National Hurricane Preparedness Week is this week, May 25 through May 31. The aim of Hurricane Preparedness Week is to highlight the importance of planning ahead to protect our families, homes and communities in advance of the upcoming hurricane season.
Hurricane season officially begins June 1 and extends through November 30. Hurricanes are powerful storms that can cause severe coastal and inland flooding, dangerous storm surges, high winds, tornadoes and heavy rainfall. Their effects can be devastating to entire communities and can have long-lasting consequences, including loss of life and property.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommend using social media tools as a way to promote National Hurricane Preparedness Week, and throughout hurricane season. Here are some additional resources to help promote hurricane preparedness:
- America’s PrepareAthon hurricane materials
- Visit Ready: Hurricanes for tips and information about hurricanes
- Download the FEMA smartphone app
- Watch the video below and visit NOAA’s website, www.hurricanes.gov
Flood damage is a major risk associated with hurricanes and many Maryland counties are at high risk for flooding. For example, new floodplain maps issued by the FEMA include 11,000 additional aces in Somerset County, Maryland. For more information, see our previous post, Proposed FEMA Floodplain Map Includes 61 Percent of Somerset County
This year, MACo will be hosting a session on the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System at the Summer Conference. For more information, and to register for summer conference, see the MACo website.