Hurricane Season starts

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Attention All Canadians in the Southeastern United States...

2009 Hurricane Season Begins June 1 -- Be Prepared!

We are reaching out to Canadians with a special message on the 2009 hurricane season, which officially begins June 1 and runs through November 30.

For the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, the NOAA is predicting 9-14 named storms, 4-7 of which could become hurricanes, including 1-3 of category 3, 4, or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.

The key to hurricane or tropical storm protection is preparation. We encourage you and your family to review your personal safety practices. By taking sensible measures before, during and after a hurricane, many lives can be saved and property damage averted.

A hurricane preparedness plan includes three basic elements that are important in the threat of any severe weather event: 1) maintain a disaster or emergency supply kit; 2) secure your home and property; and 3) have a safe place to go in the event of an evacuation or prolonged utility outage.

Keep informed by listening to the latest warnings and advisories on radio, television or web sites. Hurricane Centers will issue and update these when necessary. It is also important to follow the advice of local authorities and emergency response personnel.

In order for the Government of Canada to help you in times of emergency, we need to know where you are and how to communicate with you.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada operates a Registry of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) service for Canadians travelling or residing abroad. The ROCA registry allows the Department to contact Canadians to offer urgent advice during a natural disaster, civil unrest, or to inform them of a family emergency at home. Registration is voluntary, and personal information provided on the registration form is used in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act.

You may register online at: www.voyage.gc.ca.

For more information on being prepared, please go to the websites at:

. The U.S. National Hurricane Center: www.nhc.noaa.gov

. Hurricane Season Travel Tips: www.voyage.gc.ca/publications/hurricane_ouragans-eng.asp

. Canadian Hurricane Centre: www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/hurricanes6.html

For emergency assistance, you may place a collect call to the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885 or call toll free at 1-800-387-3124.

Please pass this information along to any Canadians you know and encourage them to register with ROCA.

Canadian Consulate General in Atlanta

1175 Peachtree Street, N.E.

100 Colony Square, Suite 1700

Atlanta, GA 30361

Tel: 404-532-2000

Fax: 404-532-2050

website: www.atlanta.gc.ca

(Territory: Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama)

Edited May 29, 2009 by Kathryn41

[RYCK 0]

Well being as this will be my first hurricane season and seeing as I am in Florida should be interesting .... altho i don't expect anything major to happen where i am in north east florida .. and considering only 1 hurricane has ever directly hit my area .. it will be a very educational experience. Maybe a little nerve wracking while we are tracking storms ... but if some winds kick up i will deffinately go out just to feel em

[Kathryn41 3,205]

We are inland here in the Atlanta area too. What often happens, though, is that the hurricanes will have landfall upon the coast then move inland as Tropical Storms. Tropical storms are pretty strong all on their own with lots of wind, thunder and lightning and megafalls of rain - and tornadoes - so it isn't just being in the evacuation area where it can get exciting. I thought it would be fun to experience the first hurricane remnants that went overhead as well - and it was at first - and then, it got scary! I would hate to be in the actual hurricane. You may well experience tropical storm or hurricane force winds even if the hurricane doesn't go overhead. Since this is your first season, watch the skies. Hurricane skies are different than anything I have ever seen before. The bands of the storm race overhead and you can see the separate bands, especially when you are on the edges of the storm. You really begin to appreciate the size of some of these storms when you see the first outer bands of the storm overhead and you know the eye is still somewhere out in the Gulf of Mexico!

[Krikit 1,164]

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada operates a Registry of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) service for Canadians travelling or residing abroad. The ROCA registry allows the Department to contact Canadians to offer urgent advice during a natural disaster, civil unrest, or to inform them of a family emergency at home. Registration is voluntary, and personal information provided on the registration form is used in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act.

You may register online at: www.voyage.gc.ca.

That's interesting. Has anyone ever registered?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I've registered. I registered shortly after I arrived 5 years ago and just re-registered. I received a notice that my registration was due to expire. It is easy to do and is just an added level of security.

Edited May 29, 2009 by Kathryn41

[RYCK 0]

its like being on a plane ... when your on a plane and the stewardesses start to panick ya better hold on tight and make your peace.... i figure if the locals panick ... i'll take my #### north for a few days.... anything can hit anywhere . i'll be careful .. just wont over panick and look like a fool to the locals hahaha ... but do have our hurricane kit .. we are about a 15 minute drive from the atlantic coast .. so not that far inland

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada operates a Registry of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) service for Canadians travelling or residing abroad. The ROCA registry allows the Department to contact Canadians to offer urgent advice during a natural disaster, civil unrest, or to inform them of a family emergency at home. Registration is voluntary, and personal information provided on the registration form is used in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act.

You may register online at: www.voyage.gc.ca.

That's interesting. Has anyone ever registered?

Maybe have to look into that .....

[Krikit 1,164]

I've registered. I registered shortly after I arrived 5 years ago and just re-registered. I received a notice that my registration was due to expire. It is easy to do and is just an added level of security.

Do you actually hear anything from them?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

This is one of the best resources for learning about approaching tropical systems - I consult it regularly and subscribe to their daily news update. Currently they are tracking Tropical Depression 1 but it is expected to become extra-tropical in about 12 hours and dissipate as it hits windshear and another weather system. You want to click on the 'Tropical weather' component. During a developing storm they also include all of the local warnings, radar reports, regular updates, wind and water forecasts - it's actually really interesting. They also will have special focus on each individual storm or developing system as well as an overview.

http://www.crownweather.com/

Tropical weather page: http://www.crownweather.com/?page_id=29

Edited May 29, 2009 by Kathryn41

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Hurricane season?! I'm going to Florida in August, should I be concerned?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You never know, hugglebuggles - but the majority of the storms seem to happen in the fall. You will have plenty of warning if there is a storm developing that will affect your travel plans.

[Krikit 1,164]

That's a good site, Kathryn. I find Weather Underground pretty awesome, also.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I've registered. I registered shortly after I arrived 5 years ago and just re-registered. I received a notice that my registration was due to expire. It is easy to do and is just an added level of security.

Do you actually hear anything from them?

I've never had an emergency develop so no, not for that. I do get regular mailings from the Canadian Consulate in Atlanta though and it may be because I registered.

[Krikit 1,164]

Interesting. I think I'll register.

[trailmix 77]

its like being on a plane ... when your on a plane and the stewardesses start to panick ya better hold on tight and make your peace.... i figure if the locals panick ... i'll take my #### north for a few days.... anything can hit anywhere . i'll be careful .. just wont over panick and look like a fool to the locals hahaha ... but do have our hurricane kit .. we are about a 15 minute drive from the atlantic coast .. so not that far inland

Interesting logic. I assume the locals are pretty laid back and I could care less if they think I look like a fool

[JillA 2]

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada operates a Registry of Canadians Abroad (ROCA) service for Canadians travelling or residing abroad. The ROCA registry allows the Department to contact Canadians to offer urgent advice during a natural disaster, civil unrest, or to inform them of a family emergency at home. Registration is voluntary, and personal information provided on the registration form is used in accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act.

You may register online at: www.voyage.gc.ca.

That's interesting. Has anyone ever registered?

I did, my sister made me do it.