Hurricane Description and Cause Reasons
Produced by the National Disaster
Wh y t a lk a b o u t h u r r ic a n e s ?
There are no other storm s like hurricanes on Earth. View s of hurricanes from satellites located thousands of m iles above the Earth show how these pow erful, tightly coiled w eather system s are unique. Each year, on average, 10 tropical storm s (of w hich six becom e hurricanes) develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico. Many of these storm s rem ain over the ocean. How ever, an Education Coalition:
Am erican Red Cross,
FEMA, IAEM, IBHS,
NFPA, NWS, USDA/
CSREES, and USGS average of five hurricanes strike the An a vera ge o ffive h u rrica n es ksetrtih e
Un ited Sta tes co a stlin e everreye th yea rs. O f th ese fivwe,o twill b e m a jo r h u rrica n es…
United States coastline every three years. Of these five, tw o w ill be m ajor hurricanes, w hich are storm s of category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Sim pson scale, w hich corresponds to hurricanes w ith w inds at or above 111 m iles per hour.
Tim ely w arnings have greatly dim inished hurricane fatalities in the United States. In spite of this, property dam age continues to m ount. There
is little w e can do about the hurricanes them selves. How ever, the National
Oceanic and Atm ospheric Adm inistration‘s (NOAA’s) Tropical Prediction
Center and National Weather Service (NWS) field offices team up with other federal, state, and local agencies; rescue and relief organizations; the private sector; and the news m edia in a huge warning and preparedness effort.
Wh a t a re h u r r ic a n e s , a n d w h a t c a u s e s t h e m ?
Hurricanes and tropical storm s are cyclones w ith tropical origins (tropical cyclones). When the w inds of a tropical storm (w inds 39 to 73 m iles per hour) reach a constant speed of 74 m iles per hour or m ore, it is called a hurricane. Hurricane w inds blow in a large spiral around a relatively calm center know n as the “eye.” The “eye” is generally 20 to 30 m iles w ide, and the storm m ay have a diam eter of 400 m iles across. As a hurricane approaches, the skies w ill begin to darken and w inds w ill grow in strength.
Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages
81 A hurricane can bring torrential rains, high w inds, and storm surge as it nears land. A single hurricane can last m ore than tw o w eeks over open w aters and can run a path across the entire length of the eastern seaboard.
More dangerous than the high w inds of a hurricane is the storm surge — a dom e of ocean w ater that can be 20 feet high at its peak and 50 to 100 m iles w ide. The surge can devastate coastal com m unities as it sw eeps ashore. In recent years, the fatalities associated w ith storm surge have been greatly reduced as a result of better w arning and preparedness w ithin coastal com m unities.
Most deaths due to tropical cyclones are flood-related. Inland flooding is a com m on occurrence w ith hurricanes and tropical storm s. Torrential rains from decaying hurricanes and tropical storm s can produce extensive urban and river flooding. Winds from these storm s located offshore can drive ocean w ater up the m outh of rivers, com pounding the severity of inland flooding. Inland stream s and rivers can flood and trigger landslides.
Mudslides can occur in m ountainous regions. In addition, hurricanes can spaw n tornadoes, w hich add to the destructiveness of the storm .
Learn about hurricane risk in your com m unity by contacting your local
em ergency m anagem ent office, National Weather Service office, or
Am erican Red Cross chapter.
Aw a re n e s s In fo r m a t io n
•A National Weather Service WATCH is a m essage indicating that conditions favor the occurrence of a certain type of hazardous w eather. For exam ple, a severe thunderstorm w atch m eans that a severe thunderstorm is expected in the next six hours or so w ithin an area approxim ately 120 to 150 m iles w ide and 300 to 400 m iles long (36,000 to
60,000 square m iles). The NWS Storm Prediction Center issues such w atches. Local NWS forecast offices issue other w atches (flash flood, w inter w eather, etc.) 12 to 36 hours in advance of a possible hazardousw eather or flooding event. Each local forecast office usually covers a state or a portion of a state.
•An NWS WARNING indicates that a hazardous event is occurring or is im m inent in about 30 m inutes to an hour. Local NWS forecast offices issue w arnings on a county-by-county basis.
•A hurricane WATCH is issued w hen there is a threat of hurricane conditions w ithin 24 to 36 hours.
•A hurricane WARNING is issued w hen hurricane conditions are expected in 24 hours or less.
Ma n y p e o p le d o n o t re a lize th e th re a t o f h u rric a n e s a s e a ch o n e is d iffe re n t. Over the past several years, U.S. hurricane w arning system s have provided adequate tim e for people on barrier islands and the im m ediate coastline to m ove inland w hen hurricanes threaten. How ever, due to
82 Hurricane rapid population grow th, it is becom ing m ore difficult to evacuate people from the barrier islands and other coastal areas because roads have not kept pace w ith the expansion. The problem is further com pounded by the fact that 80 to 90 percent of the population now living in hurricane-prone areas have never experienced the core of a “m ajor” hurricane. Many of these people have been through w eaker storm s. The result is a false im pression of a hurricane’s dam age potential. This often leads to com placency and delayed actions, w hich could result in the loss of m any lives.
P la n fo r a Hu r r ic a n e
D e ve lo p a Fa m ily D is a s te r P la n . Please see the “Fam ily Disaster Plan” section for general fam ily planning inform ation. Hurricane-specific planning should include the follow ing:
•Le a rn a b o u t yo u r c o m m u n ity’s ris k fro m h u rric a n e s . Contact your local em ergency m anagem ent office, local National Weather Service office, or local chapter of the Am erican Red Cross for m ore inform ation on hurricanes and how to prepare for them .
•If yo u r c o m m u n ity is a t ris k fro m h u rric a n e s , c o n ta c t th e lo c a l e m e rge n cy m a n a ge m e n t o ffic e o r p la n n in g a n d zo n in g o ffic e to fin d o u t if yo u live in a n a re a th a t c o u ld flo o d d u rin g a h u rric a n e o r h e a vy ra in s . If you live in a risk area, learn w hat types of supplies should be stored to protect your hom e from flood w aters. Know ing the elevation of your property in relation to nearby stream s and dam s w ill let you know if forecasted flood levels w ill affect your hom e.
If you are at risk from hurricanes:
•Ta lk to yo u r in s u ra n c e a ge n t. Hom eow ners’ policies do not cover flooding from hurricanes. Ask about the National Flood Insurance
Program (NFIP).
•As k a b o u t yo u r c o m m u n ity’s h u rric a n e p re p a re d n e s s p la n . The local em ergency m anagem ent office or local chapter of the Am erican
Red Cross should be able to provide you w ith details of this plan, including inform ation on the safest evacuation routes, nearby shelters, advice on w hen schools w ould be closed and w hat conditions are necessary
for recom m ended evacuation of certain areas.
•D e ve lo p a n e va c u a tio n p la n . (See “Evacuation” in the “Fam ily
Disaster Plan” section.) Everyone in your fam ily should know w here to go if they have to leave. Trying to m ake plans at the last m inute can be upsetting and create confusion.
•D e te rm in e w h e re to m o ve yo u r b o a t in a n e m e rge n cy. Marinas and other storage facilities m ay fill up quickly. Som e locations m ay have less risk of dam age than others. You m ay be required to secure your boat w ell in advance of approaching hurricanes.
83
Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages •D is c u s s h u rric a n e s w ith yo u r fa m ily. Everyone should know w hat to do in case all fam ily m em bers are not together. Discussing hurricanes ahead of tim e w ill help reduce fear and anxiety, and lets everyone know how to respond. Review flood safety and Assemble a Disaster
Supplies Kit preparedness m easures w ith your fam ily.
Please see the “Disaster Supplies Kit” section for general supplies kit information.
Hurricane-specific supplies should include the following:
Ho w t o P ro t e c t Yo u r P ro p e r t y
•Ma ke a lis t o f ite m s to b rin g in s id e in th e e ve n t o f a s to rm . A list w ill help you rem em ber anything that can be broken or picked up by strong w inds. Hurricane w inds, often in excess of 100 m iles per hour, can turn unanchored item s into deadly m issiles, causing dam age or injury w hen they hit.
• A week’s supply of food and water (to be kept at home in addition to the recommended three-day supply for your evacuation kit).
• Disaster Supply Kit basics.
• Evacuation Supplies Kit.
•Ke e p tre e s a n d s h ru b b e ry trim m e d . Make trees m ore w ind resistant by rem oving diseased or dam aged lim bs, then strategically rem ove branches so that w ind can blow through. Hurricane w inds frequently break w eak lim bs and hurl them at great speed, causing great dam age w hen they hit property. Debris collection services m ay not be operating just before a storm , so it is best to do this w ell in advance of approaching storm s.
•Re m o ve a n y d e b ris o r lo o s e ite m s in yo u r ya rd . Hurricane w inds can pick up anything unsecured, creating dam age to property w hen the debris hits.
•Cle a r lo o s e a n d c lo gge d ra in gu tte rs a n d d o w n s p o u ts . Hurricanes often bring long periods of heavy rain. Providing clear drainage w ill help prevent m isdirected flooding.
•In s ta ll p e rm a n e n t h u rric a n e s h u tte rs . Hurricane shutters provide the best protection for your w indow s and doors. Taping w indow s could take critical tim e from m ore effective preparedness m easures. All tape does is help prevent glass from broken w indow s from scattering all over inside. Tape does not prevent w indow s from breaking. Cover the outside of w indow s w ith shutters or plyw ood.
•If yo u d o n o t h a ve p e rm a n e n t h u rric a n e s h u tte rs , in s ta ll a n ch o rs fo r p lyw o o d (m a rin e p lyw o o d is b e s t) a n d p re d rill h o le s in p re c u t h a lf-in ch o u td o o r p lyw o o d b o a rd s s o th a t yo u c a n c o ve r th e w in d o w s o f yo u r h o m e q u ick ly. Mark w hich board fits w hich w indow. Note: Tape does not prevent w indow s from breaking, so taping w indow s is not recom m ended. Most hom es destroyed during recent hurricanes had no w indow protection. When w ind enters a hom e through broken w indow s, the pressure builds against the w alls and can lift roofs, follow ed by collapsing w alls.
84 Hurricane •In s ta ll p ro te c tio n to th e o u ts id e a re a s o f s lid in g gla s s d o o rs .
Glass doors are as vulnerable as w indow s to breakage by w ind-driven objects.
•We ll a h e a d o f tim e , b u y a ny o th e r ite m s n e e d e d to b o a rd u p w in d o w s a n d p ro te c t yo u r h o m e . When a hurricane threatens, supplies are quickly sold out at m any stores. Stock m ay not be replenished until after the storm .
•Stre n gth e n ga ra ge d o o rs . Many houses are destroyed by hurricane w inds that enter through dam aged garage doors, lifting roofs, and destroying the rem ainder of the house.
•Ha ve a n e n gin e e r ch e ck yo u r h o m e a n d a d vis e a b o u t w a ys to m a ke it m o re re s is ta n t to h u rric a n e w in d s . There are a variety of w ays to protect your hom e. Professionals can advise you of engineering requirem ents, building perm its or requirem ents of local planning and zoning departm ents to provide the m ost effective protection.
•Ele va te c o a s ta l h o m e s . Raising houses to a certain height w ill m ake them m ore resistant to hurricane-driven w aters. There m ay be m any local codes affecting how and w here hom es can be elevated. Meet w ith your em ergency m anager or planning and zoning official for a description of the process to have your hom e elevated. There m ay also be com m unity funds available for such m easures.
•If yo u live in a flo o d p la in o r a re p ro n e to flo o d in g, a ls o fo llo w flo o d p re p a re d n e s s p re c a u tio n s . Hurricanes can bring great am ounts of rain and frequently cause floods. Som e hurricanes have dropped m ore than 10 inches of rain in just a few hours.
M e d ia a n d Co m m u n it y Ed u c a t io n Id e a s
•Publish a special section in your local new spaper w ith em ergency infor-
m ation on hurricanes. Localize the inform ation by printing the phone
num ber of local em ergency services offices, the Am erican Red Cross chapter, and the nearest hospitals.
•Provide hurricane tracking charts to local schools.
•Work w ith local em ergency services and Am erican Red Cross officials to prepare special reports to people w ith m obility im pairm ents on w hat to do if an evacuation is ordered.
•At the beginning of each hurricane season, encourage the em ergency response organizations to review com m unity hurricane disaster plans.
•Publicize and prom ote a hurricane aw areness w eek.
•Stage a sim ulated evacuation to show your com m unity w hat can happen.
•Periodically inform your com m unity of local public w arning system s.
85
Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages •Publish em ergency evacuation routes.
Wh a t t o D o D u r in g a Hu r r ic a n e WATCH
•Co n tin u e lis te n in g re gu la rly to a NOAA We a th e r Ra d io o r lo c a l ra d io o r te le vis io n s ta tio n s fo r u p d a te d in fo rm a tio n . Hurricanes can change direction, intensity, and speed very suddenly. What w as a m inor threat several hours ago can quickly escalate to a m ajor threat.
•Lis te n to th e a d vic e o f lo c a l o ffic ia ls , a n d e va c u a te if th e y te ll yo u to d o s o . Avoid flooded roads and w atch for w ashed-out bridges.
Leaving an area that m ay be affected w ill help keep your fam ily safe.
Local officials m ay call for evacuation in specific areas at greatest risk in your com m unity. Follow ing the advice of local authorities is your safest protection. Local officials m ay close dow n certain roads, especially near the coast, w hen the outer effects of increasing w ind and rain from a hurricane reach the coast.
•P re p a re yo u r p ro p e rty fo r h igh w in d s . Hurricane w inds can blow large, heavy objects and send them crashing into hom es. Anything not secured m ay becom e a deadly or dam aging projectile.
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Bring law n furniture inside, as w ell as outdoor decorations or ornam ents, trash cans, hanging plants, or anything else that can be picked up by the w ind.
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Make trees m ore w ind resistant by rem oving diseased and dam aged lim bs, then strategically rem ove branches so that w ind can blow through.
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Secure building by closing and boarding up each w indow of your hom e. Rem ove outside antennas.
Moor boat securely or m ove it to a designated safe place. Use rope or chain to secure boat to trailer. Use tie-dow ns to anchor trailer to the ground or house.
•Fill yo u r c a r’s ga s ta n k . If advised to evacuate, you m ay have to travel long distances or be caught in traffic, idling for long periods of tim e.
Gas stations along the route m ay be closed.
•Sto ck u p o n p re s c rip tio n m e d ic a tio n s . Stores and pharm acies m ay be closed after the storm .
•Re ch e ck m a n u fa c tu re d h o m e tie -d o w n s . Manufactured hom es m ay not be as affected by strong w inds if they are tied dow n according to the m anufacturer’s instructions. Properly tied dow n hom es are m ore likely to stay fixed to their foundations.
•Ch e ck yo u r D is a s te r Su p p lie s Kit. Som e supplies m ay need to be replaced or restocked.
86 Hurricane •Tu rn re frige ra to r a n d fre e ze r to c o ld e s t s e ttin g. O p e n o n ly w h e n a b s o lu te ly n e c e s s a ry a n d c lo s e q u ick ly. Keeping the coldest air in w ill help perishables last m uch longer in the event of a pow er failure.
•Sto re va lu a b le s a n d p e rs o n a l p a p e rs in a s a fe ty d e p o s it b o x in a w a te rp ro o f c o n ta in e r o n th e h igh e s t le ve l o f yo u r h o m e .
Hurricanes leave m uch w ater dam age inside hom es. Historically, it is show n that protecting valuables in this m anner w ill provide the best security.
•Tu rn o ff u tilitie s if to ld to d o s o b y a u th o ritie s . Authorities m ay ask you to turn off w ater or electric utilities to prevent dam age to your hom e or w ithin the com m unity. Most of the tim e they w ill tell you to leave the gas on because a professional is required to turn your gas back on, and it m ay be several w eeks before you receive service.
•Tu rn o ff p ro p a n e ta n k s . Propane tanks m ay be dam aged or dislodged by strong w inds or w ater. Turning them off reduces the fire potential if they are dam aged by the storm .
•Un p lu g s m a ll a p p lia n c e s . Sm all appliances m ay be affected by electrical pow er surges that m ay occur as the storm approaches. Unplugging them reduces potential dam age.
•Re vie w e va c u a tio n p la n . Make sure your planned route is the sam e as the currently recom m ended route. Som etim es roads m ay be closed or blocked, requiring a different route.
•Sta y a w a y fro m flo o d w a te rs . If you com e upon a flooded road, turn around and go another w ay. When you are caught on a flooded road and w aters are rising rapidly around you, if you can do so safely, get out of your vehicle and clim b to higher ground. Most hurricane-related deaths are caused by floods, and m ost flood fatalities are caused by people attem pting to drive through w ater. The depth of w ater is not alw ays obvious. The roadbed m ay be w ashed out under the w ater, and you could be stranded or trapped. Rapidly rising w ater m ay stall the engine, engulf the vehicle and its occupants, and sw eep them aw ay.
Tw o feet of w ater w ill carry aw ay m ost autom obiles.
Wh a t t o D o D u r in g a Hu r r ic a n e WARNING
•Lis te n to a NOAA We a th e r Ra d io , o r p o rta b le , b a tte ry-p o w e re d ra d io o r te le vis io n fo r u p d a te d in fo rm a tio n a n d o ffic ia l in s tru ctio n s . Hurricanes can change direction, intensity, and speed very suddenly. Continue listening for local inform ation.
•If o ffic ia ls a n n o u n c e a h u rric a n e w a rn in g, th e y m a y a s k yo u to le a ve yo u r h o m e a s s o o n a s p o s s ib le to b e s a fe . Ta ke yo u r
D is a s te r Su p p lie s Kit a n d go to a s h e lte r o r yo u r fa m ily c o n ta c t’s h o m e . Ca ll yo u r ch e ck -in c o n ta c t s o s o m e o n e w ill k n o w w h e re
87
Talking About Disaster: Guide for Standard Messages yo u a re go in g. Local officials advise leaving only if they truly believe your location is in danger. It is im portant to follow their instructions as soon as possible. Roads m ay becom e blocked and the storm can w orsen, preventing safe escape. Having your disaster supplies w ill m ake you m ore com fortable w hile you are aw ay from hom e.
•If yo u a re n o t a d vis e d to e va c u a te , s ta y in d o o rs , o n th e firs t flo o r a w a y fro m w in d o w s , s kyligh ts a n d gla s s d o o rs , e ve n if th e y a re c o ve re d . Stay on the floor least likely to be affected by strong w inds and flood w aters. A sm all interior room w ithout w indow s on the first floor is usually the safest place. Have as m any w alls betw een you and the outside w inds as possible. Som etim es strong w inds and projectiles m ay tear hurricane shutters off, so stay aw ay from w indow s even if they are covered. Lie on the floor under a table or other sturdy object.
Being under a sturdy object w ill offer greater protection from falling objects.
•Clo s e a ll in te rio r d o o rs . Se c u re a n d b ra c e e xte rn a l d o o rs . Closed doors w ill help prevent dam aging hurricane w inds from entering additional room s.
•Ha ve a s u p p ly o f fla s h ligh ts a n d e xtra b a tte rie s h a n dy. Avoid using open flam es (candles and kerosene lam ps) as a source of light.
Flashlights provide the safest em ergency lighting source. Betw een 1984 and 1998, candle-related deaths from hom e fires follow ing hurricanes w ere three tim es greater than the num ber of deaths related to the direct im pact of the hurricane. Kerosene lam ps require a great deal of ventilation and are not designed for indoor use.
•Sto re d rin k in g w a te r in c le a n b a th tu b s , s in k s , p la s tic b o ttle s , a n d c o o k in g u te n s ils . Public w ater supplies and w ells m ay becom e contam inated, or electric pum ps m ay be inoperative if pow er is lost.
Survivors of com m unity-w ide disasters have said the individual’s greatest need follow ing the disaster is w ater.
•If p o w e r is lo s t, tu rn o ff m a jo r a p p lia n c e s to re d u c e th e p o w e r
“s u rge ” w h e n e le c tric ity is re s to re d . When electricity is restored, the surge from m any m ajor appliances starting at the sam e tim e m ay cause dam age or destroy the appliances. Turning off or unplugging m ajor appliances w ill allow you to decide w hen it is best to turn them back on.
•If in a m o b ile h o m e , ch e ck tie -d o w n s a n d e va c u a te im m e d ia te ly.
Historically, m anufactured hom es suffer the greatest am ount of dam age during hurricanes. Prior to 1994, m ost m anufactured hom es w ere not designed to w ithstand even m oderate w inds.
•Be a w a re th a t th e c a lm “e ye ” is d e c e p tive ; th e s to rm is n o t o ve r. The w orst part of the storm w ill happen once the eye passes over and the w inds blow from the opposite direction. Trees, shrubs,
88 Hurricane buildings, and other objects dam aged by the first w inds can be broken or destroyed by the second w inds. The opposing w inds begin suddenly, and have surprised and injured m any people w ho ventured out during the eye.
•Wa tch o u t fo r flo o d in g. Hurricanes and tropical storm s often drop large am ounts of rainfall and cause severe flooding, even w hen they are w eakening or are no longer a nam ed storm . “Weak” tropical storm s are just as capable of producing heavy rainfall and flooding as m ajor hurricanes.
•Be a le rt fo r to rn a d o e s . Tornadoes can happen during and after a hurricane passes over. Rem ain indoors on a low er level, in the center of your hom e, in a closet or bathroom w ithout w indow s. Going below ground, such as to a basem ent or storm cellar, increases your risk from flood.
Wh a t t o D o if Eva c u a t io n Is Ne c e s s a r y
•Le a ve a s s o o n a s p o s s ib le (if p o s s ib le , in d a yligh t). Avoid flooded roads and w atch for w ashed-out bridges. Roads and bridges frequently becom e crow ded and traffic m oves slow. Evacuation w ill probably take longer than expected. Give yourself plenty of tim e.