But what's a Hebert box, and why should Ike stay away from it?
Hebert boxes are two 335x335 mile areas, one on each side of the Caribbean. They get their name from National Hurricane Center forecaster Paul Hebert, who observed that hurricanes that pass through them are more likely to hit South Florida hard. Conversely, many hurricanes that have appeared to be targeting South Florida that go around the Hebert boxes have a tendency to swerve and miss south Florida at the last moment. However, it's not a hard and fast rule: 1995's devastating Hurricane Andrew tracked just outside a corner of the eastern Hebert box.
From a 2001 Miami Herald article:
Hebert himself acknowledged that the boxes are not a guarantee of hurricane landfall either way, but cautions that if a hurricane passes through one, "really, really pay attention. We worry plenty in August and September when one goes through that box, and we have a certain comfort level when one misses the box.
It looks like we could get lucky with Ike, whose predicted path seems safely above 20 degrees north latitude for the moment, but it's still not a bad idea to fill up your gas tank and make sure your hurricane kit is fully stocked this weekend. There's still another three months of hurricane season, and Tropical Storm Josephine is on the map!
June 1 marked the official start of hurricane season. If you're new to Florida and need to start a hurricane kit, or just need a reminder to replenish your kit with fresh supplies, I recommend taking a look at Broward County's Hurricane Kit Shopping Guide [pdf].
The guide contains a supply list for a family of four broken down into 8 weeks to make it easier to fit into your grocery budget. It also features a pet survival guide, first aid kit checklist, and planning tips.
The Sun Sentinel reported last week on the Mason-Dixon poll indicating that 67% of residents in hurricane-vulnerable states don't have a hurricane kit and are otherwise less than enthused about getting prepared for a storm. It's not something to slack about. Although the last couple years have been quiet, 2005's Hurricane Wilma left a large area around NSU without power and thus without easy access to groceries for at least two weeks. Don't wait till the last minute to stock up on supplies, and remember to fill up your gas tank before a storm too!
