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Alert instead of fearful during hurricane season

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NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Hurricane Beryl has left a trail of devastation as it heads toward the Yucatan Peninsula and ultimately the southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

For people in Louisiana, just hearing news that a storm is threatening the Gulf can be a trigger. That’s understandable, considering how many storms the state has experienced in the past.

“As far as tropical weather in Louisiana goes, we’ve had six seasons with multiple landfall locations in the last 20 years, so we need to take this seriously and not wait until the storm is on our doorstep before we respond,” said Jay Grymes, the state’s new climatologist who works in the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP).

During his first press conference in this official capacity, Grymes spoke candidly about Hurricane Beryl and its potential impact on Louisiana.

“Beryl will enter the Gulf of Mexico, and I know a lot of people in Louisiana are alarmed. I want them to turn on the alarm. This will not pose a threat to Louisiana, but it will be a very active season. In fact, many experts are talking about a hyperactive season. So don’t waste your energy on this storm that almost certainly won’t affect Louisiana,” Grymes said Wednesday.

Preparing for storms takes energy and money. The cost of an evacuation can easily exceed $1,000, money that many people in Louisiana simply don’t have.

HURRICANE CENTER

Evacuations take time. In the past, most residents had several days to prepare for evacuation. Parents had to consider many things, from securing their homes to gathering children, pets and medications. But time is becoming increasingly short because storms develop so quickly.

“If you think back over the last few years, what is often referred to as rapid intensification has become a common problem. The truth is that our computer models that drive the forecasting process do not have a good handle on this in many cases,” Grymes said.

The rapid intensification is one of the many reasons emergency officials are constantly advising us to plan ahead. Instead of getting stuck in line for gas and water, they’re urging us to stock up on essentials now. Although Hurricane Beryl isn’t expected to hit the state, Grymes says people in Louisiana can look at the storm as a kind of drill.

“However, you should use this storm to complete your preparations for the rest of hurricane season. It’s like Christmas shopping. Nobody wants to wait until the last five days of December to go out. Get your preparations done now and you’ll be ready for the season,” Grymes said.

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