With the 2024 hurricane season just around the corner, U.S. officials are urging the residents of Florida to be prepared for potential storms and their devastating consequences. During a recent visit to Sanford, a landlocked city in the middle of the state, officials emphasized that it is not a matter of if a hurricane will hit, but rather when.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the 2024 hurricane season is expected to be busier than average, with the forecast predicting an increase in both tropical storms and hurricanes. Even for those who do not reside on the coast, officials stressed the importance of understanding the potential dangers hurricanes pose to properties, such as flooding, and advised the creation of emergency plans and supply kits.

Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, emphasized that everyone in Florida is at risk. To highlight the state's vulnerability to damaging weather, wind gusts of 71 mph, just shy of hurricane force, were recorded in Tallahassee on Friday. The capital city also experienced debris and damage from buildings affected by the strong winds.

To gather crucial data about the intensity and direction of storms, officials brought along two "hurricane hunter" planes – the WP-3D operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the WC-130J flown by the U.S. Air Force Reserve. These brave aircrafts fly directly into the storms' eyewalls, typically completing three flights during a mission. The primary goal of these daring flights is to provide vital information that helps ground officials make decisions, including evacuation orders.

NOAA's propeller plane normally carries a crew of 11 to 17 people, including scientists and the flight crew, during hurricane missions that can last up to eight hours. To ensure sustenance during the flights, the crew brings along ample snack food, and there are food preparation facilities such as microwave, refrigerator, and hot plates for cooking meals.

William Wysinger, a NOAA flight engineer with extensive experience flying through hurricanes, likened the experience to riding an old wooden roller coaster during the worst of times. While turbulence is expected, sometimes the flights are not as turbulent as anticipated, and crew members may find themselves unaware that they are already in the eye of a hurricane.

The National Hurricane Center predicts that the Atlantic and Gulf season, spanning from June 1 to November 30, will surpass the yearly average of seven tropical storms and seven hurricanes. Furthermore, they anticipate that three of the storms will reach major hurricane status. It is important to note that not all hurricanes make landfall, but residents of Florida are urged to remember the substantial impact of the four consecutive hurricanes that struck the state 20 years ago - Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne - leaving behind a trail of destruction and trauma.

As Florida has seen an influx of hundreds of thousands of new residents since the last hurricane season, Robbie Berg, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center, highlighted the significance of communication and learning from experienced members of the community. Berg advises talking to neighbors who have gone through these storms before, as they can provide valuable guidance and support for those who have never experienced a hurricane.

With the 2024 hurricane season expected to be more intense, U.S. officials aim to ensure that Floridians are well-prepared to face the potential challenges and minimize the impact on their lives and properties.