As Islanders told to prepare for hurricane season, some still dealing with Fiona fallout

Prince Edward Islanders are being advised to prepare for another hurricane season, even as some continue to deal with fallout from post-tropical storm Fiona last September.

The Department of Health and Wellness recently sent out an email to long-term care facilities, asking if they had enough food, water, fuel and medication on hand to be able to operate for five to seven days without access to power or supplies. 

Lindsay Dickieson, administrator at The Mount, said the long-term care home is reviewing its emergency plan. 

After Fiona hit the Island, The Mount lost power for just over a week and also didn't have phone and internet service for days. 

"I do think that our telecommunication companies and government have to plan so that they can be prepared for this type of weather events as well," Dickieson said. 

She said living through the aftermath of the storm took a toll on people, and that it's hard to think about the upcoming hurricane season. 

"We just need to face it and prepare the best we can," she said. 

Last week meteorologists with the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) adjusted its forecast, increasing the likelihood of an "above-normal" Atlantic hurricane season to 60 per cent.

Chris Fogarty, head of the Canadian Hurricane Centre in Halifax, said there could be a higher frequency of storms in the region this season.

"We certainly have some vulnerabilities in Nova Scotia and P.E.I. in particular," he said. 

If there are more northerly winds, shorelines which were damaged by Fiona could be further damaged, Fogarty said.

"We do expect more activity than we were thinking originally, but we don't know if storms will make it up to Canadian waters," he said. 

"We can't predict the individual storms this far ahead. People just need to realize that it's hurricane season coming up."

Storms usually hit the Atlantic region in September, he said.