HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – The start of June marks the beginning of hurricane season and Hurricane Preparedness Week in Virginia.

Jamison Ryder, interim deputy emergency coordinator for the city of Harrisonburg, said storms can impact communities even away from the coastline, like in the Valley.

“The season runs from June to November every year, and despite living inland — we’re not dealing with the storm surge like coastal communities do — we still have to worry about high winds or flooding,” Ryder said.

Ryder added that there’s a long but important list of items families should remember to pack in their safety kit to stay prepared.

“Three days’ worth of food and water; any medical or hygiene needs, particularly prescription medications; tools; clothing; important paperwork and insurance documents, including IDs; entertainment for kids, such as books and games; and pets. Do not forget about your pets,” he said.

Ryder said the city is also doing its due diligence to ensure that it is prepared for what could come ahead.

“We keep an eye on the weather, doing everything we can,” Ryder said. “Specifically, it really comes down to reviewing our plans for emergency response and operations, and once we have an idea that a storm is coming, we let the appropriate people know, get together and formulate a more specific plan tailored to that incident.”

He said insurance is something else families need to make sure they have; you don’t have to be in a high-risk area to get one.

“As of 2021, 25% of claims were in non–high-risk areas, and flood insurance does have a 30‑day window before it kicks in,“ Ryder said. ”If that’s something you’re interested in, I recommend signing up sooner rather than later.”

He later explained that flood insurance is typically not included in homeowners or renters insurance.

“It does require you to sign up for a separate policy, which can be incorporated into your normal policy, but that’s additional coverage required to file a flood claim,” he said. “An inch of water in a basement or living area can cause up to roughly $30,000 in damage, so it’s important.”

Ryder said people should sign up for emergency alerts through the Harrisonburg Rockingham Emergency Communication Center so they are updated on weather-related incidents or emergencies.