The hurricane season usually runs from June first to November thirtieth. This year however, we have already seen the first named storm of the season, Arthur, which nearly brushed past the Carolinas on May eighteenth.
NOAA has predicted an above average season for 2020. Just what we need in the height of a pandemic! The prediction is for 13 to 19 named storms with 6 to 10 becoming hurricanes, with 3 to 6 becoming category 3 or higher.
To put it in perspective, an average season would produce 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 at category 3 or higher. As we see, the prediction is for an above average season at the lower points of the ranges!
Bob Robichaud of the Canadian Hurricane Center said to CBC “I think this year is going to be particularly important to have those preparations completed prior to the arrival of a storm because of all the other situations we’re facing,” and “What we usually see when a storm is approaching — just one or two days prior to the storm — is lineups at stores. That is the thing you’re really going to want to avoid this year — being caught in some of those lineups.”
Robichaud has it right on target. The last thing we want to be doing is lining up for supplies when a disaster is approaching. Not only do we expose ourselves to the possibility of catching the virus, but we could be lining up for little to no gain. Covid 19 has already put a strain on the supply chain. Even if you find what you need, prices have gone up, as well as unemployment. This leads to a huge reduction in buying power for the average consumer.
To date, there is no word on the predicted number of storms that could reach Canadian waters. In a normal season, the average is 3, so I would have to say that would be perhaps the minimum we should expect while being prepared for 1 or 2 more than that.
Preparation is going to be key this year. I would expect that most of us have taken advantage of low fuel prices and stored away a bit more than usual. If not, now would be the time. In addition, many popular preparedness businesses in Canada have restocked emergency food supplies, such as Rapid Survival, a company I have dealt with in the past and highly recommend!
Of course, the hurricane season mostly affects the maritime provinces and could marginally impact Quebec, and parts of eastern Ontario, however disasters of all types affect all of Canada. While we go out and stock up amid the pandemic, keep in mind that the usual threats still apply, but can be compounded by the current crisis, which doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.