CDC’s Tracking Network in Action

"See how the Tracking Network’s data and tools help keep people safe and improve where we live, work, and play.

CDC’s Environmental Public Health Tracking Network (Tracking Network) has been connecting people with vital public health information since 2009. Over the past decade, CDC has made continual improvements to the Tracking Network’s data by increasing its accessibility, updating its timeliness, and expanding geographic coverage. Today, Tracking Network users can view over 500 environmental health measures and more than two billion rows of nationally comparable data in customizable maps, charts, and tables, and interactive infographics and dashboards.

Beyond Data: Tracking in Action

The Tracking Network’s Wildfire Smoke Tool shows how communities might be affected by wildfire smoke.

Tracking Network data allow users to stay informed about environmental health trends and emerging issues. As the 2020 wildfire and hurricane seasons showed us, having up-to-date, reliable information can be key to staying safe.

• Hurricane Laura: Before, during, and after the hurricane, CDC used Tracking Network data maps on flood vulnerability, community characteristics, and population characteristics to identify potential public health issues within the areas most affected. The data helped CDC communicators select and share relevant health and safety messages for those communities.
• Wildfires: The Tracking Network’s wildfire smoke tool provided information to help public health practitioners and emergency responders in the western United States identify populations at risk for exposure to wildfire smoke, keep the public informed, and facilitate response planning..."
  CDC tracking network 

 

Preparing for a Hurricane or Tropical Storm

"You can’t stop a tropical storm or hurricane, but you can take steps now to protect yourself and your family.

If you live in areas at risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages you to be prepared for hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 each year. It’s always important to be prepared for a hurricane.

Planning for hurricane season and other potential disasters can be stressful, and because the 2020 hurricane season comes during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it may be especially so. Your planning may be different this year because of the need to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

For tips to help you safely prepare, evacuate, and shelter for severe storms while protecting yourself and others from COVID-19, please see: Preparing for Hurricanes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Preparing for a Hurricane

Follow these important hurricane preparedness tips from CDC:

• Prepare for a hurricane: Take basic steps now to ensure your safety should a storm hit.
• Get emergency supplies: Stock your home and your car with supplies. Give yourself more time than usual to prepare your emergency food, water, and medicine supplies. Home delivery is the safest choice for buying disaster supplies; however, that may not be an option for everyone. If in-person shopping is your only choice, take steps to protect your and others’ health when running essential errands.
• Make a plan: Create a family disaster plan.
• Prepare to evacuate: Never ignore an evacuation order. Pay attention to local guidance about updated plans for evacuations and shelters, including shelters for your pets.
• Protect older adults: Understand older adult health and medical concerns.
• Protect your pets: Ensure your pet’s safety before, during, and after a hurricane.
• When you check on neighbors and friends, be sure to follow social distancing recommendations (staying at least 6 feet from others) and other CDC recommendations to protect yourself and others..."
  Hurricanes and tropical storms 

Hurricane Preparedness: Is Your Workplace Ready?

"Forecasters predict the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season will be more active than usual and the Pacific Hurricane season is already active. Now is the time to prepare for severe weather and hurricanes. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has resources to help ensure workers and employers have the necessary equipment and know-how to stay safe when a hurricane occurs.

Planning Before, During and After a Storm

Employers need to have a plan in place and ensure workers know to execute it. Plans should include proper places to take shelter, policies to ensure all workers are accounted for and procedures to address on-site hazards. Here are some things you can do to prepare:

• Determine your risk. Hurricanes can bring many risks to coastlines and inland areas, including storm surges, flooding, tornadoes, rip currents and strong winds. Find out what types of wind and water hazards could happen in your area, then begin preparations to handle them.
• Develop an evacuation plan. Before a severe weather emergency occurs, determine if you work in a hurricane evacuation zone, and identify where to go and how to get there. Keep a copy of your plan in a safe place where you can access it in an emergency.
• Maintain a personal protective equipment (PPE) or supply kit. Assess your workplace hazards, select, train and ensure workers use appropriate PPE. Create an emergency kit with items such as gloves and eye protection, batteries and chargers, and flashlights. If you need to seek public shelter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends bringing at least two cloth face coverings for each person and, if possible, hand sanitizer due to COVID-19.
• Stay aware. Listen to your local weather forecasts and warnings, and follow instructions issued by local officials. Check the websites of your local National Weather Service office and emergency management office. Find out what type of weather emergencies could occur and how you should respond. If evacuation orders are issued, leave immediately.
• Evaluate and monitor exposure to hazards. After a severe weather emergency or hurricane, evaluate the work site to identify if safety or health hazards are present, including; fall, electrocution, noise, cut/laceration hazards; high ambient temperatures; hazardous substances; or infectious materials. Drive only if necessary, and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges..."
  Hurricanes

Hurricane season 2020 and COVID-19

"June 1 is the official start of hurricane season, and now is a great time to make a plan to deal with weather emergencies. Especially because this year, we have the added concern of the COVID-19 pandemic, including what you need know if you have to go to a shelter. (Hint: it involves packing hand sanitizer and masks.)

Extreme weather events, like hurricanes and other natural disasters, can occur with little warning, and the effects come in many forms. Hurricanes may include heavy rainfall, high winds, storm surge, inland flooding, tornadoes, and rip currents. Are you ready to leave your home at a moment’s notice? Even if you’re a seasoned storm pro, have you thought through the differences in how you prepare during a pandemic?

The FTC’s site, Dealing with Weather Emergencies, has practical tips to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from a weather emergency. Like all our materials, the site is mobile-friendly, so you’ll have ready access to information when and where you need it..."
Hurricanes and COVID-19

Preparing for a Hurricane or Tropical Storm

"You can’t stop a tropical storm or hurricane, but you can take steps now to protect you and your family.

If you live in areas at risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages you to be prepared for hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 each year.

Please follow these important hurricane preparedness tips from CDC:

• Prepare for a hurricane: Take basic steps now to ensure your safety should a storm hit.
• Get emergency supplies: Stock your home and your car with supplies.
• Make a plan: Create a family disaster plan.
• Avoid flooded areas: Take precautions before, during, and after a flood.
• Prepare to evacuate: Never ignore an evacuation order.
• Protect older adults: Understand older adult health and medical concerns.
• Protect your pets: Ensure your pet’s safety before, during, and after an emergency.
• Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after the storm: Ensure your CO detector has working batteries. Place generators outside at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent.
• Stay safe after a hurricane: Learn how to avoid injuries, make sure your food and water are safe, and clean up mold safely..."

Hurricanes

Preparing for a Hurricane or Tropical Storm

"You can’t stop a tropical storm or hurricane, but you can take steps now to protect you and your family.

If you live in areas at risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages you to begin preparing for hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 each year.

Please follow these important hurricane preparedness tips from CDC:

• Preparing for a Hurricane: Take basic steps now to ensure your safety should a storm hit.
• Emergency Supplies You Will Need: Stock your home and your car with supplies.
• Make a Plan: Create a family disaster plan.
• Avoid Flooded Areas: Take precautions before, during, and after a flood.
• Prepare to Evacuate: Never ignore an evacuation order.
• Protecting Older Adults: Understand older adult health and medical concerns.
• Protecting Pets: Ensure your pet’s safety before, during, and after an emergency.
• Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after the storm: Ensure your CO detector has working batteries. Place generators outside at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent.
• After a hurricane: Learn how to avoid injuries, make sure your food and water are safe, and clean up mold safely.."
  Hurricane season

Preparing for a Hurricane or Tropical Storm

"You can’t stop a tropical storm or hurricane, but you can take steps now to protect you and your family.

If you live in coastal areas at risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages you to begin preparing yourself for hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 each year.

Please follow these important hurricane preparedness tips from CDC:

• Preparing for a Hurricane: Take basic steps now to ensure your safety should a storm hit.
• Emergency Supplies You Will Need: Stock your home and your car with supplies.
• Make a Plan: Create a family disaster plan.
• Avoid Flooded Areas : Take precautions before, during, and after a flood.
• Prepare to Evacuate: Never ignore an evacuation order.
• Protecting Older Adults: Understand older adult health and medical concerns.
• Protecting Pets: Ensure your pet’s safety before, during, and after an emergency.
• Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after the storm: Place generators outside at least 20 feet from any door, window, or vent.
• After a hurricane: Learn how to avoid injuries and make sure your food and water are safe..."

Hurricane preparedness

The Peak of the Hurricane Season – Why Now?

"Although the Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1st, we’re now entering the “season within the season” - a roughly eight-week period that is often the most active and dangerous time for tropical cyclone activity.

From mid-August through mid-October, the activity spikes, accounting for 78 percent of the tropical storm days, 87 percent of the category 1 and 2 hurricane days (Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale), and a whopping 96 percent of the major (category 3, 4 and 5) hurricane days.

Why does this peak period of activity begin so deep into summer? There certainly is no lack of disturbances throughout the entire six-month hurricane season. Tropical waves are coming off of the coast of Africa roughly every three days, and the very early and late parts of the year provide additional types of potential seedlings.  What’s different, though, is the environment that these potential tropical cyclones tend to encounter. Both dynamics (wind factors) and thermodynamics (temperature and moisture) play a role..."
Hurricane season

Hurricane Readiness

"If you live in coastal areas at risk, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages you to prepare for hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 each year.
Please follow these important hurricane readiness tips from CDC:  

• Preparing for a Hurricane : Take basic steps now to ensure your safety should a storm hit.
• Emergency Supplies You Will Need : Stock your home and your car with supplies.
• Make a Plan : Create a family disaster plan.
• Prepare to Evacuate : Never ignore an evacuation order.
• If You Are Ordered NOT to Evacuate : Get through the storm in the safest possible manner.
• Protecting Older Adults : Understand older adult health and medical concerns.
• Protecting Pets : Ensure your pet's safety before, during, and after an emergency.
• Prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning after the storm : Place generators outside at least 20 feet away..."
  Hurricanes

Hurricane Season

Tips to prepare for a hurricanes.
Hurricanes

Historical Hurricane Tracks

Find historical information on hurricanes by name or location of the hurricane.

Disaster Assistance after a Hurricane
FEMA's tips on things to do immediately after a disaster.

Hurricanes
"Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. People who live in hurricane prone communities should know their vulnerability, and what actions should be taken to reduce the effects of these devastating storms. The information on this page can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water."

Hurricanes and the Oil Spill
"What will happen to a hurricane that runs through this oil slick?
•
Most hurricanes span an enormous area of the ocean (200-300 miles) — far wider than the current size of the spill.
•
If the slick remains small in comparison to a typical hurricane’s general environment and size, the anticipated impact on the hurricane would be minimal.
•
The oil is not expected to appreciably affect either the intensity or the track of a fully developed tropical storm or hurricane.
•
The oil slick would have little effect on the storm surge or near-shore wave heights..."

2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season
"The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity occurring August through October. When applied to hurricanes, "Atlantic" generally refers to the entire "Atlantic Basin," which includes the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is currently issuing Public Advisories for the first hurricane of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Bill. Bill is a Category Three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.

For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor your local weather office. For storm information specific to your area outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service..."

Historical Hurricane Tracks
"The Historical Hurricane Tracks tool is an interactive mapping application that allows you to easily search and display Atlantic Basin and Eastern North Pacific Basin tropical cyclone data.

Check out the Query Storm Tracks feature. Easily search for tropical cyclone tracks from Atlantic and Pacific data by entering a ZIP Code, latitude and longitude coordinates, city or state, or geographic region and then view the selected tracks on a map."

Emergency Preparedness and Response - Hurricanes
Find information and resources on things to do before a hurricane arrives and what to do after the hurricane has left your area. In addition, includes information on cyclones, typhoons, and other tropical storms as well as historical hurricane data.