June 1, 2011
To the University Community:
Today marks the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, and while we can’t really predict with 100 percent accuracy where a hurricane will make landfall, we can be 100 percent prepared to weather the storm and its aftermath.
The weather has been in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons. Deadly twisters and flooding have devastated the lives of thousands of Americans. In most cases, there was little warning and little people could do to prepare for these natural disasters.
Hurricanes are very different. We have a wide window of opportunity to prepare in advance, and the precautions we take go a long way in mitigating both the overall damage of and recovery from a strike.
So why don’t more people prepare?
We shouldn’t be lulled by the recent lack of direct hits to the U.S. and South Florida in particular.
This hurricane season looks to be active—there are 50 percent more hurricanes predicted this year compared to an average year, and there’s a 72 percent chance a major hurricane (Cat 3 or higher) will make a U.S. landfall.
Don’t put off making your hurricane preparations—for home, school, and work.
If you haven’t already done so, please take a few minutes to make sure your contact information is up to date at myUM at www.miami.edu/myUM.
Three key pieces of information include:
- Cell phone number (Remember to check the box to allow UM to send text messages to your cell phone.)
- Out-of-town contact person
- Storm address if you cannot stay in your home afterwards
And after a storm, please check in at our Recover website at recover.miami.edu, which is designed for data collection and reporting. Students, faculty, and staff will be able to provide contact and location information at that site post-storm that can be used in case recovery efforts are necessary. You can find additional information on hurricane preparation here.
Don’t get caught off guard. Let’s prepare.
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