Hurricane Preparedness Week
May 25-31, 2008

With the approach of the 2008 hurricane season, the week of May 25th through 31st has been designated as Hurricane Preparedness Week for both the states of Lousiana and Mississippi. Now is the time for residents of southeast Louisiana and extreme south Mississippi to begin reviewing and updating their hurricane preparedness plans. History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the chance of being in harm's way if a hurricane threatens our area this year.

The official start of the hurricane season is June 1st, and it lasts through the end of of November. Southeast Louisiana and coastal Mississippi are extremely vulnerable to the destructive winds and storm surge associated with hurricanes. In addition, many residents of southeast Louisiana and south Mississippi are still recovering from the damaging affects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and are living in sturctures vulnerable to tropical storm and hurricane force winds.

Area residents, especially those in coastal locations, weakened structures, or travel trailers vulnerable to wind, should review actions they would take if a tropical storm or hurricane threatened the region.

If you live in a vulnerable coastal location, you will likely be requested to evacuate if a hurricane threatens. Also, if you live in a travel trailer or mobile home, you will likely be requested to evacuate for tropical storms and hurricanes.

Now is the time to learn what evacuation routes you would use, the location you would go, and what you would bring with you if you evacuated. If you live in a safe location away from storm surge flooding and decide to stay, you should have provisions of food and water to last from several days to a week or more without normal service.

A variety of web sites are listed below that can assist you in your preparedness plans for the 2008 season.