Ready PA Monthly - May 2023

Hurricane Preparedness in PA

It’s almost here, the 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season, which runs from June 1 through November 30. An average hurricane season churns out 14 named storms, seven being hurricanes, and three that intensify to major hurricane status. Hurricane outlooks from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other groups will be out soon and can tell us if a season will be more or less busy than normal, but it only takes one storm to leave an impact.

What to Expect in Pennsylvania from Tropical Systems.

The Name Game

The practice of naming storms (tropical cyclones) began in the 1950s to be able to quickly identify storms in warning messages since names are far easier to remember than numbers and technical terms. The names are repeated every six years unless a storm is so deadly that the name is retired – as in the case of Ida. If the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season goes through all 21 names, NOAA will move on to an alternate name list.

National Wildfire Awareness Month

The greatest danger of wildfires in Pennsylvania occurs during the spring months of March, April and May, and the autumn months of October and November. In Pennsylvania, 99% of all wildfires are caused by people. There are certain conditions that are necessary for a wildfire to occur:

An available fuel source, such as dried grass or leaves
Dry conditions, including low relative humidity
An ignition source, a way for the fire to start

There are things you can do to help protect 16.6 million acres of forestland in Pennsylvania.

Be mindful when building bonfires, burning trash, smoking, or any activity outdoors that could potentially spark a wildfire.
Check with your township for burn bans and local ordinances on debris burning.
Visit the Smokey Bear website here for more information.

You can check for wildfire danger conditions that are happening now and if any are expected.

The Observed Wildfire Danger Map (PDF) shows observed wildfire danger conditions and is updated daily.
The Wildfire Danger Forecast Map (PDF) shows expected wildfire danger conditions and is updated daily.

To learn more, visit here.

Dam Safety Awareness Day

May 31, 2023

We don’t all live near dams. But according to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, Pennsylvania has approximately 3,369 state-regulated dams.

A little bit about dams:

Dams are structures that hold back water or other liquid material.
Dams are built from many different materials, including earth, rock, tailings from mining or milling, concrete, masonry, steel, timber, plastic or rubber, and any combination of these materials.
There are many parts of a typical dam. The crest is the top of the dam. The part of the valley side that meets the dam is an abutment. The berm is a nearly horizontal step in the sloping profile of an embankment dam. An opening where water can be released is the outlet. The spillway is a structure that releases water from a reservoir. There is also an emergency spillway.

To learn more about dams and staying safe around dams, visit here.

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