With the Atlantic hurricane season picking up just before Labor Day, associations are taking steps to inform their members and the public alike on steps they can take to prepare before Hurricane Dorian makes landfall.

The storm is expected to hit Florida on Monday or Tuesday as a Category 4 hurricane, a higher intensity than initial reports had suggested.

On Wednesday, Dorian briefly hit Puerto Rico as a much less powerful storm. It is not projected to reach the intensity of last October’s Hurricane Michael, the fourth most-powerful storm on record to hit the U.S., which hit the Florida Panhandle and has created lasting damage. But Dorian has the potential to be even more damaging, as it’s expected to strike the heavily populated eastern side of the state.

Among the groups speaking out this week:

Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. The group, beyond telling the public to prepare for the storm, noted that it had asked its members to take steps to make any needed evacuations and travel shifts easier. “FRLA has asked members to prioritize safety in a variety of ways beyond basic storm preparation,” said President and CEO Carol Dover in a statement. “We encouraged members to waive cancellation fees as the storm approaches, as our primary goal is always the safety of visitors and we want to keep them out of harm’s way. Additionally, we have urged all members to extend hospitality to pets by relaxing any pet restrictions they may have.” Dover stated that the goal of the recommendations was to “motivate those in the path of the storm to heed evacuation warnings.”

American Public Power Association. As Hurricane Dorian closes in on Florida, the group is ramping up its national public power mutual aid network, which involves its nationwide members stepping in to help assess damage and help get weakened power grids back online after the storm. “Utilities have prestaged crews and equipment and others have crews from neighboring areas on standby to quickly deploy when required,” the group states on its website. “We are also working round the clock with the rest of the energy industry and our federal government partners to monitor the situation and organize help as needed.”

BoatUS. The association of boat owners offers a sizable set of resources for its members on how to ensure a boat is safely protected before a storm and how poor planning can lead to danger for your equipment. “Does having a boat in a well-protected harbor guarantee safety? Of course not,” the association states in an article on its website. “But the choice of locations is the single most important decision a boat owner has to make before a storm. It dwarfs all others.” BoatUS also offers a printable hurricane prep guide [PDF].

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. The flight attendants group is offering a variety of resources ahead of the storm making landfall, including safety tips. And for attendants whose homes or livelihoods are damaged by a storm, the association emphasizes that it promises help. “We take care of each other, flight attendants helping flight attendants,” the association states on its site. “The AFA Disaster Relief Fund provides assistance to AFA members and retirees who have suffered significant damage and/or relocation as a result of a disaster.”

(NOAA)