The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and lasts through November 30 each year. It’s important for business owners and property owners alike in the South and Southeast to take all the necessary steps in order to prevent severe hurricane damage as the storms inevitably make their way towards the United States.
According to Emergency Management, Texas counties that were struck hard last year by Hurricane Harvey have advised its residents and business owners to start taking all the important steps to prepare their structures for upcoming storms.
The Harris County, Texas, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HCOHSEM) designated the week of May 6 through May 12 as Hurricane Preparedness Week and urged preparedness as early predictions for 2018 Atlantic’s hurricane season show above-average rates.
Between 2006 and 2011, the construction industry eliminated more than 40% of its workforce. However, with devastating storms becoming more common, construction demand seems to be on the rise, as homes and commercial buildings require repair and reconstruction.
“Regardless of the number of hurricanes predicted, I would remind our residents that it only takes one to devastate a community,” said Ed Emmett, a Harris County Commissioners Court Judge. “Be assured that the county will continue to work to prepare our communities, but it is up to each individual to prepare themselves and their families.”
WUWF adds that Florida residents and business owners are in just as much need of early preparedness as other parts of the country.
“The number-one priority for all of our operations right now is life-saving; that’s our focus,” said EOC Chief John Dosh. “Damage assessment is another priority; we want to get out there and figure out how bad, ‘bad’ is. We need to know what the impacts of our community area are. Because from a home perspective, from an infrastructure perspective, all those things that we need to have in order to start making the appropriate steps to get our community back into recovery phase.”
Property owners in these at-risk areas are recorded to discuss and practice emergency procedures with family and employees, making sure weather and emergency alert applications are functioning properly, assemble emergency supply kits equipped with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio, trim all trees surrounding the property, and keep all vehicle gas tanks full.
