By Esther McKenna
South Shore homeowners take warning
Just when Long Islanders thought the lousy weather might be waning, forecasters have predicted a "wet, wild and windy" late hurricane season.
Even though the first half of the Atlantic hurricane season was quiet, experts have put homeowners on alert for an above-average storm season during mid-August through October, warning of the possibility of stronger and longer-lasting storms that could very well carry on into winter months.
"The fact that there were no significant storms during the months of June and July is not unusual and has little bearing on the remainder of the season. In fact, September is the peak of Atlantic hurricane activity," said Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami.
A report released last week by scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows that overall activity will be "higher than average" due to remaining weak La Nina conditions and the global weather patterns that control conditions over the tropical Atlantic.
An above average Atlantic hurricane season is characterized by at least 11 tropical storms, seven or more of which typically become hurricanes and three or more of which become major hurricanes, which sustain winds over 110 mph.
According to weather reports, the 2000 season is expected to feature several Cape Verde storms, which move westward from the coast of Africa and pose a significant threat to the Caribbean islands and the coastal United States.
A little prep goes a long way
A poll released in early summer by the Federal Emergency Management Agency found that most people vulnerable to hurricane damage do not prepare adequately because they underestimate their risk. Poll takers also concluded that many people do little to protect their homes because they think the cost is much higher than it actually is.
Though nearly 80 percent of the people polled along the Atlantic coast believed their community is at either great risk or some risk of a hurricane, more than half have not protected their homes. One-third of the homeowners did not have an evacuation plan.
James Lee Witt, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, stated, "If there's one message we can take from this poll, it's the fact that there's still enormous work to be done to help people understand specific steps they can take to safeguard their families' lives and homes, as well as their communities."
Such lack of preparedness could be especially devastating to Long Island south shore residents, who have not experienced a major hurricane in over two decades.
Long Island has been spared of the type of storms that have battered the coast from Florida through the Carolinas in recent years, but according to NOAA's Mr. Mayfield, what really counts is where they make landfall and how strong they are.
"Just one hurricane over your community can make it a very bad year," said Mr. Mayfield.
See the sidebar contained in this article for steps to take before, and after, a hurricane is scheduled to hit your community.
LIPA creates storm review panel
As the height of the 2000 Hurricane Season approaches Long Island and the East Coast, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) has organized an independent Major Storm Review Panel to evaluate LIPA's response to severe weather events. The panel will also be empowered to evaluate and comment on LIPA's emergency planning procedures in an effort to improve on storm preparation techniques and outage restoration tactics.
"We were told early on to expect higher storm activity than normal," said LIPA spokesman Michael Lownders. "Given that information, we have stepped up emergency procedures, stocked up on backup inventory such as transformers, and increased emergency training to our personnel. We are well prepared for hurricane season this year."
What to do
No power. No running water. You can't drive around the corner for groceries. That's what life could be like after a hurricane hits. There are also steps to help protect your home and property before a hurricane strikes:
- Stock up on bottled water and pre-packaged, pre-cooked meals and snacks.
- Cover doors and windows.
- Check for and repair any loose roof shingles or tiles.
- Anchor or remove unsecured outside objects.
- Secure roof trusses.
