ILTA Press Release Outlines Industry Preparation for Hurricane Season

Members of the International Liquid Terminal Association are prepared for the upcoming hurricane season—which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts as more active than normal—with, emergency preparedness plans and ongoing communications with government, emergency response and industry partners, ILTA said in a press release June 1.

“The industry takes hurricanes very seriously,” said ILTA President Kathryn Clay said. “Our priorities are protecting our workers, the environment, and our neighbors in our communities. At the same time, we work to ensure the best possible operations even when hurricanes disrupt other components of the supply chains.” Terminals store a wide variety of products, including chemicals, crude oil, petroleum products, renewable fuels, asphalt, animal fats and oils, vegetable oils, molasses and fertilizers.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service, on May 21 forecasted a 60% chance of a more active than normal Atlantic hurricane season in 2020, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The center predicted a likely range of 13 to 19 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which six to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including three to six major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; with winds of 111 mph or higher). The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.