Time to start getting ready for possible storms

Hurricane season runs June 1st through November 30th. When it comes to the dangers of a major hurricane, preparation is the best form of protection. Newport News residents should take steps now to prepare themselves and their families for the potential of a hurricane does make landfall this season.

Preparations to do now include: securing important items and documents; analyzing risks; preparing homes and vehicles; and preparing an evacuation kit. More detailed information about these preparations can be found at the Newport News Emergency Management site, National Weather Service Hurricane Safety, the Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness site or at Ready Virginia.

Like Hurricane Isabel in 2003, devastating hurricanes can and do make landfall on the peninsula. According to the National Weather Service, over a typical two-year period, the U.S. coastline is struck by an average of three hurricanes, one of which is classified as a major hurricane with winds of 111 mph or greater. Don’t wait until a warning is issued, plan accordingly.