HURRICANE SEASON STARTS JUNE 1ST
Are You Ready?
Hurricane
Preparedness
Most of us who live in
West Hempstead, Franklin Square and surrounding
areas on Long Island have never fully
experienced the devastation of a hurricane. Even
though we have experienced several occurrences
of extremely severe weather, a hurricane of a
class 3, 4 or 5 magnitude has never hit our
community. The residents not only in our
community but towns throughout the United States
start to experience a "false sense of security"
during the hurricane season. "We have never been
hit with a hurricane so it will never happen."
In order to prepare you and your family for a
hurricane we have prepared this pamphlet. The
only way you will reduce the loss of property
and possibly life is to use this information and
not file it away. Remember preparedness can not
change the probability or course of a hurricane
but if prepared it can greatly reduce the loss
of life and property. The hurricane season
begins in June and ends in November. August and
September are considered the peak periods for
hurricanes on Long Island. In order to be
prepared for a hurricane or severe weather, the
following information will be helpful in taking
appropriate steps in protecting your family and
property.
Hurricane Terms
and Definitions
Tropical Depression:
an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms
with a defined circulation and maximum sustained
winds of 38 mph (33 knots) or less.
Tropical Storm:
an organized system of strong thunderstorms with
a defined circulation and maximum sustained
winds of 39 to 73 mph (34-63 knots).
Hurricane: an
intense tropical weather system with a well
defined circulation and maximum sustained winds
of 74 mph (64 knots) or higher.
Storm Surge: a
dome-like rise in the ocean level associated
with a hurricane. Storm surge is the difference
between this abnormal rise in sea level and the
level that would normally occur.
Eyewall: The organized
band of intense convection immediately
surrounding the center or eye of a hurricane.
The strongest winds of a hurricane are usually
in the eyewall.
Eye: The relatively
calm center of a hurricane has week winds.
Skies can appear partly cloudy to clear.
The average eye diameter is about 20 miles,
though it can range from 5 to 60 miles.
Rain
Bands :
Air travels counter-clockwise around a hurricane
in the Northern Hemisphere and often converges
in narrow spiral bands of rain that extend away
from the circulation center. These are
associated with very heavy rain and stronger
winds than areas on either side of the band.
Hurricane Categories
|
CAT.
|
WIND
SPEED (MPH)
|
BAROMETRIC
PREASURE |
DAMAGE
|
STORM SURGE
|
|
1
|
74 – 95
|
28.94 - 29.53 mb
|
Minor
|
4 – 5 ft
|
|
2
|
96 – 110
|
28.50 - 28.91 mb
|
Moderate
|
6 – 8 ft
|
|
3
|
111 – 130
|
27.91 - 28.47 mb
|
Major
|
9 – 12 ft
|
|
4
|
131 – 155
|
27.17 - 27.88 mb
|
Severe
|
13 – 18 ft
|
|
5
|
OVER 155
|
Below 27.17 mb
|
Catastrophic
|
Over 18 ft
|
Tracking a Hurricane
When a storm
threatens your area,
National Weather Service
advisories are issued at six hour intervals - 12:00 am,
6:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 6:00 pm. These advisories are
broadcast by the National Weather Service on weather
radios on 162.55MHz. Inexpensive radios can be purchased
at local retailers. These reports are numbered
consecutively for each storm and describe the present
position, projected movement and intensity. Updated
bulletins are often issued between regular advisories.
When you receive an advisory, note its number, the
storm's position, intensity, and direction.
Position will be given by latitude and longitude
numbers. The storm is located as far west in latitude
number given, and as far north as the longitude number
given. West Hempstead is located at latitude 40-45
degrees longitude 73 degrees. Pay more attention to the
direction the storm is moving and where it has been.
Hurricanes can change course and direction quickly.
Are
You Prepared?
Many things that we take for
granted on a daily basis can and usually are rendered
inoperative after a hurricane hits. Electricity,
telephones, drinking water, air conditioning, life
support equipment, cell phone, pagers can and have been
rendered unusable after a hurricane. The loss of these
services can last for as little as a few hours to
several weeks. When a
hurricane watch
is issued (usually 24-36 hours in advance) you should
prepare by taking the following steps.
-
Have a
10 day supply of batteries for a portable radio
in order to receive emergency information as
well as flashlights for each person in the
house.
-
Store drinking water in
jugs and bottles. One gallon of water per person
per five days. Fill your bathtub for washing and
cleaning purposes only.
-
Have 2 coolers. One with food
and one with ice.
-
Have a two week supply of
prescription medication.
-
Have extra cash on hand.
-
A full first aid kit and a
working fire extinguisher.
-
Infant supplies, formula,
medicine, diapers,etc
-
A non electrical can opener.
-
Toilet
paper, paper towels, towelettes.
-
Turn
the refrigerator and freezer to its highest
setting.
-
Have a ten day supply of
nonperishable food.
-
Make sure your car has a full
tank of gas.
-
Board up windows with
plywood. Tape will not prevent a window from
breaking.
-
Secure outdoor objects that
might blow away. This includes garbage cans,
outdoor furniture and grills.
-
Store propane tanks which are
used for barbecuing in a secure location outside
your house. The risk of fire is too great if
they go inside.
-
Make arrangements for the
elderly and others who depend on electric for
their life support devices by calling LIPA prior
to a hurricane at 1-800-490-0025
-
Pets are not allowed in
public shelters. Contact your veterinarian
for more information on how to shelter your pet.
-
Develop an emergency
communication plan for keeping in contact. This
is especially important for parents whose
children could be in school.
-
Ask an out-of-state relative
or friend to serve as the "family contact" for
everyone to call. Make sure every member
of your family has their telephone number with
them.
-
If you have a basement, lift
things as high off the floor as possible to
reduce damage in case of flooding.
-
Automobiles should be stored
in your garage away from falling limbs and
flying debris, but remember that with the
possible loss of electricity you may not be able
to open your garage door if it is operated by an
electric door opener. Many electric openers have
manual releases.
-
If you are operating a
portable generator, DO NOT do so it in a
confined space like your garage or in your home
where there is improper ventilation.
-
DO NOT store fuel in your
home.
-
Clear
loose & clogged gutters and downspouts.
-
Keep trees and shrubbery
trimmed of dead branches.
-
Place all valuables and
important records in a waterproof container and
store in the safest place in your home.
When a
hurricane warning
is issued (usually 24 hours in advance) all
preparations should have already been completed.
During
and After the Storm
-
Do not use telephones unless
you have an emergency.
-
Avoid all downed utility
lines. Assume all lines have live electricity.
-
Do not sight-see. Stay out of
disaster areas. Your presence could interfere
with emergency operations. Only trained
essential personnel (police, auxiliary police,
firefighters and utilities personnel) should be
in the effected area.
-
Do not drive unless you
absolutely must. Many roads may have become
impassable, and you could become stranded.
-
Monitor local radio and
television broadcasts for updated emergency
instructions.
Please remember that during a
disaster all emergency service agencies are out
throughout the community protecting life and
property. Depending on the severity of your request
you may not see an immediate response. All requests
are prioritized based on severity
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