PEARL, Miss. (WJTV) – During the Atlantic Hurricane Season, each minute counts when it comes preparing for the storms.

On Wednesday, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) tested the knowledge of the state’s 16 Emergency Support Functions Teams during an exercise.

MEMA’s Hurricane Preparedness Guide offers a direct layout of tips, functional needs and a direct action plan for neighbors to follow when moving to safety.

The guide is a direct layout of  tips, functional needs, and a direct action plan for people to follow when moving to safety.

“The message now is individuals need to be prepared. The federal government is prepared. The National Guard is prepared. We’ve talked to them about their plans, what they need to do as far as distributions, everything else that we will need them to do – food, water, ice, etc. And now we’ve worked it all the way back now,” said MEMA Executive Director Stephen McCraney.

Using real-life scenarios, each agency was tested on the decision-making, logistical strategies, and manpower needed to prepare for impact within certain time frames from seven days out until landfall.

“What about visitors? That’s something that I have to consider is people here on vacation. They don’t know the lay of the land. They don’t know the nearest town. They all just drive one town up. The City of Hattiesburg, for example, that population is going to quadruple in the City of Hattiesburg. Every hotel will be booked up. So, how do we keep people going forward in contraflow and how do we bring more law enforcement to be able to handle emergency services, ambulances, etc.? So, it is not just MEMA. We’re the coordinator, and we’re charged with keeping that plan fresh,” said McCraney.

It’s vital that you’re prepared when the inclement weather moves in. Neighbors are encouraged to create a disaster supply kit while preparing for the worst-case scenario.