JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- With hurricane season soon upon us, now is the time to think about the safety of your loved ones and remember the importance of natural disaster preparedness.
Hawaii's hurricane season begins June 1 and will continue through Nov. 30.
May 24-30 is Hurricane Preparedness Week, making this the perfect time to think about what steps to take before, during and after a storm hits.
A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone or severe tropical storm that forms in the ocean. A typical cyclone is accompanied by high winds, heavy rains, flash flooding, high waves, and storm surge. Though the damage from a hurricane can range from mild to severe or even fatal, the most best way to stay safe is to be prepared.
Being prepared means understanding the potential threats and making plans in advance. It's also important that your family knows what to do in the event of a natural disaster.
According to the website ready.gov, making and reviewing your family's emergency plan can be key to keeping everyone together.
Your family should set at least two meeting locations in the event that you become separated. Develop your family's communication plan in advance, to include designating someone out-of-state to be the "family point of contact," since after a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance than locally. Family members should then call this person and report in. This will allow you to stay in touch even when you can't talk directly.
Having a fully stocked disaster supply kit is another simple way to ensure you will be prepared.
According to Staff Sgt. Brian Miles, 15th Wing Ground Safety office, there should be enough food and water to last each family member seven days.
"We live in a geographically isolated location that receives 95 percent of its food supply from the main land," said Miles. "The island of Oahu typically only has about three days of food supply on island to restock food in grocery stores, so it is important that each family has a fully stocked disaster kit."
Additionally, ready.gov recommends a disaster supply kit have, at a minimum, one gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation.
There should also be non-perishable foods that don't require reheating, refrigeration or water to prepare. It is also recommended that you have cash, battery operated radio, flash lights, candles and don't forget the can opener.
Knowing the dangers of a hurricane is critical to preparation.
The Saffir-Simpson Wind Scale measures hurricane's strength, severity and classifies hurricanes into five categories based on their sustained wind speed at the indicated time.
Category 1 hurricane, winds from 74 to 95 mph with a four to five foot storm surge
Category 2 hurricane, winds from 96 to 110 mph with a six to eight foot storm surge
Category 3 hurricane, winds from 111 to 130 mph with a nine to twelve foot storm surge
Category 4 hurricane, winds from 131 to 155 mph with a thirteen to eighteen foot storm surge
Category 5 hurricane, winds greater than 155 mph with a storm surge greater than eighteen feet
A hurricane's storm surge can be just as dangerous as the high winds.
According to ready.gov, a storm surge is water that pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around the storm. This advancing surge combines with the normal tides to create the hurricane storm tide, which can increase the normal water level affecting roads, homes and other critical infrastructure.
If a hurricane threatens the island of Oahu it is important to stay informed by watching local news, listening to local radio and checking for updates about the storm on the 15th Wing Facebook.
For more information on preparing your home and your family for a hurricane, visit:
www.15wing.af.mil, www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org/hi/honolulu