The fifth storm of the Atlantic hurricane season formed on Thursday morning – Tropical Storm (TS) Erin – in the Atlantic Ocean several thousand miles from the Eastern Caribbean island chain.
The Department of Disaster Management (ODM) will monitor the progress of TS Erin which formed on the day of the start of the peak period of the hurricane season. The storm does not pose a threat to the country.
On Thursday the storm was tracking West North West at 14 miles per hour (mph). Maximum wind speeds at that time were 40 mph.
The Office of Disaster Management reiterates to the nation that they should have already completed storm/hurricane preparations for the 2013 season; for those who have yet to make preparations such as putting together a family plan on where you would ride out a storm in case your home is vulnerable to a storm/hurricane (wind, flooding, storm surge); to have a disaster supply kit containing items that you will need regardless of where you will ride out a storm/hurricane.
Remember, it only takes one hurricane to make the season a bad one.
The remaining storm names for the 2013 season are: Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy.
The hurricane season runs through November 30.