The mean season Published June 3, 2012 By Lt. Col. Bill Walsh 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Joint Base Charleston, S.C. -- The 2012 hurricane season is underway and it's important to remember that Joint Base Charleston is located in an area prone to these sometimes deadly tropical weather systems. The forecast from Dr. Bill Gray at Colorado State University is for ten named storms, four hurricanes and of those four, two becoming "major" hurricanes above category three status. This is slightly lower than the average year of twelve named storms, but it's important not to focus on the numbers. Even during slow years like 1992, for example, hurricanes can become a major threat to life and property. During that year, Hurricane Andrew was the first storm of a very slow year, but became a major category five hurricane devastating South Florida and parts of Louisiana. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to the end of November, but the peak months are August and September. When you look back at historic storms like Hugo here in Charleston or Katrina and others, they occur during this part of what some call "The Mean Season." Hurricanes start as tropical waves of thunderstorms over very warm ocean water with sea surface temperatures above 80 degrees. As the thunderstorms develop, they are pushed westward by prevailing easterly trade winds and start rotating thanks to the earth's coriolis force. Once there is a closed low level circulation with winds above 38 mph, it is classified as a tropical depression. Above 39 mph, the cyclone is classified as a tropical storm and given the next name in the list of names being used for that year. Once a cyclone has reached winds of 74 mph, it is classified as a category one hurricane. Here in South Carolina, we have not had a major hurricane threat since 1999 and Hurricane Floyd. That storm generated a historic evacuation which was dubbed the "Floyd Fiasco" where it took motorists up to 15 hours to reach Columbia which would normally be a two hour drive. Since then, the state hurricane evacuation plan has been revised and is practiced yearly. Even with the new plan, it's important to remember that any evacuation will take time and patients to get everyone inland. Hurricane evacuations are mandated by the Governor's office and take many factors into consideration. Joint Base Charleston also has hurricane conditions and procedures which you should be familiar with. Hurricane preparations start with a family plan which should include building a hurricane kit with essential items such as water, flashlights, batteries, etc. The plan should also take into consideration logistics of evacuation and what to take with you including important documents, cash, etc. It's also important to include any family pets when you are formulating your plan. Some shelters, for example, do not take pets as well as some hotels. Having a family plan will be a great help when there is an approaching storm and will take some of the stress off during this time. Another tip is to make sure your vehicles are fueled and ready to travel if evacuation becomes necessary. Every storm is different and whether it's a weak tropical storm or strong category four hurricane and never behaves the same. For vital storm information, stay tuned to local media, trusted websites, etc. Being informed and keeping up with critical information along with having a family plan is the best way to prepare and stay ahead of the storm during this hurricane season.