What You Should Know About Hurricane Season in Miami

The Atlantic hurricane season, which is what affects Miami is officially from June 1 to November 30. Of course, hurricanes can occur outside of this time frame. Usually the worst storms occur from August to October.

There are three types of storms, each worse than the next and separated mostly by wind speeds. The first is a tropical depression, which is a thunderstorm with sustained winds up to 38 mph. Usually, tropical depressions don't cause much of a stir unless they start to get stronger. A tropical storm is a stronger storm with winds up to 73 mph. Finally, there is a hurricane, which is the most intense and can have sustained winds of 74 mph or higher. There are five categories of hurricanes. Usually panic sets in after a category three which has sustained winds of 111-130 mph. The strongest category is the five which is a hurricane that has sustained winds of over 155 mph.

When there is a hurricane forming in the Atlantic, it's good to keep track of it on the news or online. A hurricane watch will be placed in a effect when a hurricane may strike in the area within 24-48 hours. A hurricane warning is in effect when the hurricane is expected to hit the area within 24 hours.

The most important thing to do when there is the threat of a hurricane is to follow the advisories. If you are in an evacuation area, you should leave. A lot of people who are not familiar with hurricanes or who think they can brave the storm make the mistake of staying in their homes when they should be evacuating. This is a huge problem because if there is flooding or it's the middle of the hurricane, and you need medical attention, paramedics will not be able to reach you. Furthermore, if you should have evacuated, they won't even attempt because it is an unnecessary risk.

You should have an evacuation plan if you live in an evacuation area. You should either make arrangements with friends or relatives or check into a hotel or use the public shelters. You should also make arrangements for your pets. You should never leave your pet alone in your home when you have evacuated. There are kennels that will accept your pets or you can take them with you to a friend's house.

Before a hurricane, you should take tables, garbage cans, plants and other unsecured items inside. When a hurricane hits, these become projectiles and can cause serious damage to your home or others in the neighborhood. You should secure your windows. If you live in Miami, you should definitely have shutters put in since it's something you have to live with each year. You should save food and water in case water goes out. You should also fill any prescriptions. A strong hurricane can cut power for weeks and you should make sure you are prepared for the worst case scenario.

They advise that you have enough food and drink for two weeks, with a lot of non-perishables like canned goods and dry foods. You should also keep a battery powered radio in case you need to hear the news and don't have power, flashlights and a lot of batteries. You should also prepare yourself with a first aid kid just in case.

The better prepared you are during a hurricane, the better off you will be when it strikes. You should prevent damage whenever possible and you should do everything in your power to protect yourself and your family. Be cautious and follow every step to keep safe.