Providence Urges Residents To Take Time To Prepare For Hurricane Season

City offers "Top Ten" things you can do to make yourself, family and business resilient for Hurricane Season

Last month the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published its season forecast for the Atlantic hurricane season. For the entire six-month season, which began on June 1, NOAA says there's a 70 percent chance of nine to 15 named storms (with top winds of 39 mph or higher), of which four to eight will strengthen to a hurricane (with top winds of 74 mph or higher) and of those one to three will become major hurricanes (with top winds of 111 mph or higher, ranking Category 3, 4 or 5). Based on the period 1981-2010, an average season produces 12 named storms with six hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.

"NOAA's outlook predicts a less active season compared to recent years," said NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D. "But regardless of the outlook, it's vital for anyone living or vacationing in hurricane-prone locations to be prepared. We have a stark reminder this year with the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew."

The Providence Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) wants residents and business owner to take time know to prepare for the 2012 hurricane season. Our best defense against both man-made and natural hazards that have to ability to cause mass disruption such as wide-spread and prolonged power outages is a community built on the principle of resilience. Resilience is simply our ability to absorb and manage the disruption by bending but not breaking. This takes a concerted effort by the community to be prepared in affordable and realistic ways. To that end PEMA has published the "Top Ten" things you can do to prepare for this year's hurricane season and beyond.

For more information visit the PEMA website at www.readyprov.com or www.72hours.org/providence

View the Top Ten Hurricane Preparedness Tips