June 1, 2010
Cape Coral, Florida
June 1 is the first day of Hurricane Season.
This year is predicted to be a busy hurricane season. The official NOAA predictions are as follows:
“We estimate a 70% probability for each of the following ranges of activity this season:
14-23 Named Storms,
8-14 Hurricanes
3-7 Major Hurricanes
An ACE range of 155%-270% of the median.” (from http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/outlooks/hurricane.shtml)
NOAA is clear to state that they DO NOT make landfall predictions. They are unable to predict landfall until a few days out.
It is always best to be prepared as you never know exactly what may happen in your neighborhood/area. The good news with Hurricanes is that they give us plenty of warning. We are notified of their formation SEVERAL days before they are even close to United States in most cases. This gives you plenty of time to prepare. Whether you plan to board up and stay at your house or board up and leave is up to you. Depending upon the strength of a Hurricane you can make the best choice for you and your family.
I remember when Hurricane Charley hit our area in 2004. Most people didn’t even make the necessary preparations because they had never experienced a storm this large. They were used to small storms that caused minimal damage. We knew it was headed our way as at least a category 2 storm well in advance. However, as it approached it reached a category 4 Hurricane status. Many older homes sustained minor to major damage and many other homes sustained minor roof, pool cage and tree damage. We lost power through most of the area for several days. Charley was definitely a wake up call for our area.
The following years were mild for us including last year which was also pretty mild in and around Cape Coral.
I wrote the article below in the past to remind people of other natural disasters around the US and World to put Hurricanes ‘in perspective’.
Being in SW Florida, I hear concerns from people about Hurricanes from time to time. We usually end up discussing historical data, newest hurricane codes & then I typically go into ‘natural disasters elsewhere’.
Honestly, I cannot think of a single place to live that there won’t be something weatherwise to concern yourself with. Basically it comes down to picking the ones that least annoy you, or maybe are least likely to kill you.
Here are some I can think of:
- Hurricanes
- Tornadoes
- Mudslides
- Blizzards
- Avalanches
- Fires
- Floods
- Draught
- Extreme Heat
- Wind
- Earthquakes
- Tsunamis
- Sink Holes
- Volcanic Eruptions
- Solar flares, meteors, etc…
So, what natural disasters do you have to explain in your area?
Oh, I almost forget Florida is also the lightning Capital of the World 
But I can’t see myself living anywhere else!
Read the remainder of this article on my webiste: Cape Coral Hurricane preparedness
Comments(2)