Preparing for Hurricane Season in Bellingham
By Jennifer Russo
Though we often associate hurricane season with locations further south than Massachusetts, there is always the possibility of a hurricane hitting our coastal state. Hurricane season on the Atlantic Ocean falls between June and November. Historically, the month where Massachusetts has seen the most impact from hurricanes has been September.
According to Forbes, experts are predicting an “above average” hurricane season in 2022, based on factors like warmer sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea, sea level pressures, and weaker trade winds. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), expect there to be 3-5 major hurricanes on the Atlantic, major being defined as those that are in categories 3-5 with sustained winds of 111 miles per hour or higher. In the last 10 years, NOAA has had above 80% accuracy in predicting the number of major hurricanes and named storms. Though it has been some time since a major hurricane has hit the Massachusetts coast hard, it would still be wise to prepare accordingly.
Major impacts of hurricanes include property and road impact damage due to high winds and fallen trees, loss of electricity for extended amounts of time, and flooding. Having a plan in place for these kinds of emergencies is important for every individual and family. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has an interactive map where you can find out if you live in a hurricane evacuation zone (www.mass.gov/knowyourzone), and it is important to follow weather reports when hurricanes approach. Some other steps that can be taken to prepare are:
1) Have an Emergency Kit – this should include items that will keep your home sustainable for at least 5 days without power. Ideally, these items should be kept in a waterproof bag or plastic bin with locking lid.
• Bottled drinking water (1 gallon per person, per day) and non-perishable food items like crackers, peanut butter, dried fruits, tuna fish, granola bars, etc. For infants, baby cereal, canned formula, and jarred baby foods. Canned and dry pet food for any pets.
• Necessary medications and a first aid kit.
• Flashlights or lanterns with extra batteries (LEDs last longer).
• Warm blankets and extra clothing in the case of an evacuation.
• A whistle in case you need to get the attention of emergency personnel.
• Rain Ponchos
• Waterproof containers (to place phones, documents, etc. in if necessary)
• Hygienic items like extra toothbrushes and paste, soap, tissues, and hand wipes.
• A pocketknife or pocket multi-tool.
• Rope
• If in an area that can flood easily, life jackets for children and adults.
• Battery operated or crank radio.
• Laminated list of important contacts (local emergency numbers including at least one out-of-state emergency contact, doctors, schools, close family, etc.)
• Laminated copies of health insurance cards and any personal documents you cannot replace.
• Extra set of house and car keys.
• If you do have pets, be sure to have a leash or crate to carry them in the case of an evacuation.
2) Make sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas and is inside a garage if one exists. If you need to evacuate, you will need to do so quickly. You may not have time to stop at a gas station.
3) Reinforce windows, house doors, garage doors, and roofs. Move outdoor furniture and items like garbage cans inside or tie down.
4) Go to the lowest level of your home and avoid sitting near windows.
5) Purchase a battery pack charger and fully charge so that you can charge your phone if electricity goes out.
6) Keep large trees and branches around your home trimmed and remove any older/dead trees.
7) Download the FEMA application on your phone for real-time weather alerts for your area.
The Town of Bellingham Local Emergency Planning Committee is an excellent resource for more information. Access the website at https://www.bellinghamma.org/emergency-management, where you can find evacuation information, links to the National Weather Service and FEMA Storm Watch, information on our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and more. The Committee meets quarterly at the Municipal Center on Common Street and the next scheduled meeting is in October.
