Help Us Prepare: Point of Distribution Exercise

On Thursday, August 25th, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) will be conducting a Point of Distribution (POD) exercise from 10:30AM until 12:30PM. The exercise will be at the Southern Patrol Headquarters, located on 605 N. Broad Street, Middletown DE.

Volunteers are needed. The first one hundred participants will receive a FREE case of water. See the attached flyer for more information.

Hurricane Irene Nears the U.S. Coast: Are You Ready?

As the first major hurricane of the 2011 hurricane season approaches the U.S. coast, it's more important than ever to ensure that your family or business is prepared.

As Hurricane Irene nears the Florida coast, present projections show there is some possibility our region may be impacted. Check out Ready.gov and PrepareDE.org's preparation guides for this natural disaster. It is essential that families and businesses prepare themselves prior to a storm's impact, as supplies, communications, and routes of transportation may be limited. The NOAA has issued a Hurricane Safety flyer with safety tips for before, during, and after a storm.

For up to date tracking of Hurricane Irene and future hurricanes, the National Hurricane Center maintains an up-to-date website of named storms.

Craig Fugate Visits the Delaware Emergency Management Agency

Craig Fugate, the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), visited Delaware on Friday, August 12th. Director Fugate met with DEMA Director Jamie Turner and his staff. Director Fugate continues to emphasize the importance of citizen and community preparedness. Visit PrepareDE or Ready.gov to learn how to better prepare for a disaster.

Family Emergency Preparedness Day

National Preparedness Month kicks off Thursday, Sept. 1. The Delaware Citizen Corps will sponsor its 7th Annual Family Emergency Preparedness Day at the Agriculture Museum in Dover on Saturday, October 8th, from 10:00AM - 2:00 PM.

The Museum is located on 866 N. DuPont Highway, in Dover. The day will provide residents with FREE FOOD, free training sessions on citizen emergency readiness, writing a plan and building a kit, emergency preparedness for pets, and preparedness games for kids. Exhibitors, such as Citizen Corps, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA), the Medical Reserve Corps, Public Health, the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and the Red Cross, will distribute materials listing supplies and tips on the key points of a family emergency plan. Local emergency responders, fire trucks, police vehicles, and more will be on hand. Many exhibitors will have interactive displays that all ages can enjoy, and free disaster preparedness/emergency kits will be raffled off.

NOAA Predicts Higher of Named Hurricanes for 2011

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued its updated 2011 Atlantic hurricane season outlook today raising the number of expected named storms from its pre-season outlook issued in May. Forecasters also increased their confidence that 2011 will be an active Atlantic hurricane season. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, updates its Atlantic hurricane season outlook every August. “The atmosphere and Atlantic Ocean are primed for high hurricane activity during August through October,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at the Climate Prediction Center. “Storms through October will form more frequently and become more intense than we’ve seen so far this season.”

Key climate factors predicted in May continue to support an active season. These include: the tropical multi-decadal signal, which since 1995 has brought favorable ocean and atmospheric conditions, leading to more active seasons; exceptionally warm Atlantic Ocean temperatures (the third warmest on record); and the possible redevelopment of La Niña. Reduced vertical wind shear and lower air pressure across the tropical Atlantic also favor an active season.

Based on these conditions and on climate model forecasts, the confidence for an above-normal season has increased from 65 percent in May to 85 percent. Also, the expected number of named storms has increased from 12-18 in May to 14-19, and the expected number of hurricanes has increased from 6-10 in May to 7-10.

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the whole season – June 1 to November 30 – NOAA’s updated seasonal outlook projects, with a 70 percent probability, a total of:

•14 to 19 named storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including:

•7 to 10 hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which:

•3 to 5 could be major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

These ranges are indicative of an active season, and extend well above the long-term seasonal averages of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

The Atlantic basin has already produced five tropical storms this season: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don and Emily. All eyes this week are on Emily, which continues to develop and move towards the United States.

The last hurricane to make landfall in the United States was Ike in 2008. Last year saw above-normal hurricane activity, but none made landfall in the United States. August through October are peak months of the Atlantic hurricane season, and FEMA urges people not to be lured into a false sense of security by the lack of hurricanes so far this year. "It is still early in this hurricane season and we know it can take only one storm to devastate communities and families," said FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino. "Many disasters come without warning, but that’s not the case with hurricanes. This is hurricane season, if you haven't already, now is the time to take a few simple steps to get you and your family prepared. Anyone can visit www.ready.gov to learn more."

Be prepared for the hurricane season with important information available online at hurricanes.gov/prepare and at FEMA’s ready.gov.