National Hurricane Preparedness Week is April 30 – May 6
PINEVILLE, La. – May 1, 2023 – Cleco urges customers to prepare their homes and
businesses for the Atlantic hurricane season which begins June 1 and ends Nov. 30.
National Hurricane Preparedness week, an initiative led by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, is an effort to improve the nation’s readiness for hurricanes before
they form.
“With the 2023 hurricane season less than a month away, Hurricane Preparedness Week is a
good time to develop a plan if you don’t have one or re-evaluate your existing plan,” said Clint
Robichaux, director of distribution operations and reliability. “Preparing before a storm hits can
be life-saving and mitigate damage to your home or business.”
Meteorologists from Colorado State University are predicting a slightly below-normal season
with 13 named storms. They expect six of them to become hurricanes and two to become major
hurricanes which is a Category 3 storm or higher.
Below are steps customers can take to prepare for the 2023 hurricane season:
• Prepare a storm kit.
Gather supplies you might need during a power outage, including cash, batteries, battery
powered radio to receive news updates, flashlights, canned food, a manual can opener,
bottled water, medication and a first aid kit.
• Review your insurance policies.
Contact your insurance company or agent and ask for an insurance checkup to ensure
you have adequate insurance coverage for property damage. Take pictures or video of
the inside and outside areas of your home or business for potential insurance needs.
Inquire about flood insurance, if needed.
• Develop an evacuation plan.
Find out if you live in a flood-prone area and plan where you would go and how you
would get there if you needed to evacuate your home. Also, plan ahead for medical or
special needs and pets.
• Test your generator to make sure it’s working.
Portable generators, when used correctly, can provide backup power to your home or
business in the event of a power outage. Always operate your generator according to
manufacturer instructions and in an open, well-ventilated area.
