With the start of June, comes the start of Hurricane season, which means we need to be prepared.
“NOAA’s analysis of current and seasonal atmospheric conditions reveals a recipe for an active Atlantic hurricane season this year,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. Here are five things you can do now to be prepared:
- Take pictures of valuables: Prepare for the worst and hope for the best with your smartphone’s camera. When you document your possessions for insurance purposes, photos work well. You’ll need to take clear pictures of everything you want to be covered. The most important thing is that you take the pictures close enough to see what the item is and where it’s located in your home.
- Set-up your phone’s medical ID: Medical IDs on smartphones can be life-saving, enabling first-responders to give critical support quickly. Through medical ID apps, devices support the display of emergency contacts, allergies, and blood type on a locked screen in case of an emergency.
- Purchase a spare battery: Smartphone batteries last an amazingly long time, but if the power goes out, the option to recharge might be off the table. A portable smartphone battery can help, and is largely a question of compatibility, charging capacity and speed.
- Put essential contacts into your phone: In an emergency, you should always dial 9-1-1. But if the situation is less critical, like needing roadside assistance or your utility company, take this opportunity to store that contact information in your phone now so that the emergency number can remain available to others.
- Download hurricane tracking apps: There are a lot of great hurricane tracking apps available, but some of our favorite include the Red Cross Hurricane tracking app, Storm Radar from the Weather Channel, and NOAA’s weather radar app.
For more on wireless and hurricane preparedness, check out https://prepared.ctia.org/.
