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When Americans think “hurricane season,” many often think New Orleans, Miami or Myrtle Beach.
However, government officials and emergency management professionals say hurricanes are affecting more communities, and in places where homeowners may think they are safe.
Think again, those experts say. This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and AccuWeather predict more hurricanes than usual in 2024 due to a La Nina weather pattern and warmer ocean temperatures.
NOAA predicts seven to 25 named storms with 39 mph or higher winds. AccuWeather says there could be 20 to 25 named storms. Even though the season is off to a slow start, Alex DaSilva, lead hurricane expert for Accu-Weather, stands by the prediction. He noted that hurricane season stretches to November 30.
On July 8, Hurricane Beryl hit Texas as a Category 1 before moving to the northeast.
A high-pressure center over Bermuda usually steers hurricanes away from the mid-Atlantic region and out to sea. “It’s very rare that you see a storm hooked back into the coast,” DaSilva said. “Obviously, it happened with Sandy.”
Hurricane Sandy, sometimes called Superstorm Sandy, hit New Jersey in October 2012 as a Category 2, but its effects were felt inland. Some 234 people died. Damage was estimated at $68.7 billion. It was second only to Hurricane Katrina in damage costs.
Asked whether climate change is causing more hurricanes, DaSilva said meteorologists find more storms because of better technology.
“We’re going to see more storms than we did in the early 1900s,” he said. “Because we have satellites, we can find them in the middle of the ocean.” But researchers believe “there has been more episodes of rapid intensification. …We saw Beryl rapidly intensify.”
“So, in terms of the number of storms and the number of hurricanes, it is still being debated whether there is a link between that and climate change. Some years are very active. Some are very inactive,” he said.
The deadliest hurricane in the United States hit Galveston, Texas. It killed 8,000 to 12,000 people. “It was in 1900, so the warnings obviously were not as good as they are today,” DaSilva said.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency helps with the effects of hurricanes and other disasters. With the large number of hurricanes predicted, “it’s more important than ever to be prepared,” FEMA said.
First, have multiple ways to receive alerts and warnings, including the FEMA mobile app. Know your hurricane risk and be prepared to evacuate by knowing your route.
FEMA suggests having adequate supplies and enough food and water for several days. They also recommend you have baby formula for infants and medications, if needed. Plan for pets because many shelters will not accept them, FEMA warned.
Bryan Koon, president and CEO of IEM, a consulting firm specializing in emergency management and disaster recovery, agrees. He recommends buying flood insurance. Even if the storms do not hit an area directly, they can “drop a prodigious amount of rain,” he said.
“Sit down with your insurance agent and review your policy,” he said. “Make sure it is what you need.”
“Flood insurance is expensive, but not having flood insurance can be way more expensive,” he said.
And history is not a guide. Hurricanes and flooding storms can hit widespread areas. Instead, assess your house.
“When was it built? What were the building codes in place then? What happens if a storm comes through and stalls in your area and drops six, 12, or 18 inches of rain? What happens if you get sustained 100-mph winds? What if you have a tornado that shoots off one of those (hurricanes) and impacts your house?” Koon asked.
“Some simple things people can do today to improve the strength of their home,” he said. If you are in a hurricane-prone area, “get hurricane shutters or impact-resistant windows.” Add hurricane clips to hold down your roof.
“If you’re remodeling, the prudent thing to do would be to spend some time online and look for simple ways to harden your house,” he said.
DaSilva said hurricanes are causing more damage these days because coastal areas are more densely inhabited.
“The population of South Florida has just exploded. So, I think the reason we are seeing more damaging hurricanes essentially is — there have always been powerful hurricanes — just now, a lot of people are living on the coasts.”
Marion McFadden, the principal deputy assistant secretary for community planning and development with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, said HUD also helps people after a hurricane or other disasters.
While FEMA and the Red Cross respond first, HUD aids residents living in housing it financed, finding new homes for them, and stabilizing and repairing damaged properties.
“We take the lead for FEMA on what’s called the housing recovery and support function,” McFadden said. They work with the state, local, territory or tribal government to assess recovery needs.
But because Congress must approve HUD funding, it can take months or even years for its disaster funds to be dispersed, she said. And there are income limits to qualify. They also ensure they are not duplicating money already provided by a homeowner’s insurance policy.
“We focus a lot on prevention and mitigation,” she said.
