Greater Wilmington Business Journal
HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS GUIDE
SPONSORS’ CONTENT
Page 9
2022 HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS GUIDE SPONSORS’ CONTENT BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE GREATER WILMINGTON BUSINESS JOURNAL
BY FRITTS CAUSBY
Similar to the annual onslaught of summertime heat, humidity and insects, the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season is almost certain to have a pesky, negative impact on our region. The numbers don’t lie—in fact the Atlantic basin is expected to see 19 named storms this year, five over the average. The data, which was published in a recent report by Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorology Project team, predicts that four of the 19 could become major hurricanes, defined as a Category 3 or higher. In any year when an aboveaverage hurricane season is predicted, many rush to blame global warming for the increased number of storms. This is a common misconception, however, it is widely accepted that global warming is making hurricanes more intense. To simplify what the experts are saying, global warming results in warmer sea water, not just at the surface but deep into the water column. This gives hurricanes more energy to draw from, resulting in a faster intensification than in previous years. Also, sea level rise makes the impact of storm surges more dangerous. Even a small increase in sea levels has the potential to make the impact from a Category 1
storm similar to that of a Category 2. Add to that the overwhelming amount of anecdotal evidence showing that storms produce more rain now than in prior years, an idea currently being vetted by the experts, and the result is that our region will almost certainly feel some sort of negative impact from a storm in the near-term. Those who remember Hurricane Florence, which dumped almost three feet of rain on our state, breaking all previous records, may wonder what could be done if something similar happened again. Whether or not there is any silver lining to all of this is up for debate, but for this year, there is at least comfort in the fact that new forecasting technology being rolled out should help to aid in planning and preparation. This tech, the Advanced Dvorak Technique, uses satellite imagery to measure storm intensity. The promise is that, with full-resolution imagery from weather satellites, forecasters will be able to better identify the eye in the hurricanes, resulting in a more accurate prediction of their future travel. All of this dovetails with the notion that, for many individuals and business owners, preparation is the only recourse. Failing to plan is a risky proposition. According to data compiled by the US Department of Labor and the Federal Emergency
2022 HURRICANE PREP GUIDE PREPARING FOR THE HURRICANE SEASON AS A BUSINESS OWNER · HOW CAN LOCAL BUSINESSES PREPARE · SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS · STATUS OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES · HOW TO CREATE A HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS PLAN · BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANS · SMALL BUSINESS CHECKLIST
STAY SAFE THIS HURRICANE SEASON