Hurricane Season Starts This Week; Be Prepared

The hurricane season in the Central Pacific, which includes Hawai‘i, starts Wednesday, June 1, and runs through Nov. 30. The county encourages island residents to be prepared.

“In the event of a tropical cyclone, preparedness is crucial for you and your family,” Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency Administrator Elton Ushio said in a press release. “If your home is safe to do so, sheltering in place is usually the best option. This year’s outlook is below normal; however, we remind the public that it just takes one storm to adversely affect our community — even without a direct hit.”

Ushio also noted that disaster kits should include at least a 14-day supply of non-perishable food, 1 gallon of water per person per day, a battery-powered radio, flashlight, an extra supply of prescription medicines and other items specific to individual and family needs.

Information about planning and preparing for hurricane season is available on the county website or the Central Pacific Hurricane Center website. To sign up for the county’s free Wireless Emergency Notification System, please go to the county website and click on “Notifications.”

The emergency notification system is designed to quickly inform people about emergencies including tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, flash floods and any other situation that could impact the safety, property or welfare of residents and visitors.

Those without Internet access can have their phone number and other pertinent information added to the county database by calling the Kaua‘i Emergency Management Agency at 808-241-1800.

According to the National Weather Service, this year’s hurricane season outlook calls for 2-4 tropical cyclones for a below-normal season. The outlook, however, does not predict whether or how many of these systems will directly affect Hawai‘i. An average season has 4-5 storms, which includes tropical depressions, tropical storms as well as hurricanes.

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center continuously monitors weather conditions. A hurricane or tropical storm watch is issued when hurricane or tropical storm force winds are possible within 48 hours. A hurricane or tropical storm warning is issued when hurricane or tropical storm force winds are expected within 36 hours.

In the event a watch or warning is issued, people should listen to local radio or TV stations and monitor local web/internet media for official weather information and instructions from emergency management officials.