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A Reminder From Hurricane Beryl: Prepare Now, Save Later

Learn how to avoid disaster with lessons from Hurricane Beryl.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasted a hyperactive hurricane season this year—driven by above average ocean temperatures and La Niña.

The first half of 2024 ushered in 11 billion-dollar disaster events, including wildfires, floods, and tornadoes across the country.

We are currently in the midst of hurricane season, which runs June to November, with an anticipated 17–25 storms to form in the Atlantic.

Given these elevated risks, preparing for disaster strike is critical, and for some it is already too late. A Category 1 hurricane made landfall in Texas the first week of July. While Texans spent their Independence Day enjoying the outdoors, cookouts, and celebrating freedom, Hurricane Beryl was unleashing her fury in Jamaica and Mexico. Some Texas residents and visitors were unaware their territory was under direct threat and would soon be impacted.

Hurricane Beryl is the earliest-forming Category 5 Atlantic hurricane on record. With this trend top of mind, now is the time to prepare for power outages, high winds, and flooding that might affect your home or business.

Consider the questions below as you assess your vulnerability to disaster this season.

Protection Against Power Outages

Over 2.5+ million customers were without power by Monday morning, July 8. Power restoration capabilities have increased in efficiency, resources, and planning such that most power outages are relatively short-lived. However, power restoration cannot begin until weather conditions improve, roads are clear, and electrical poles and lines can be safely accessed. To predict your preparedness, ask yourself:

  • What is your plan when the power goes out? Do you have alternate power sources such as whole-home generators, smaller generators, or solar panels?
    • If yes: Do you also know how to operate them? Have they been maintained?
    • If no: Consider shopping around for options in your price range and grants, insurance incentives, or other financial resources that can help cover the cost.
  • How long can you remain at home without power?
    • Temperature, personal health condition, susceptibility to unregulated temperature, and amount of fuel available from alternative power devices all influence your ability to live off
  • Do you have medical needs that are dependent on electricity?
    • If yes: Have a plan to temporarily relocate somewhere with dependable back-up emergency power and resources to meet your medical needs.
    • Remember: If you have a medical emergency, first responders cannot begin responding on site to calls until it is safe to do so.

Reduce the Risk of Flooding

Hurricane Beryl is causing dangerous storm surges and excessive rain, resulting in flooding throughout the Texas and Louisiana coasts. Flooded streets prevent both passenger and emergency response vehicles from going from point A to point B. Consider barriers to emergency and medical assistance and other flooding impacts as you prepare:

  • What is your plan if street access to your home or office is inhibited?
    • Know how to monitor emergency communications if you need to leave early and/or use alternate resources to avoid being flooded in and stranded.
  • What is your plan for protecting your home or office from flood damage?
    • Review your insurance policy to confirm you are properly protected. Flood coverage is not standard in homeowner or business policies.
    • Consider shopping retrofitting options for your building to be more resilient to rising water.
  • What is your plan for water damage to your home or office caused by rain through the roof or other openings?
    • Unlike flood insurance due to rising water, damage from rainfall into the structure may be covered in your policy. Meet with your insurance agent to make sure you understand the requirements. You may not be covered if it is found you could have done something to prevent the damage, such as routine roof maintenance.
    • Maintain the systems already in place. All roofs, windows, doors, and systems applied to them (such as rooftop air conditioning systems) require maintenance during their lifetime. Be vigilant with maintenance to identify and address issues before they become a liability.

Windproof Your Home and Office

Hurricane windspeeds are one of the ways the strength of a hurricane is measured. A Category 5 hurricane can have winds greater than 155 mph, and even Category 1 sustained winds can be up to 74 mph not including gusts. Damage from severe thunderstorm winds account for half of all severe reports in the lower 48 states, much more common than damage from tornadoes according to NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory. Ask yourself:

  • What is your plan for protecting your home or office from winds?
    • Review your insurance policy to confirm you are properly protected. Wind coverage is not standard in homeowner or business policies.
    • Secure outdoor items to reduce unintentional projectiles causing damage to your doors, windows, roof, etc.
    • Consider shopping retrofitting options for your building to be more resilient to damaging winds (e.g., windproofing solutions for doors, windows, roof, garage, and outer buildings).
    • Maintain systems in place already (roofs, windows, doors, and systems applied to them).

“It is not ‘if’ but rather ‘when’ you will be impacted by a disaster. Once a disaster occurs, your moment-to-moment decisions and available resources will impact short- and long-term effects. Your level of preparedness can directly increase response success and decrease recovery time.” —APTIM Preparedness Director Amy Courville

APTIM envisions a culture of preparedness and equity for communities, where immediate needs are met and the impacts of future emergencies, disasters, and catastrophic events are mitigated for all. In pursuit of this vision, APTIM crafts resilient communities by providing full lifecycle emergency management and disaster services. Our experts partner with communities to preserve the environment, plan for emergencies, restore essential services and business functions, avoid damage and loss of life, and support whole-community and economic recovery.

Contact our team today to help develop, evaluate, and/or strengthen your preparedness.

APTIM. In Pursuit of Better.

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