Hurricane Preparedness Tips

Being hurricane ready and being prepared. Keeping this thought in mind we have put
together some tips to keep you on track for the hurricane season.

• Put-up all-important documents (ID card, passport, insurance policies, birth certificates etc.) in a ziplocked/sealed bag.
• Keep flashlights and lanterns ready.
• Have batteries, diesel or kerosene to last at least two weeks in case of power outage.
• Store at least two weeks supply of water for drinking and personal use.
• Store two weeks of canned and dry foods.
• Keep one month supply of required medication on hand.
• Have a portable battery-operated radio that’s working to keep informed of important information in the event of power outage or a storm.
• A stocked first aid kit.

It Takes One, Be Hurricane Ready

“It takes one. We don’t need to have 21 storms, so this hurricane season persons should be
prepared. Have your emergency hurricane kit ready which should contain water, canned foods,
first aid kit, important medication, and documents to avoid being caught in that last minute rush.”
This is the advice coming from Senior Meteorologist Semelka Jackman at the Barbados
Meteorological Office.

She told Barbados Weekly during an interview, despite Barbados borderline location of 13N, 59
W, it is necessary to take the hurricane season serious and be prepared.

The 2022 hurricane season which officially started June 1 st and will end November 30 th has a few
predictions in the making. International agency NOAA( National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration) and the University of Arizona predicts the 2022 hurricane season to be above
climatological average with 14 main storms, 7 of which are hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes
whilst The Colorado State University is forecasting 19 main storms, 9 of which are forecast to be
hurricanes with 4 major hurricanes predicted at a category 3 or higher.

Jackman noted, “With any system we forecast what we expect but sometimes these predictions
can change as it is only a forecast and rain is not always a sigh of a storm but a trough system or
another factor as we love in the tropics.”

She emphasized, “during this hurricane season I would like Barbadians to have certain things in
place. Be prepared for the storm and during a storm observe all safety protocols. In cases where
the home becomes compromised, and one’s life is in danger that’s the only time persons should
evacuate to some place safer. Another alternative is to find a secure room within the home
preferable one with less windows and wait out the storm.”

When asked how storm names are selected, Jackman said, “hurricane names are determined from
a six-year list from A-W comprised of 21 names which are rotated but once a hurricane name has
caused major damage that name is removed from the list and no longer used.”