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With the Atlantic hurricane season set to officially begin on June 1, authorities in Miami-Dade are warning about the main risks facing residents of South Florida and urging that preparations start now.
Pete Gomez, director of the Miami-Dade Emergency Management Department, was emphatic in pointing out what the greatest threat is: storm surge, emphasizing that the eastern areas of the county are particularly vulnerable to this phenomenon.
"Only three feet of storm surge are needed to kill you," warned Gomez, as cited by Telemundo 51.
Authorities remind that evacuation decisions in Miami-Dade are based on the storm surge planning zones - which range from Zone A, with the highest risk for a category 1 hurricane, to Zone E, with the highest risk for a category 5 hurricane - and not solely on the hurricane's category.
Clay Pacheco, director of Emergency Management for Broward County, also participated in preparedness events this week and urged families to take action in advance.
"The time to prepare is before the sky darkens," said Pacheco, who added: "Gather supplies and resources now so that you and your loved ones are ready when the storm arrives."
Among the key recommendations, authorities urge people to stockpile non-perishable foods, water, and medications for at least seven days, to check shutters and hurricane protections, to create digital copies of important documents, and to prepare a plan that includes pets.
The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department, serving more than 2.8 million customers, reported that its three treatment plants have fuel reserves to operate on auxiliary power for up to two weeks without additional deliveries.
The agency also recommends storing one gallon of water per person and pet per day for seven days, and filling containers with tap water as soon as a hurricane warning is issued.
To learn about the evacuation zone of their home, residents can download the Ready MDC app or call 311.
Regarding the forecast for this season, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its official outlook on May 21, predicting a below-normal season with between eight and 14 named storms, three to six hurricanes, and one to three major hurricanes of Category 3 or higher.
NOAA gives a 55% probability that the season will be below normal, a 35% chance that it will be near normal, and only a 10% likelihood that it will exceed historical averages.
The main factor behind this forecast is the anticipated development of El Niño conditions in the Pacific, which increases wind shear in the Atlantic basin and hampers the organization of tropical systems.
However, authorities warn that a "below-normal" season does not mean there is no risk: the historical average records 14 named storms, seven hurricanes, and three major hurricanes per season, and a single cyclone can cause devastating damage.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs until November 30th.
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