Volunteers wanted for another busy hurricane season

| 22/04/2013

(CNS): Officials from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the National Hazard Management Council are looking for more volunteers to act as Hurricane Shelter Managers and District Representatives ahead of what is expected to be a busy 213 Atlantic hurricane Season. According to early predictions from weather expert professor William Gray and Research Scientist Philip Klotzbach from Colorado State University the Atlantic basin can expect 18 named storms, nine hurricanes and four major hurricanes of category 3 or higher this year. With the start of the season less than six weeks away the NHC needs to sign up more help.

The National Hurricane Committee (NHC) is the agency responsible for managing shelters, as well as coordinating assistance within districts. Shelter managers are responsible for monitoring sheltered persons and managing the overall shelter operations on a twenty-four hour basis. Meanwhile district representatives secure and monitor an inventory of food and supplies for post-disaster distribution.  They also liaise with the shelter operations sub-committee, in particular shelter managers, and assist in post-disaster damage assessment.

Officials said candidates for these positions must be responsible, mature, dependable, service-minded and willing to work in emergency situations. Previous experience is not necessary as training will be provided.

“Over the years, our managers and district representatives have played a vital role during hurricane seasons, in meeting the needs of the community and ensuring safety for many families, Director of DCFS Alicia ‘Jen’ Dixon said as she called for more volunteers to come forward. To sign up as a volunteer or for more information, please contact DCFS’ Disaster Services Coordinator Ernesto Carter at 925-5346 or email ernesto.carter@gov.ky. The deadline to register is 30 April, 2013.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Klotzbach-Gray record

    Here’s a look at how Phil Klotzbach and William Gray’s April predictions have fared against reality in the past five years:

    2012

    Prediction: 10 named storms, four hurricanes, two major

    Reality: 19 named storms, 10 hurricanes, two major

    2011

    Prediction: 16 named storms, nine hurricanes, five major

    Reality: 19 named storms, six hurricanes, three major

    2010

    Prediction: 15 named storms, eight hurricanes, four major

    Reality: 19 named storms,12 hurricanes, five major

    2009

    Prediction: 12 named storms, six hurricanes, two major

    Reality: Nine named storms, three hurricanes, two major

    2008

    Prediction: 15 named storms, eight hurricanes, four major

    Reality: 16 named storms, eight hurricanes, five major

     

  2. WHAT !!!!!!! says:

    I honestly wish you all would STOP publishing these reports as NO MAN / WOMAN or beast knows nothing about how many storms may come or may not come as majority of the times they have to go back and change there story … Let me introduce you to the real  man who knows it all GOD Yes GOD is in control of the universe and knows it all..God is incontrol of the sea / the winds / and everything about the weather .. Lets put or trust in God for a safe hurricane season again and let us rely on his word  Psalms 107:29 also Matthew 8: 24,25,26,27

  3. NeoSurvivor says:

    I think the NHC needs to acknowledge that caves have been and will continue to be an often-used shelter in the face of tropical cyclones.   In the past, people have been discouraged from using them;  I can understand why — because they are not a shelter than can be controlled — but they are a viable part of our hurricane response system.  

     

    I'd like to see notifications made to the NHC regarding people in caves prior to the approach of storms.   Yes, they are on their own;  yes, they take their own chances, but they should still be a part of the system.  

     

    For my own part, there is nothing like 20 feet of rock over my head for feeling safe.