PEARL, Miss. (MEMA) – The Atlantic Hurricane Season officially starts June 1 and runs through November 30. The NOAA Climate Prediction Center predicts above-average hurricane activity this year, predicting 14-21 named storms. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency urges residents to prepare for the season ahead.
“Being prepared can be life-saving in the wake of a hurricane or tropical storm,” said MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney. “Make sure your family has a go-kit and evacuation plan. Don’t wait for a storm to enter the Gulf of Mexico to begin your family’s preparations. Now is the time.”
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has many resources to help residents prepare for a storm. Our 2022 Disaster Guide demonstrates what to do before, during, and after a storm, including making an evacuation plan and building a disaster kit. The Disaster Guide can be downloaded in Spanish and Vietnamese on the MEMA website.
After a storm, residents are encouraged to contact their insurance provider if there is any damage and file a claim. Residents should report damage to their local Emergency Management Office as soon as possible. They can do so by using the Crisis Track self-reporting tool. This information-gathering platform allows local officials to determine the amount of damage within a community.
Protecting lives and property are MEMA’s top priorities, and we hope that residents will make a plan, prepare, and be vigilant this hurricane season.
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