Another Season Approaches
There is another silly
season on the way and I'm not talking about NASCAR or
any other sports season. The
season of ''board it up" and "take
it down again" will start as soon as Alberto - the first named
storm of the season - appears on the evening news. Come June 1,
which is only five weeks away, everyone in southwest Florida
will tum their attention to the official hurricane
season.
According to Dr. William
M. Gray at the Department of Atmospheric Science,
Colorado State University, we're set to have yet another above
average activity is anticipated though less
active than the recent The extended range forecast is at
http://typhoon.atmos.colostate.ed/forecasts/2000/fcst2000.
The
probability of a major storm (Category 3, 4 or 5) hitting the Florida
peninsula in the year 2000 is 45 percent, up from the century average
of 31%. Only a hard core gambler would laugh at those odds.
Smart business people will hedge their bets and start making plans
now.
You can start by
attending the Hurricane Expo on May 6 at the Port Charlotte Town
Center and the Hurricane Caravan on May 18. The expo will start at 10
am. and run until 2 pm. The caravan, presented by the Charlotte
County Emergency Management and Disaster Preparedness Office,
will begin at the Port Charlotte Cultural Center at 9 am., move to
Lemon Bay High School and then to the Memorial Auditorium later in
the day. We'll have a firm schedule soon, but contact the
Emergency Management office at 743-1270 for exact details.
These
planning sessions will increase everyone's education about the
storms and their aftermath. Individual, family and business planning
are important to do before the season is upon us.
Check
your insurance policies, not only
replacement and damage costs but or the loss of income while out of
service. Business
continuity planning is as important to the survival of a
company surviving the storm itself. Make sure any reciprocal services
or location usage agreements are still in place.
If
your plan is in place, now is the perfect time to purchase those
items on the disaster preparedness budget. Don't wait until the last
minute to buy the storm shutters or the backup generator. Bottled
water and other canned food may wait, but not too much longer.
Decide now what is needed, not when the shelves are
empty.
A
friend of mine claims he will no longer secure his boat for future
storm warnings because he is tired of going though all the
preparations, and then nothing happens. Rather than being thankful
we didn't get clobbered, he is upset with the time and effort
he assumes is for nothing.
Unfortunately,
many small businesses
seem to have the same attitude. Businesses must contend with the
summer doldrums, vacations and, of course the unwanted disruptions of
the annual storms. Of all the things that need to be done, gambling on
the weather is not one of them.
The
work and cost involved may seem needless, but it is absolutely
necessary should
a storm turn our way. You can check the National Weather Service
Hurricane 2000 Home Page at: (http://www.srh.noaa.gov/tlh/tropical/)
for up to the minute information and maps.
George Mindling ©
2000
