After a scare from Tropical Storm Alberto last week, we have now officially entered the 2018 hurricane season in Mississippi.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that 5-9 hurricanes and 10-16 named storms are currently in the forecast for this year’s season. It is expected to be an above-normal season.
Hurricanes have never been a stranger to Mississippi as ⅔ of hurricanes that have reached land have all hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In the thirteenth year since Katrina, both the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) continue to remind Mississippians to have a plan ready.
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MEMA Director of External Affairs Greg Flynn suggests that you have an emergency supply kit ready in case of detrimental weather. The kit should include bottled water, nonperishable food, a flashlight, batteries, among other items.
“We always play a worst-case scenario and say ‘if you’re without power for 3-5 days, do you have what it takes to sustain on your own?’” Flynn said. “This includes not being able to go to a gas station or a grocery store, so the more self-reliant you can be, and the more supplies you can stock up in your house, the better off you’ll be.”
MDOT and MEMA also provide preparation and evacuation guides available on their websites and social media. Hurricane season lasts until November 30.
It’s officially #hurricaneseason. Prepare now with MDOT’s free Hurricane Evacuation Guide and life-saving resources. Get a hard copy here https://t.co/tyjaoeiOI6 or download a copy at https://t.co/NuQl1gPOam. #hurricaneprep pic.twitter.com/37a92flNFn
— MDOT (@MississippiDOT) June 1, 2018
