Community Corner

2012 Hurricane Season Forecasts, Safety Tips, Links and Predictions

The National Hurricane Center's "near-normal" prediction for the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season leads to these safety tips and links and Tampa Bay and Hillsborough County information about shelters, aid and useful numbers.

 

Hurricane season officially starts today, June 1, and there are things to know as you plan ahead for what has been predicted to be a "near-normal" season, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Especially important is the knowledge of what to do during and after a storm strikes.

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Brandon Patch helps in that effort with the charts below, offering information to clip and store and post and save as the hurricane season gets under way.

NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division predicts that it will be an “near-normal” season with:

Find out what's happening in Brandonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • A 70 percent chance of nine to 15 named storms (with top winds of 39 mph or higher).
  • Four to eight storms strengthening to hurricane status (with top winds of 74 mph or higher).
  • One to three of those storms becoming a Category 3, 4 or 5 storm (with top winds of 111 mph or higher).

NOAA notes that “based on the period 1918 to 2010, an average season produces 12 named storms with six hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.”

In its report NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco notes that the group's outlook predicts a less active season compared to recent years.

“But regardless of the outlook, it’s vital for anyone living or vacationing in hurricane-prone locations to be prepared," she said. "We have a stark reminder this year with the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew.”

Andrew, the Category 5 hurricane that devastated South Florida on August 24, 1992, was the first storm in a late-starting season that produced only six named storms.

Brandon Patch last year posted information about as part of its Florida Severe Weather Awareness Week  coverage. The posting includes links to other weather events and to the hazardous weather background, tips and information posted by the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross.

The Hurricane Preparedness Website offers extensive links and information about:

At a more local level, the charts below contain information necessary for Hillsborough County residents, as provided by county officials:

NEED TO KNOW
Hurricane Season June 1 - November 30 Preparedness Guide "Have A Plan, Know Your Plan" Evacuation Information Hurricane categories and evacuation levels
Determine Your Evacuation Level and Nearest Shelter By address
Determine Your Evacuation Level and Nearest Shelter By owner name
Determine Your Evacuation Level and Nearest Shelter By parcel identification number (folio) Firestation Search By ZIP code
Hospital Search By ZIP code
Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool An interactive mapping tool to check for evacuation level and surrounding shetlers. Also, a list of shelters, open shelters and shelters by ZIP code Suggested Shopping List Grocery and hardware stores
Suggested Shopping List (large type for the visually impaired) Grocery and hardware stores
Special Needs Shelter Application



 

IMPORTANT CONTACTS
Hillsborough Infoline 813-272-5900
TTY 301-7173 Emergency E-News Service Subscribe to receive alerts
Hillsbrough County Television HTV22 (Cable Channel 22) County Government Online www.hillsboroughcounty.org
Real-Time Traffic and Travel Information Call: 511
Visit: www.511tampabay.com



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