Yes, it is this time of the year again; hurricane season begins tomorrow, June 1st, and ends November 30th.
Having lived in South Louisiana for 15 years, I’ve seen a few hurricanes come and go, some more powerful than others. We all remember Katrina (pictured here) but there was also Rita, Ike, Lilly, Gustave (at least those are the ones I remember the most). For those of us near the Gulf or the Atlantic, hurricanes are something we think about and live with every year.
Last Thursday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted 14 to 23 tropical storms this year (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including 8 to 14 Hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which 3 to 7 could be Major Hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph).
Let’s just hope they are wrong, like they’ve been in the past! With the oil spill in the Gulf, experts fear that a storm at this time could push oil deeper into estuaries and wetlands and make one giant mess.
Here are some links to more information:
If you live in Acadiana, you can find lots of information through the local TV stations websites:
KLFY-TV10 Hurricane Information Page
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