (This story was updated to change or add a photo or video.) Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@ Follow her on X at @levensc13. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee County urges residents to report flood damage via 211 line Solve the daily Crossword
Axios
12 hours ago
- Axios
Hurricane Erin strengthens to Category 5
Hurricane Erin has intensified to a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds near 160 mph, per the National Hurricane Center. Threat level: An earlier advisory from the hurricane center was already forecasting "life-threatening surf and rip currents," and a new advisory is expected later Saturday afternoon. The storm is forecast to produce heavy rainfall through Sunday, with those dangerous surf and rip currents impacting areas along the East Coast, Bahamas' beaches and Atlantic Canada next week, per the National Hurricane Center. The latest: Erin, which on Friday was at a Category 1, was over the Atlantic Ocean, northeast of the Caribbean islands, as of 11 a.m. Saturday. It was moving toward the west near 17mph, a direction it is expected to continue in this afternoon, turn toward west/ northwest Saturday night and decrease in forward speed, turning toward the north next week. "Interests in Bermuda should continue to monitor the progress of Erin since there is a risk of strong winds, heavy rainfall, and high surf by the middle part of next week," the National Hurricane Center said. Zoom in: Hurricanes are categorized by wind speed on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which deems a Category 5 storm one with 157 mph sustained winds or higher. That means "catastrophic damage will occur" including a high percentage of framed homes destroyed, downed trees and power poles and power outages lasting weeks or months, per the wind scale.
