One exception to the retirement rule: before 1979, some storm names were simply dropped. Only three Eastern Pacific hurricanes have had their names retired Hurricane Ismael of 1995, Hurricane Pauline of 1997, and Hurricane Kenna of 2002. The list includes one tropical storm, Allison of 2001, that caused billions in damage from its heavy rains. From 1950 - 2011, 76 hurricanes had their names retired. Any nation impacted by a severe hurricane can lobby the WMO to have the hurricane's name retired. The current list of names recycles every six years, unless a hurricane gets its name retired. National Weather Service switched to a list of names that also included men's names. In 1953, womens names were substituted, and in 1979, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the U.S. Weather Bureau began using the phonetic alphabet (Able-Baker-Charlie). Energy Information Administration's energy infrastructure disruptions map.Hurricanes began getting names in 1950, when the U.S. You can also check out our community guidelines for energy emergencies and stay up-to-date with the U.S. Learn more about SEP’s role in helping states in meeting their energy objectives. The storm’s damage estimates exceeded $50 billion, according to U.S. The legacy of Hurricane Sandy weighs heavily on all levels of government. These activities are just a small sample of the work of states in hurricane preparation. Participants drafted a roadmap for actionable strategies and recommendations. Their objective was prioritizing resilience gaps and identifying potential mitigation strategies to bolster the resilience of the energy and transportation sectors in the face of a major hurricane or nor’easter. This year, with support from SEP, the Massachusetts state energy office participated in meetings with the City of Boston and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency on energy resilience regarding hurricanes and other storms. It can also assess critical infrastructure, age and demographics of the population, weight capacity of nearby bridges, and other critical information.ĭOE’s Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability played an integral role in Georgia’s response to Hurricane Matthew in October 2016 by sending regional energy assurance specialists to states in the region as the storm approached. For example, if there is a fuel shortage in a particular area, the state can drill down to the gas station level and give them a call, or call the local emergency management agency. Georgia’s emergency planning helps the state improve its information systems for addressing threats to electricity and fuel supply. The program started with a $9.8 million Recovery Act grant through SEP and $900,000 in matching funds from Florida utilities. The systems offset electricity use when the power grid is down. More than 100 systems have been installed, producing roughly 13 megawatt hours annually.

The state energy office also helps Florida’s natural gas and energy utilities secure supply during emergencies and restore power to important infrastructure after outages.įlorida’s SunSmart Schools E-Shelter program provides public schools that serve as emergency shelters with 10 kilowatt hour solar systems and battery backups. The program helps many state energy offices design and implement energy security, resiliency, and emergency preparedness plans.Ĭonsider the preparedness efforts of these four Atlantic states: Floridaįlorida’s emergency planning and response includes engagement with the private sector to acquire transportation fuel during hurricanes or other natural disasters. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) State Energy Program (SEP). States are prioritizing hurricane preparedness with the aid of the U.S. Of these storms, five to nine could become hurricanes, including two to five major hurricanes. It runs from June 1 through November 30, and forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center now indicate a 60% chance of an above-normal season, with 14-19 named storms.

The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season is well under way.

Most recent hurricanes 2014