Our View: Now More Than Ever, Be Hurricane-Ready

It’s an old saw we hear every year: the next big Cape Cod hurricane is a matter of when, not if. So we’ve been reminding readers for years about the need for personal disaster preparedness. But with the start of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season on June 1, the message comes with a new urgency.

 It’s not necessarily because this will be a busier-than-normal hurricane season — though that’s what’s predicted. Forecasters seem to make this prediction every year. But some things absolutely have changed, and they bear directly on the time we’d have to prepare for a hurricane and the impacts it would likely have on the Lower Cape.

 First, warming ocean temperatures and other factors related to climate change have created a phenomenon known as rapid intensification. In years past, you could count on major hurricanes slowly lumbering across the Atlantic or through the Gulf of Mexico before threatening New England. Storms that formed off the Bahamas typically didn’t have enough time to grow in strength before arriving here. Those days are behind us, as recent hurricanes like Helene, Beryl and Patricia proved. That means a potentially shorter window of time to get ready.

 Next, there’s the state of the National Weather Service. Trump administration staffing cuts have left this agency and the National Hurricane Center with fewer forecasters on duty. Those hurricane hunter flights that gather critical data as a storm approaches will be fewer and farther between. That means less reliable data to help local emergency managers make decisions.

 We’re guessing you’ve noticed, but many formerly seasonal homes are now occupied year-round. That means that, should emergency shelters need to be opened, they might have to accommodate more people than they did in the past. Properties that are now used for short-term rentals are a potential problem, too, since summer renters are often reluctant to evacuate early if a storm is approaching. That could mean a big last-minute crush at the bridges.

 We’re grateful that Barnstable County officials have pledged to keep AmeriCorps Cape Cod operational through August, since those young people are trained to assist with sheltering, feeding and storm cleanup. But federal budget cuts are threatening the program, and peak hurricane season for New England is in September. Should the Big One hit, states will be relying on financial support from FEMA, which is also targeted for dismantling by the Trump White House.

 We’re not offering this information to add to your daily dose of doom-scrolling. But these risks all point to the same conclusion: it’s more critical than ever for families to take charge of their own disaster planning. That means knowing whether your home is likely to be evacuated and knowing where you’ll go if it becomes necessary. It also means making sure you have sufficient food, water, medicine and other supplies for every member of your family — pets included — to last at least several days. For disaster preparedness tips, visit www.ready.gov.

 If making a family disaster plan has been on your to-do list, it’s high time to get it done.