2020 Hurricane Season Sees an Early Start
In our last blog post we looked at some of the challenges presented this year as COVID-19 and the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season have the potential to simultaneously affect South Carolina.
While Myrtle Beach didn’t see much damage from July’s Category 1 Hurricane Isaias, the Northeast experienced widespread power outages that affected some communities for days. Needless to say, the 2020 Hurricane Season is off to a strong start, and if you haven’t yet considered your emergency plans, take an hour when possible to create an emergency plan.
Make Emergency Preparations Before the Storm Arrives
Resources and checklists at the South Carolina Emergency Management Division website can help you prepare for a hurricane. If a storm is headed our way, do the following:
-Have a plan in case of evacuation (stay with friends, book a hotel, etc)
-Know the evacuation route for your zone
-Have emergency supplies including first aid, drinking water, medicine, non-perishable food, flashlights and batteries
-Collect vital documents (birth certificates, deeds, etc)
-Protect vulnerable areas of home (board/shutter windows and bring in lawn furniture)
-Trim trees and shrubs
-Fuel up your vehicles
See Cooper Electrical Services post on Pre-Storm Preparation for more info.
NOAA’s Updated Hurricane Season Predictions
As of August 6, 2020, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts 19-25 named storms for the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. An average season has 12 named storms, so this updated forecast shows much higher than normal activity.
According to NOAA’s lead seasonal hurricane forecaster Gerry Bell:
This year, we expect more, stronger and longer-lived storms than average, and our predicted ACE range extends well above NOAA’s threshold for an extremely active season.
Similarly, the NOAA recommends that now is the time to make preparations. Please don’t wait until the last minute.
Prepare for Long-Term Power Outages with a Standby Generator
It’s hard to predict how long the power will be out after a storm. Power outage length is affected by the severity of damage, the availability of utility and electrical workers, and your home or business’ location in relation to the nearest working substation.
After a major hurricane, your power could be out for hours, days, or weeks, and we’ve definitely seen all of the above cases in South Carolina. After the high winds and water have abated, you may be trapped at home without power. This means no refrigeration, HVAC, or any of the creature comforts we rely on.
A standby generator is one tool that allows you the safety and comfort of your home or workplace even when utility power is out.
A standby generator converts your whole home or business to generator power at the first detection of utility disruption. The generator is tied directly to the natural gas fuel lines and electrical panels, so constant refueling isn’t a problem.
So, if you’d like to learn more about Cooper Electrical Services’ residential and commercial generator solutions, drop us a line.
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