June 1 marks the start of Atlantic hurricane season, making now the perfect time to prepare your family for severe weather.

According to NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), this year’s hurricane season is expected to produce between 8 and 14 named storms, of which they are predicting between 3 and 6 will be hurricanes, which is below the historical average. However, it only takes one storm to impact our communities with strong winds, flooding and the potential for power outages.

Even far from the coast, tropical systems can bring heavy rain, fallen trees and dangerous flooding. Taking a few simple steps to be prepared for storm season can help keep your family safe:

• Build or refresh your emergency kit.
• Charge phones and backup batteries before storms arrive.
• Review your family’s emergency and evacuation plans.
• Keep your contact information up to date in SmartHub to receive outage updates.
• Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately.

At Wake Electric, we prepare year-round by maintaining power lines, managing vegetation and investing in system improvements to strengthen reliability. By preparing now, you can help ensure your family is ready when severe weather strikes.

For more storm preparedness tips, visit Ready.gov.