Is your small business located in hurricane territory? The north Atlantic hurricane season starts tomorrow, June 1, and lasts through November 30. Here are some hurricane facts from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The coastal states from North Carolina to Texas are the region most threatened by hurricanes. The area is home to 82.2 million people, or about 26 percent of the nation’s population.
There were 10 hurricanes during the 2012 Atlantic hurricane season. Although only two of them as major hurricanes (Category 3-strength or higher), one of the major hurricanes was Hurricane Sandy. The second costliest hurricane on record (not adjusted for inflation) at $50 billion, it ranked only behind Hurricane Katrina, which occurred in 2005. The only other hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. in 2012 was Hurricane Isaac, which hit Louisiana.
However, 2012 didn’t hold a candle to 2005. That year was one of the busiest Atlantic storm seasons on record, with 28 storms big enough to be named by the National Hurricane Center. In fact, there were so many storms that year that the National Hurricane Center ran out of its 21 approved names and had to start naming the hurricanes after Greek letters. Of the 28 named storms in 2005, 15 were hurricanes, with four of those reaching Category 5 status (Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma) and three more being considered major.
For more about hurricane risks, plus tips and resources to help you prepare for hurricane season, visit Ready.gov or the National Weather Service’s National Hurricane Center.
