Taking Hurricane Warnings Seriously

9/14/2018 (Permalink)

As Hurricane Florence makes its way closer and closer to the United States, South Florida residents are likely thinking back to the scary and devastating memories of last hurricane season. South Florida saw some very dangerous storms and it is easy to forget just how terrifying hurricanes can be. Unfortunately, Florida homeowners (especially those who have lived here their entire lives) are particularly numb to hurricane watches and hurricane warnings. Often opting to ignore evacuation orders and hunker down, these residents are taking a major risk for themselves and their family.

Hurricanes can literally be a matter of life or death and taking them seriously is critical to maintaining safety for you and your loved ones. First of all, it is important to understand the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning. A hurricane watch means that bad weather is forming and is potentially threatening for the area in that watch region. On the other hand, a hurricane warning means that the weather is no longer potentially a threat, but has developed further and has become an immediate danger.

Far too many people mistake a slow hurricane season for being a time to ignore “minor storms”. However, it is important to note that the tail end of every hurricane season is typically the most active and troublesome. Therefore, while South Florida is approaching the end of hurricane season the potential danger could just be getting started. Mandatory evacuations must be taken seriously and followed directly. No matter how much “hurricane experience” you may think you have, it is always best to follow orders from your local government.

When preparing for upcoming storms this hurricane season, be sure to be an active listener of the weather channel and of warnings from government authority. Hurricanes are a serious matter and must be dealt with as such.