Hurricane Season is
June 1st to November 30th
"Preventing the loss of life and minimizing the damage to property from hurricanes are responsibilities that are shared by all."
Extract from the official government NOAA Website:
One of the most important decisions you will have to make is "Should I Evacuate?"
If you are asked to evacuate, you should do so without delay. But unless you live in a coastal or low-lying area, an area that floods frequently, or in manufactured housing, it is unlikely that emergency managers will ask you to evacuate. That means that it is important for you and your family to HAVE A PLAN that makes you as safe as possible in your home.
Disaster prevention includes modifying your home to strengthen it against storms so that you can be as safe as possible. It also includes having the supplies on hand to weather the storm. The suggestions provided here are only guides. You should use common sense in your disaster prevention.
DEVELOP A FAMILY PLAN - Your family's plan should be based on your vulnerability to the Hurricane Hazards. You should keep a written plan and share your plan with other friends or family.
CREATE A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT - There are certain items you need to have regardless of where you ride out a hurricane. The disaster supply kit is a useful tool when you evacuate as well as making you as safe as possible in your home.
SECURE YOUR HOME - There are things that you can do to make your home more secure and able to withstand stronger storms.
ONLINE VULNERABILITY INFO - There are web sites that can give you information about your communities vulnerability to specific hazards. These include hurricanes as well as other weather related hazards.
What Defines a Hurricane?
When 74 mph Blows
- When a storm develops a clearly recognizable pattern, it is referred to as a TROPICAL DEPRESSION
- A TROPICAL STORM is a cyclonic storm having sustained winds ranging from approximately 48 to 121 kilometers (30 to 74 miles) per hour.
- When wind speed equals or exceeds 74 mph, the storm is called a HURRICANE. In the western Pacific, a hurricane is referred to as a typhoon. In waters around Australia it is called a cyclone or willy-willy. Hurricanes intensify when moving over areas of increased water temperatures, and weaken over colder water surfaces. Upper atmosphere wind shear (different wind direction and speeds at different elevations) will frequently prevent or slow intensification of tropical storms by 'spreading out' the storm horizontally and preventing the formation of strong updrafts of warm, humid air.
EVACUATE OR STAY PUT?
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2008 Hurricane names
ATLANTIC tropical storm namesArthur
Bertha
Cristobal
Dolly
Edouard
Fay
Gustav
Hanna
Ike
Josephine
Kyle
Laura
Marco
Nana
Omar
Paloma
Rene
Sally
Teddy
Vicky
Wilfred
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC Hurricane Names
Alma
Boris
Cristina
Douglas
Elida
Fausto
Genevieve
Hernan
Iselle
Julio
Karina
Lowell
Marie
Norbert
Odile
Polo
Rachel
Simon
Trudy
Vance
Winnie
Xavier
Yolanda
Zeke
National Hurricane Center (Atlantic)
Reports active tropical cyclones in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico.
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Hurricane Tips
Suggestions to help you prepare for Hurricane Season
- Flashlights: Purchase no battery LED flashlights and you'll never have to replace batteries or bulbs.
- Grills: Use propane gas grills as opposed to charcoal. Carbon emissions are much lower with propane.
- Batteries: Stock up on rechargeable batteries for portable radios and lanterns.
- Can Opener: Buy a manual can opener. No power, no electric can opener. Seems obvious but you can forget this helpful tool.
- Stock up on non-perishable foods. Canned tuna, peanut butter, beanie weenies, sardines, etc.
- Have disposable cups, forks and knives and plates available.
- Remember to drink plenty of water and non-alcoholic liquids - eight glasses per day.
- Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages, as they are dehydrating and can make you even more thirsty. Cheers!
- Drink bottled water, or water you have stored in advance until you know if the water is safe. If that runs out and you need more water, drink water from melted ice cubes or from the water heater once it has been turned off and is cool.
- DO NOT drink water from the toilet bowl or tank, or water from a bathtub. You can use water stored in a bathtub for cleaning and to flush the toilet, but not for drinking or cooking.
- Water will be provided in communities if local water service is not working by the Red Cross, local governments and other agencies. Listen to local news for information on water availability.
- Trim branches: Trim back weak or dead branches away from structures and remove debris before the storm. Flying lumber and branches become missles and can go through walls.
- Register Your Pet: the local Humane Society for tips to keep your pet safe.
- Prepare Your Boat: Prepare your boat before a storm approaches.
- Get Properly Insured: Are you paid up? Check! Update your insurance coverage before storm season.
- WHEN A HURRICANE APPROACHES
- BATTERIES: Fully charge your rechargeables to assure they are ready.
- GASOLINE: Gas up your vehicles, top off the tank before the hurricane strikes. Power will probably be off for days, and no gas can be pumped.
- ICE: Make as much ice as possible and store in your freezer. Freeze jugs and ziplock bags with water, but don't fill them the very top, leave room for expansion as the water freezes. This will also keep the freezer colder longer if the power goes out. Then you can transfer the frozen jugs to the refrigerator to extend food life (see below for Food).
- Shutters: When in doubt, put up your shutters. A little work before-hand will be worth any potential damage or injury that may come if the shutters are not used.
- Bring everything inside: Patio chairs, tables, potted plants, toys, bikes...don't take the risk that the wind won't be that strong. Bring them inside.
- Remove loose roof tiles: Remove any loose roof tiles and encourage your neighbors to do the same. If left as they are, they will become projectiles during the storm.
- AFTER THE STORM
- Be careful! LIVE WIRES CAN AND DO KILL PEOPLE after the all-clear is given.
- NAILS will be scattered around. Wear thick sole shoes. Get a tetanus shot.
- Don't Drive Around: If you can't stop the desire to go around and check out the damage, please take a walk. Let the emergency crews get to where they need to go and save your gas.
- Be Flexible with Your Routine: This is another "Don't Drive Around" suggestion. In the days following the hurricane, if there is no gas, no power, and in general life is a little crazy, change your daily routine. If you need to go to work, try to take the bus, instead of driving. Walk to where you need to go if possible. Don't wait in line hours for gas with your car running.
- GENERATORS: If you use a generator, use it outdoors only. Keep it in a dry area away from open windows. Do not run it in a garage or basement. Plug what you need to power directly into the generator, and do not connect it to your home's electrical system. Doing so is often against local codes and could cause backfeeding that can injure electrical repair technicians. Buy a CO detector. Be safe. DO NOT OPERATE A GENERATOR INDOORS.
- DO NOT OPERATE A GRILL INDOORS!
- Fire can be caused by the use of candles to light homes without electrical power. Use battery-powered lanterns and flashlights only.
- RETURNING HOME
- Check your home by walking around the outside first before entering. If you seek cracks along the foundation, contact a home construction professional to inspect your home before going into it.
- HELP neighbors clean his yard and get their homes back in order.
- When you do enter your home, use a flashlight, not an open flame, to inspect for damage. If you smell gas, leave your home immediately and call the fire department once outside.
- If water has been inside your home, Turn off the power with a dry stick to prevent you from getting shocked while inspecting for damage. This will also let you be in control of your home's electrical service.
- Listen to local radio or TV for instructions about utilities serving your community. If sewer or water utilities have been damaged, do not run water or flush toilets until utilities have been repaired.
- Make sure that electrical appliances and equipment are dry before turning them back on.
- FOOD SAFETY
- For the first two days, start by eating the food out of your refrigerator, then the food in your freezer and then the non-perishable foods.
- If power has been out for two days (48) hours or more, it is likely that the food in your refrigerator and freezer has spoiled. Discard food from the refrigerator. Food in the freezer that still has ice crystals in it may be okay, but food that has thawed, or is above 40° F, should be discarded.
- More Food Safety Tips from the RED CROSS
External Hurricane LINKS
- AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center
- AccuWeather.com produces a unique, more timely 7-day forecast track for each Atlantic and Eastern Pacific tropical storm or hurricane.
- WIOD 610AM News Radio
- AM News Radio (Miami, Florida, USA)
- Hurricane Headquarters: South Florida Sun-Sentinel
- This Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA Newspaper has in-depth coverage of hurricane season, including updated hurricane coordinates, hurricane history, hurricane satellite maps, hurricane pictures and hurricane preparation tips.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Agency of the US government tasked with Disaster Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery planning.
- American Red Cross
- The American Red Cross helps keep people safe every day as well as in an emergency thanks to caring people who support our work in the community. Please support your local Red Cross
- The Salvation Army
- The Salvation Army, an international movement, meets human needs in "His" name without discrimination.
