‘H’ is for hurricane season; are you prepared?

By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR

We are officially in hurricane season – that seasonal period when weather forecasters begin citing storm odds, stare across the Atlantic Ocean at the smallest wave to roll off the coast of West Africa, and call upon every international atmospheric model to try to predict exactly the when, where and size of the first storm.

They will be on close watch for the next six months. Hurricane season started June 1 and will last through Nov. 30.

While forecasters are rolling up their sleeves and producing colorful spaghetti graphs, what the general coastal population should be doing is preparing for rough weather, possible evacuation, and other challenges if a hurricane hits near Beaufort County.

If one should hit close to us, no matter what the category or storm level of the cyclone, there will be damages.

Hurricane Matthew, a Category 2 upon landing, still cost money nine months after racking up $34.5 million in clean-up costs.

Dorian in 2019 raged across the Bahamas as a Category 5 but was a category

1 by the time it reached the East Coast. Damage locally was limited to downed trees, scattered branches, leaves and pine straw, and minor damages to structures like screened-in pools. Our neighbors up the coast in North Carolina were not so lucky since the storm – even as a Cat. 1 – sent a 4- to 7-foot storm surge across Ocracoke Island, sending residents scurrying to their attics.

The eye clipped Cape Lookout, and there were reports of 5 to 10 inches of rain along the coast.

What are the predictions for 2023’s season? The National Weather Service – the federal forecasting folks – are predicting a “near-normal” season, with 12-17 named storms, and five to nine hurricanes – one to four of which will be major events.

Though hurricane season lasts until Nov. 30, with the most active months for the Lowcountry historically August, September and October. That doesn’t mean a storm won’t come cruising across the Atlantic before then, so it’s best to be prepared long before you need to.

The South Carolina Hurricane Guide 2023 is available online in English and Spanish and can be downloaded at townofbluffton.sc.gov/656/Hurri- cane-Season.

A list of tips is included in this newspaper, but some of them can’t be repeated often enough.

The first recommendation is to get flood insurance. You have to have the

Please see HURRICANES on page 10A