The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) has noted that this year’s hurricane season for Hawaii will start on June 1st and run through the end of November. Conditions this year are rather mild, indicating that the water is neither warmer or cooler than usual. If the water were warmer, we would expect more from hurricanes—both in frequency and intensity. Cooler water would inhibit the forming and the strength of hurricanes and similar tropical storms.
May 15th was the beginning of this year’s hurricane season for the eastern Pacific region. In Hawaii, we can expect to see several emergency and support services running drills to ensure readiness of public services during a state of emergency caused by a potential hurricane.
The PDC and Hawaii’s Civil Defense Agency urge people to remember even with proper preparedness of the support services and a more tame hurricane season predicted, individuals, families, and businesses should remain primed and ready as well. All it would take is one large tropical storm or hurricane to hit one of the islands of Hawaii to institute a state of emergency. In such events, no one can expect what will happen, so having your own plans and survival kits ready is an important fact. Hurricanes in Hawaii have traditionally been few and relatively weak, but this does not mean that this will always be the case. People must consider the worst case scenario in any disaster planning.