Busy 2020 Hurricane season due to warmer oceans

[SFspiderman]

Emergency managers and insurers can use the predictions to help prepare a bit, but for the average citizen, it's mostly "we publish predictions because the people want them."

[twingles]

Originally Posted by don6170

Fair enough, but what specifically are the people in Emergency Management doing differently, based on a forecast of the number of storms? Are they ordering more supplies now, etc ?


I'm not trying to be obstinate - just trying to understand the value of spending the time & effort to put together the forecasts.

I'm not in Emergency Management so I don't know. I would guess since OEMs right now are busy with COVID response they may start thinking about what to do if a storm hits. Social distancing isn't going to work in a shelter, for example.
I do work in insurance and I can tell you that they're not gonna worry till there's a named storm. But I'm sure an active storm season is something that they don't want on their radar right now. As of now we haven't had any layoffs, and the unpredictable nature of storm season has probably helped retain some jobs - an active hurricane season on the horizon may save even more.

Also, I'm not sure how old you are - but there was a time where there were no forecasts, and then there was a time when forecasts were crappy till the last second (and that still sometimes happens) - it's probably best if people living in coastal areas know what might be coming their way.

[Poggly Woggly]

Originally Posted by JONOV

Make sure your generator works now rather than trying to find the part you need when everyone is in full out panic mode? Look around Estate Sales for a few extra Gas Cans? That type of thing...

Just purchased two Honda portable generators. I don’t want a big heavy bulky generator, so if I need extra power I can run the two in parallel.

[don6170]

Originally Posted by twingles

I do work in insurance and I can tell you that they're not gonna worry till there's a named storm.

That was sort of my point. We will be told over and over what to do when a storm/hurricane is heading our way, but we do we do NOW, based on the forecast?

Originally Posted by twingles

Also, I'm not sure how old you are - but there was a time where there were no forecasts, and then there was a time when forecasts were crappy till the last second (and that still sometimes happens) - it's probably best if people living in coastal areas know what might be coming their way.

I'm old enough to remember 25-cent per gallon gas and watching the weatherman spin a three-sided board where the last side had the forecast for tomorrow (not 3, 5 or 10-days out) !

[Universe93B]

Originally Posted by don6170

Fair enough, but what specifically are the people in Emergency Management doing differently, based on a forecast of the number of storms? Are they ordering more supplies now, etc ?


I'm not trying to be obstinate - just trying to understand the value of spending the time & effort to put together the forecasts.

For example, have a friend in the energy department for NC, and they are contacting a much larger number of outside electrical and gas contractors for this season compared to previous ones. These are the out of state workers who come help repair power and gas lines during/after the storm. As for other things, not sure but I'm guessing similar things to prepare.

As for the rest of us like JONOV said, can see if your generator works or whether it's worth it for you to get one now or just deal with possible outages.

[jonez176]

I've lived here for 8 years and by far the most threatening weather events are the random microbursts that appear without warning. That being said I think we dodged a bullet with the last hurricane.

[poppydog]

Give it some more time Jonez.

[Poggly Woggly]

That’s right. Just stick around. It’s not a matter of if...it’s when.