In 2004, National Hurricane Preparedness Week in the United States replaced the previous observance of National Hurricane Awareness Week, as awareness does not equate to preparedness. National Hurricane Preparedness Week is a nationwide effort to inform the public about

hurricane A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain and squalls. Dep ...

hazards and to disseminate knowledge which can be used to prepare and take action. National Hurricane Awareness Week 2020 is May 3-May 9.

History

National Hurricane Awareness Week was started to spread awareness of the dangers and hazards of hurricanes. Being aware is not being prepared, and history has shown that by knowing vulnerability and what actions to take, people can reduce the effects of a hurricane

disaster A disaster is a serious problem occurring over a short or long period of time that causes widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources ...

. Therefore, the name was changed to put more focus on the need to be both hurricane aware and hurricane prepared.

Goals

Each day during National Hurricane Preparedness Week addresses a specific hurricane-related topic. The topics covered include: overview of major US hurricanes; hurricane hazards such as

storm surge A storm surge, storm flood, tidal surge, or storm tide is a coastal flood or tsunami-like phenomenon of rising water commonly associated with low-pressure weather systems, such as cyclones. It is measured as the rise in water level above the ...

, high winds, and inland

flooding A flood is an overflow of water ( or rarely other fluids) that submerges land that is usually dry. In the sense of "flowing water", the word may also be applied to the inflow of the tide. Floods are an area of study of the discipline hydrolog ...

; the forecast process; disaster planning/preparation; and knowing when to take action. The goal is to make sure that every family has a disaster plan; every business has a disaster checklist; and everyone gets out of the path of the hurricane safely.

References

{{Reflist Disaster preparedness in the United States May observances Awareness weeks in the United States