By Sabrina Benedetti, Red Cross Communications Volunteer

“Here in Northern New England, we are used to our share of bad weather,” said John Montes, Regional Disaster Officer for Northern New England. “We are not immune to tropical weather. We’ve seen torrential rain from these storms hit us hard over the last several years.”

Every year, Hurricane Season on the Atlantic runs from June 1 to November 30. This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service predicts a below-normal season. However, below normal does not mean less damage.

Hurricanes cause catastrophes not only to coastal communities but also to those hundreds of miles inland. NOAA is predicting 8-14 named storms, of which 3-6 are forecast to become hurricanes. There will likely be 1-3 major hurricanes of category 3 and higher.

“It is critical that we take this time to be ready to respond as local communities and as a team here at the Red Cross,” Montes advised.

If you live in an inland area, it’s critical to get your household similarly ready now. You may need to evacuate quickly with little notice, and it is vital to have two plans: one for evacuating and one for sheltering at home.

Your evacuation plan should include knowing where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, and where you’ll stay. Your stay-at-home plan should focus on gathering the right supplies so that you can live safely without power, water, gas, phone, or internet for a long time.

The Red Cross is coordinating closely with government officials and community partners to ensure people have a safe place to stay, food to eat, and critical relief supplies when it matters most.

Every day, people rely on Red Cross volunteers for support, and we have an urgent need for new volunteers. When hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters strike, families are left without the basics – food, shelter and comfort. You can be the one who helps them begin to recover. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to learn more and sign up for free online training today.

Find more hurricane preparedness information here.

Download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed, and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector.

Pet owners can download the Red Cross Pet First Aid app for more information on how to include pets in emergency preparedness plans and step-by-step instructions for first aid emergencies and more. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

Take a class so you know what to do during an emergency. A variety of online, in-person, and blended courses are available, including our new Until Help Arrives online course. Pet owners can take the Red Cross Cat and Dog First Aid online course to know what to do in an emergency until veterinary care is available. People can access the course on their desktop or tablet at redcross.org/catdogfirstaid.