'Tis the season. Are you prepared?

Ifyou've lived on the Gulf Coast for longer than a day, you're probably already aware that June is the start of hurricane season. Those of us who've spent our entire lives here shudder at the thought of it.

The good news is that forecasters have predicted a below-average number of storms this season.

The bad news is this really doesn't matter, because all it takes is one to wreak havoc on our community.

Sally certainly taught us that in 2020. She came in as a category two storm and overstayed her welcome, knocking down thousands of trees and power poles and destroying homes in the process.

I'm happy to report that Baldwin EMC's distribution system has been completely restored to pre-Sally conditions. Lines have been restrung and resagged, poles have been replaced, and other equipment has been repaired. In other words, we've finally righted the ship, just in time to start preparing for what this year's hurricane season may bring.

At Baldwin EMC, preparing for the possibility of a catastrophic storm means updating our natural disaster response plan and conducting "drills," so every employee knows his or her roles.

Chief Executive Officer

Preparation also means building an inventory of the supplies we'll need to get things back in working order, should another Sally, Ivan or Katrina land on our coast. We've also maintained a presence at local events aimed at community readiness - such as the Gulf Shores Hurricane Expo, and the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency's Severe Weather Preparedness Town Hall.

So, now I have a question for you. What does preparedness look like for your home and family?

I can't answer that for you, but I can give you some guidelines.

First of all, it's important to know what evacuation zone your home is in. You can easily find that out through the Baldwin County EMA's website. Evacuation orders will be given zone by zone, so knowing yours can help you respond appropriately.

If you do have to leave your home prior to a major storm's landfall, do you have a plan for where you'll go? Don't forget to take into consideration your family's specific needs, such as medical requirements or accommodations for pets.

Since evacuation isn't always an option, how does your hurricane supply kit look? Remember, the first 72 are on you - meaning you may not have access to outside resources, such as grocery stores or pharmacies, for the first few days after a storm. Take time this week to visit www.ready.gov for a list of the items you should keep in your home to ensure you're prepared if our area faces significant storm impacts.

Signing up for helpful tools like Baldwin County EMA's Alert Baldwin program, or NOAA emergency warnings will provide you with critical notifications during severe weather. Having a dependable weather radio on hand might feel oldfashioned, but you'll probably find it pretty useful during a major weather event.

I know all this seems like a lot of time and effort for something that may never happen. But let me ask one more question. Would you rather be prepared for a storm that doesn't happen, or unprepared for one that does?

I think I already know the answer to that. From our co-op family to yours, we wish you a safe and hopefully silent hurricane season.