With the arrival of the official start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season on June 1 there is no better time for residents to review their emergency preparedness plans for themselves, their families and businesses.
As recently as this past weekend, we have once again seen the powerful destruction and deadly impact that can result from these tropical storms, Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson said in a press release.
Subtropical Storm Alberto disrupted Memorial Day weekend plans for many living or visiting areas in the southeast and Gulf Coast with downed trees, power outages, high surf and dangerous rip tides, the threat of flash flooding and tornadoes. Florida, Alabama and Mississippi declared states of emergencies in anticipation of Alberto where some mandatory evacuations were implemented.
The Atlantic Hurricane Season lasts through November. Forecasters predict a 70 percent likelihood of 10 to 16 named storms with winds of 39 mph or higher with the likelihood of five to nine of those named storms becoming hurricanes.
According to the National Hurricane Center, the two key factors contributing to weather safety during hurricanes are preparing in advance for the risks and to act on those preparations when alerted by emergency officials.
Residents are urged to take this opportunity to check and replenish disaster supply kits, create and/or review family emergency plans including preparations for pets, review evacuation routes and locate contact information for their municipal emergency management offices. All of this information and more is available on the county's emergency information and resource website at www.ReadyAtlantic.org.
When an emergency strikes, time is of the essence and preparedness is vital to survival, Levinson said. While our first responders do an outstanding job under extraordinary conditions, preparedness begins with each of us, in our own homes and families. Take the time to prepare now by making a plan, identifying evacuation routes, and creating a disaster supply kit for home and travel. Your life may well depend upon it.
Residents and individuals with properties, second homes, or businesses in Atlantic County are also strongly encouraged to register with the county's Community Notification System. The system includes numbers from the Verizon phone system's 9-1-1 database as well as self-registered numbers. The Community Notification System can accommodate a primary and secondary phone number (i.e. home and cell) as well as two email addresses per account.
Residents who are registered through the Atlantic County Community Notification System can also receive direct alerts from the National Weather Service to their cell phones. This important feature helps to keep the public aware of potentially dangerous weather conditions, such as severe heat or storm activity, regardless of time of day or location.
Residents and property owners should also inspect their homes to identify any structural issues that could be affected by a hurricane such as loose shingles or damaged roofs as well as to check insurance coverage to protect their properties from costly flood damage.
You can also sign up for emergency notifications through the CodeRED system in each of the Downbeach shore towns.
To register in Ventnor, see http://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/647738E6DBF8
To register in Margate, see http://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF32B64EBE25
To register in Longport, see http://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF17DC4DFC2B
More information about hurricane season and how to protect yourself during a storm, see www.longportnj.gov, www.margate-nj.com or www.ventnorcity.org.
