FEMA Blog

Posted by: Lars Anderson, Director, Public Affairs

Each year the Atlantic tropical season begins on June 1. Generally speaking, any given year during the Memorial Day weekend, employees at FEMA are “thinking” about the upcoming hurricane season…not actually “monitoring” a tropical system. However, this year we haven’t even reached June 1, and we’re already monitoring the second storm of the year. Late yesterday, the tropics developed Sub-Tropical Storm Beryl.

Because of the development of Beryl and the expected track, the National Weather Service has issued tropical storm watches and warning for areas of the southeast. The advisories are for Tropical Storm Warnings for the Volusia/Brevard County line in Florida to Edisto Beach, South Carolina; and Tropical Storm Watches for north of Edisto Beach to South Santee River, South Carolina.

With the impact focused on the southeastern U.S., FEMA, through our regional office in Atlanta, Ga., is closely monitoring Beryl. With tropical storm conditions expected to reach the warned area from northeastern Florida to South Carolina sometime Sunday, we have deployed a liaison to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla., to support our Hurricane Liaison Team.

As tropical waves or tropical storms can bring heavy rains and high winds, we are urging coastal residents to monitor weather conditions by listening to your local radio and television news outlets or by listening to NOAA Weather Radio. You can check your local forecast at http://www.weather.gov/ & http://www.hurricanes.gov/ and on your phone at mobile.weather.gov & www.hurricanes.gov/mobile.

It’s vitally important that you take steps to prepare your property and family and you should take steps now to get prepared for potential severe weather. Visit Ready.gov/hurricanes (Listo.gov para español) to learn how to prepare your home and family for a hurricane or tropical storm, including building an emergency supply kit and creating a family emergency plan.

Everyone should also familiarize themselves with the terms that are used to identify a severe weather hazard and discuss with your family what to do if a tropical storm watch or warning is issued in your area. Terms used to describe severe tropical weather include the following:

• A Tropical storm watch means that tropical storm conditions are possible, in this case within 24 hours.
• A Tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected within 36 hours.
• A Hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours.
• A Hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within 36 hours. 

We’ll continue to monitor the storm and provide updates as it warrants, and if you are in the potential areas, please listen to local officials. We’ll also provide updates on Twitter and Facebook, so you can follow us there too.