By Martine Miller, Mount Pleasant Communications Manager
MOUNT PLEASANT, SC (May 12, 2021) – The Town of Mount Pleasant kicked off the 2021 National Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 9-15) on Monday with daily social media posts promoting hurricane preparedness.
The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and ends on November 30. Beginning this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Climate Prediction Center will use 1991-2020 as the new 30-year period of record. The updated averages for the Atlantic hurricane season have increased with 14 named storms and 7 hurricanes. The average for major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5) remains unchanged at 3.
“Our business community’s planning and preparedness is critical to recovering after a hurricane,” said Mayor Will Haynie. “Each year, the Town prepares and drills for emergencies. We urge our businesses to join us and adopt a customized emergency plan to ensure employee and customer safety and minimize property damage.”
“Having a business emergency response plan in place is extremely important,” said Emergency Manager Amanda Knight. “Now is time to review your existing plans in light of the significant challenges experienced by businesses during the ongoing pandemic. Businesses should anticipate possible delays in recovery due to economic implications of the pandemic and challenged construction market.”
Some tips to consider when preparing for hurricane season:
- Employers should have a business continuity plan in place.
- Gather contacts that are crucial to business operations and save this information in an alternate, accessible off-site location.
- Have a plan in place if there is a loss in power. Companies should be prepared for longer than usual power outages.
- COVID-19 safety is still an issue and businesses should have formalized procedures for protecting all workers during both response and restoration periods.
- Have an up-to-date inventory.
- Make sure employees know how to turn off utilities when necessary.
For click here more information on National Hurricane Preparedness Week.