Most of the
2011 activity is expected to take place during August through October, the peak
months of the Atlantic hurricane season.
Tropical
systems get a name upon reaching tropical storm strength with sustained winds
of at least 39 miles per hour. Tropical storms become hurricanes when winds
reach 74 mph, and become major hurricanes when winds reach 111 mph.
Be
Prepared!
We should ensure they we are prepared in the event a storm threatens. Here's
what you can do to prepare for such an emergency.
Step 1: Get a Kit
- Get
a kit, which includes items like non-perishable food, water, a
battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra flashlights and batteries. You
may want to prepare a portable kit and keep it in your car. This kit
should include:
- Copies of prescription medications and medical
supplies;
- Bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and
pillows;
- Bottled water, a battery-operated radio and extra
batteries, a first aid kit, a flashlight;
- Copies of important documents: driver's license,
Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills,
deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.
Step 2:
Make a Plan
Prepare
Your Family
- Make
a Family Emergency Plan. Your family may not be together when disaster
strikes, so it is important to know how you will contact one another, how
you will get back together and what you will do in case of an emergency
- Plan
places where your family will meet, both within and outside of your
immediate neighborhood.
- It
may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town,
so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among
separated family members.
- You
may also want to inquire about emergency plans at places where your family
spends time: work, daycare and school. If no plans exist, consider
volunteering to help create one.
- Plan
to Evacuate
- Identify ahead of time where your family will meet,
both within and outside of your immediate neighborhood.
- Identify several places you could go in an emergency,
a friend's home in another town, a motel or public shelter.
- If you do not have a car, plan alternate means of
evacuating.
- If you have a car, keep a half tank of gas in it at
all times in case you need to evacuate.
- Take your Emergency Supply Kit.
- Take your pets with you, but understand that only
service animals may be permitted in public shelters. Plan how you will
care for your pets in an emergency.
Step 3:
Be Informed
Familiarize
yourself with the terms
- A
hurricane watch means a hurricane is possible in your area. Be prepared to
evacuate. Monitor local radio and television news outlets or listen to
NOAA Weather Radio for the latest developments.
- A
hurricane warning is when a hurricane is expected in your area. If local
authorities advise you to evacuate, leave immediately.
Prepare
Your Home
- Cover
all of your home's windows with pre-cut ply wood or hurricane shutters to
protect your windows from high winds.
- Plan
to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything
else that is not tied down.
- Keep
all trees and shrubs well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.
- Secure
your home by closing shutters and securing outdoor objects or bringing
them inside.
- Turn
off utilities as instructed. Otherwise, turn the refrigerator thermostat
to its coldest setting and keep its doors closed.
- Turn
off propane tanks.
- Ensure
a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing
toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.
Listen to
Local Officials
Learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government. In any emergency, always listen to the instructions given by local emergency management officials.
For further
information on how to plan and prepare for hurricanes as well as what to do
during and after a hurricane, visit: Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), NOAA Hurricane
Outlook, or American Red Cross. You can also check the National Hurricane Center Web
site.
Local Media Links:
Other Hurricane Links
NOAA
Hurricane Center:
Ready.gov
Hurricane Page:
Weather.com
Tropical Update:
Hurricane
Tracking Map:
NOAA
Hurricane Guides:
American Red
Cross:
Federal
Emergency Management Agency:
Storm Names:
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