Good time to review storm preparations

There's a good chance that the first full-fledged Atlantic hurricane of the season will form on Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service. They are projecting that to happen Monday morning while it is off the coast of North Carolina.

Right now, Emily is south of Haiti/Dominican Republic and is expected to tear through that island and then eastern Cuba.

Rhode Island's most trusted meteorologist John Ghiorse notes the storm must pass over the rugged island mountains that sometimes disrupt tropical storms, but if it makes passage, it will probably pick up strength as it heads for Florida and then on up the Atlantic coast.



The National Weather Servie has gotten very good at predicting storm tracks, though they still have trouble accurately predicting storm intensity.

Nonetheless, their prediction of the potential for 50+ mile an hour winds could mean a windy coastal storm sometime next week. At present, it looks like the most likely effect for our southern beachfront is high surf (which my nephew would love). The NWS doesn't have a prediction of the track beyond Monday, so Emily could come closer, or move further out into the Atlantic.

Most coastal residents understand that sooner or later a major hurricane will strike our area. This has happened since time immemorial and it will happen again.

That's why we have evacuation signs all around Charlestown, many of them directly you to Charlestown Elementary School. This would be a good time to sign-up for the town's emergency community warning system - you would get a robo-call notifying you of a threat that requires attention.

Of course, you should make sure you have supplies you would need if we were hit by a major storm - water, food, a radio that will run without being plugged in - the town's website has an emergency preparedness page that's chock full of information.

Many of the major storms that have battered Charlestown in the past have come up the coast very quickly, making it hard to batten down the house and clear the yard of potential flying objects and still have time to go out and get supplies. So I suggest you use Emily as a reminder to check to make sure your home and family has what it needs when the next Big One hits.

Author: Will Collette