Hurricane Season Starts June 1

Just when you thought it was safe to leave the house… Hurricane season starts next week!

Of course, this is nothing new for Floridians. Other than the torrential rains we had over the weekend, we’re way behind on rainfall and need the summer showers and even some heavy tropical rains.

On the other hand, on top of already sitting indoors for way too long thanks to the Coronavirus, we’re also looking at a more active than normal storm season, according to meteorologists.

Calm Before the Storm

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)  last week released their predictions for this season. And it’s looking like 2004 all over again. That’s when we saw Hurricanes Charley, Jeanne and Francis batter our shores and inland areas in just six weeks.

For 2020, NOAA is saying they expect 13-19 named storms. Six to ten may become Hurricanes. And three to six of those will be severe – category three or higher. Now, we all know weathermen aren’t perfect, but the odds are high that these predictions are on point.

Warmer than average sea temperatures, an enhanced west African monsoon season, and reduced Atlantic trade winds all add up to a more active season. Plus El Nino is not in our favor this year, meaning its buffer against strong storms will be diminished.

Added Complications

On top of the higher storm activity, FEMA is reworking their guidelines. They need to accommodate fewer workers, volunteers and shelter space. At the same time, they need more space to keep the sheltered people safe in light of the continuing COVID-19 threat. They’re also looking at options for offering virtual emergency management support.

Luckily, the best forecasts predict that the larger chance of storm impact grows later in the season. Hopefully, by that time, some of the novel Coronavirus effects and risks will have declined. But the virus is even more unpredictable than the weather.

Tiny House Guests

It seems the well-needed recent rains likely didn’t drive too many bugs indoors. But the more rain we see and the more activities we engage in, like installing and removing storm shutters, will lead to an eventual invasion of your property.

Ants, roaches, silverfish and other creepy crawlies will take the opportunity to get out of the rain and find new food sources. Unless, of course, your yard and home are treated ahead of time. Eliminating bugs now, before the hurricanes and the daily rains we’re about to experience, is just good sense.

Also, don’t forget to drain any standing water you can control to limit the mosquito population explosion.

The good news is, with restrictions lifted across the state, we can treat the inside and outside of your house now. Of course, we’ll still use proper precautions to keep you, your family, and our technicians safe. Our popular Go Green Perimeter Plus program takes care of invasive insects year round. If you’re not already one of our customers, getting started is easy.

If you’d like more information on our Go Green Perimeter Plus program, adding on our Term Assure 365 world-class termite protection, or our do-it-yourself No Bite Zones mosquito service, just give us a call!