Hurricane season is here

On June 1^st, the hurricane season began on the Treasure Coast and elsewhere on the Atlantic seaboard. It lasts until the end of November.  Are you ready?  Weather forecasters are predicting 13 named tropical storms for the season.  Five of them will be hurricanes with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or above.   This is about average.  Of course, we don’t know if any of them will hit the mainland.  The National Hurricane Center is urging residents in hurricane-prone areas to “go tapeless.”  That means do not tape your windows.  Shards from taped windows can be larger and therefore deadlier.  Instead, use hurricane shutters.  Here are other tips.  Learn the route to the nearest shelter.  Put together an emergency kit.  It should consist of:  Three gallons of water per person.  Enough food to last three days, such as canned tuna, crackers and peanut butter.  Don’t forget a manual can opener.  Pet supplies if you have a pet.  Prescription medications.  Important documents, such as your insurance policy.    A flashlight and extra batteries.  Plenty of cash.  AND a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio tuned to 88.9 FM, the Emergency Alert System frequency for Indian River, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties and northern Palm Beach County.  For 88.9 FM, this is Paul Janensch.