National Hurricane Center forecasters are warning a possible tropical depression, or storm, may form in the Gulf of Mexico later this week. While it is still too early to predict the storm’s path, it is a reminder that the time to prepare is now, according to Louisiana Baptists State disaster relief Director Gibbie McMillan.
“The only time it is too late is after a disaster occurs,” McMillan told the Baptist Message. “It is too late to turn the lights off when the electricity goes out. It is never too late to prepare for the unknown, and for the unexpected. Just begin now.”
McMillan suggested storing one gallon of bottled water per person per day in the household, non-perishable food, cash, first aid kit, medications, a laminated copy of important documents, and phone numbers of extended family members and friends who live in other states.
McMillan said a disaster plan should include a list of possible rendezvous sites near one’s home or in a neighboring state and a phone tree for making contact in case of disaster.
He invited Louisiana Baptists to participate in future Disaster Relief instruction and to take advantage of online training available at louisianabaptists.org/disasterrelief.
Hurricane season began June 1, and continues through November 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts a near-normal hurricane season for the year, predicting 9-15 named storms, with four to eight of these becoming hurricanes. Two to four could strengthen into Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes that pack winds of more than 110 miles per hour.
An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes, according to NOAA.
