Fierce Hurricane Season Ahead

There seems to be some bad news for all those who are planning a summer holiday in the Caribbean. A worse than normal hurricane season is expected to hit the Caribbean this summer. According to the meteorological department the hurricane season this year is expected to be active or extremely active.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an above-average year of tropical storms for the Atlantic basin. According to the agency approximately 14-23 storms are likely to hit the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. Out of these it is estimated that 8-14 should become hurricanes (having wind speeds of 74 mph), with 3-7 of them becoming "major" hurricanes with wind speeds exceeding 111 mph.

According to NOAA chief Jane Lubchenco "If this outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active on record. The greater likelihood of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall. In short, we urge everyone to be prepared."

The NOAA forecasts are similar to earlier forecasts by Accuweather and scientists at Colorado State. The hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and lasts through November.

According to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, "FEMA is working across the administration and with our state and local partners to ensure we're prepared for hurricane season. But we can only be as prepared as the public, so it's important that families and businesses in coastal communities take steps now to be ready. These include developing a communications plan, putting together a kit, and staying informed of the latest forecasts and local emergency plans. You can't control when a hurricane or other emergency may happen, but you can make sure you're ready."