NOAA Hurricane Forecasting Guide and Other Preparedness Resources

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released an explanatory guide providing an overview of how the agency approaches hurricane prediction, covering the specific topics of hurricane forecasting, impacts, hurricane hunting, Atlantic hurricanes, and hurricane preparedness tips for coastal residents.

This information could be a useful guide to distribute to staff, as it succinctly covers the dangers of hurricanes and how to plan for them. It provides an overview of the Atlantic hurricane season and warns about the risk of storm surge, as 57 percent of fatalities during hurricanes and tropical storms have been caused by it. Additionally, due to human-caused climate change, precipitation rates within tropical storms and hurricanes are projected to increase by about 15 percent. And the number of Atlantic hurricanes reaching Category 4 or 5 intensity are projected to increase about 10 percent. The guide also discusses hurricane preparedness plans at a high level, providing resources to determine if you live and work in an at-risk area and whether you need to plan for evacuation or sheltering in place. For more information on how your utility can prepare for hurricanes and other natural disasters visit the EPA’s Drinking Water and Wastewater Resilience page and its Emergency Response for Drinking Water and Wastewater Utilities page. Read more at NOAA.