Hi
everybody and welcome. Last week I started talking about some of the
preparations you need to do with the startup of hurricane season right around
the corner. This week I will mention some of the things that should be done
when a hurricane watch is issued. Before I get to that, one important thing
that should be done immediately is to plan out your safe room. This is the area
you will go to when the height of a severe hurricane is near to passing over
your location. This room should either be a small bathroom or closet which is
located in the center part of your home. The room should have no windows or
skylights. In the event of a storm this safe space will offer the most
protection possible from damage that might occur to your home during a storm.
In fact, it was the use of these locations that helped keep the death toll so
low in hurricane Andrew. Many people huddled in small closets and bathrooms
during the height of the storm with portable radios and emergency supplies. You
should have a mattress or pillows available to protect you in case of flying
debris. Be sure to have a battery radio and a NOAA weather radio with you so
you can stay informed on the storms progress. It is important to stay in your
small shelter until the “all clear” signal is given.
So, a
hurricane watch has been issued for your area, what does this mean for me? A
hurricane watch is issued by the Tropical Prediction Center when hurricane
force winds of 74 mph or higher are possible in the specified area
usually within 36 hours. During a hurricane watch, prepare to take immediate
action in the event a hurricane warning is issued. Here is a basic plan of
action you should take in the event a watch is issued.
1.
Check often for official information and weather
broadcasts. Listen to TV, radio or NOAA weather radio for the latest news on
the storm. As the storm gets closer to making landfall, the updates will come
in more often.
2.
Be sure to get a full tank of gas in your car. Remember
that in the event of a power outage that pumping gas will not be possible. It
is also wise to have a full tank just in case you have to leave quickly. In the
event of an evacuation everybody will be waiting in the gas lines.
3.
If you live in a mobile home, check your tie-downs and
secure or reinforce if necessary.
4.
If you own a boat, be sure the craft is secured as much
as possible. You might want to consider moving your boat inland or putting it
in dry-dock.
5.
Stock up on canned and non-perishable food. To avoid long
waits in line and the possibility of canned food shortages, it is a good idea
to have your hurricane shopping done at the beginning of the season.
6.
Be sure you have ample amounts of any medicine or
prescription drugs you might have to take.
7.
Make sure you have plenty of the proper size batteries
you need to operate your portable devices. Remember, your portable radio or TV
may be the only link to the outside world you might have. If cell phone towers
are damaged, you may not be able to phone out.
8.
Be sure to properly secure or bring in your lawn
furniture and other loose objects that might become projectiles in the event of
strong tropical winds.
9.
This is a very important step. Be sure you
protect all windows and openings in your home. Use either designated storm
shutters or plywood. It is best to get the plywood now and pre-cut the pieces
to make life a lot simpler if the inevitable happens. Always be ahead of the
game. Reinforce your garage door either with a metal brace designed for that
purpose or at the least with strong 2 by 4’s
10.
If you have sliding glass doors, wedge them down to
minimize the possibility of them coming off their tracks in high winds.
11.
Be sure to have plenty of fresh water. You should try
to have at least a weeks supply in case you are in an area that encounters
severe devastation. Remember to stock up at the beginning of the season and
simply rotate the water bottles as you drink them to insure a fresh supply.
12.
One more thing often forgotten but worth mentioning is
stocking up on insect repellent. Remember that if your home sustains damage or
the power is off, you will not have AC. You might be subject to the elements
and insect repellent will be an absolute necessity.
If, in fact you have taken these
steps and more, you should be ready in case the dreaded hurricane warning is
issued. Next week I will cover what to do in the event of a hurricane warning.
May 30, l962 -- Afternoon -- Pasco Co., New Port Richey -- Lightning
killed a person on the beach.
May 30, l963 -- Afternoon -- St. Lucie Co., Fort Pierce -- Lightning
killed a person.
May 30, 1994 -- Nassau Co., American Beach -- Strong onshore winds
produced Rip Currents that drowned five persons during a festival on Amelia
Island. Eight other persons were hospitalized after near drowning in rip
currents at American and Main Beaches.
30 1996 1930 - Indian River Co., Sebastian - A 20 passenger airplane at
the Sebastian Airport was overturned and destroyed by thunderstorm winds.
May 31, 1973 -- Desoto Co. -- A small tornado touched down east of
Arcadia blowing a trailer on top of a car with people in both - injuring three.
A nearby house was destroyed.
May 31, 1991 -- morning to afternoon -- central Florida -- Severe
Thunderstorms struck eight counties. Hail from nickel up to golf ball size was
reported in Pinellas, Putnam, Citrus, Marion, and Brevard Counties. The largest
hail was in Putnam Co. where it broke windows and tree limbs. Severe
thunderstorm winds were reported in Sumter, Citrus, Marion, Levy, Alachua and
Putnam Counties. Winds destroyed a carport and blew down trees and power lines
in Sumter Co. and many trees and power lines were blown down in the other
counties. A firefighter was injured by lightning at Largo in Pinellas County.
June 1, l981 -- Duval Co. -- Strong thunderstorms moved through the
Jacksonville area with heavy rain that caused street flooding, intense
lightning that caused power outages, and gusty winds that downed some trees.
June 2, l974 -- St. Johns Co., St. Augustine -- Lightning killed a l3
year old boy as he fished on a dam.
June 2, 1996 -- Dade Co., Miami Beach -- A 15-year-old male drowned in a
rip current at an unguarded stretch of beach.
Winds were from the east at 20 mph.
3 l972 - l030 - Brevard Co., Rockledge - Lightning killed a l3 year old
girl standing on a stack of wet papers. Three other kids were injured. They had
been collecting papers for a church project.
June 3, 1982 -- Afternoon -- Evening -- South Florida -- Alberto was
a minimal hurricane west of the Keys for about six hours on the 3rd, before
gradually dissipating off the southwest coast on the 6th. Maximum winds
observed at a land station were 70 mph at Dry Tortugas at l800 on the 3rd, with
the center less than 20 miles from the island. Key West measured 6.25 inches of
rain during the 24 hours ending at l200 on the 4th. Two tornadoes occurred in
the lower Keys, producing the only damage from the storm. The lower Keys were
the only parts of Florida directly affected by Alberto.
June 3-5, 1995 -- North and West Central Florida -- Hurricane Allison
formed in the northwest Caribbean Sea on June 3rd and moved north through the
eastern Gulf of Mexico, weakening to tropical storm strength before crossing
the coast at St. Teresa in the Florida Big Bend area at 0900 on the 5th.
At landfall, maximum sustained winds were 69 mph with a minimum central
pressure of 990 MB. Maximum rainfall amounts were between 4 and 6 inches. Storm
surge heights were estimated at 6 to 8 feet from Dixie through Wakulla counties.
Damage was greatest in the coastal sections of Levy, Dixie, Taylor and Wakulla
counties, mainly from storm surge effects, with 60 homes and businesses
damaged. About 5000 people evacuated from the coast. Most beach erosion was
minor, except locally heavy in Pinellas county, with damage to sea walls and
coastal roadways.
Several small boats were sunk. Four confirmed tornadoes, associated with outer
rain bands, touched down in Polk, Duval and Nassau counties. Otherwise, minor
wind damage to roofs, signs, power lines and trees occurred over north Florida.
Total storm damage in Florida was estimated at $860,000.
June 2-6, 1968 -- Peninsula and Keys -- Abby moved northward between
the Dry Tortugas and Key West on the 3rd, with maximum sustained winds of barely
hurricane force. Although winds of gale force were observed in the Keys for 26
hours, maximum sustained winds were only about 45 mph and highest tides at Key
West were less than one foot above normal. One death indirectly caused by the
storm occurred at Key West when a year old girl wandered away from her
grandmother and drowned in a pool of rainwater. Abby made landfall as a
tropical storm near Punta Gorda after weakening rapidly on the morning of June
4. Maximum sustained winds along the southwest coast were about 25 mph with
peak gusts near 40 mph. Abby continued northeast toward Titusville with winds
to 45 mph in gusts. After moving off the east coast late in the afternoon of
the 4th, she looped southward to the Vero Beach area before moving north-northwestwards
along the east coast on June 6, crossing into Georgia that night. Abby
intensified off the east coast, but did not regain hurricane intensity. Maximum
sustained winds in exposed coastal sections were about 40 to 55 mph with gusts
to about 70 mph. Wind speeds dropped off a short distance inland to 30 to 40
mph with gusts to 55 mph. Highest tides were two to 3 feet above normal. Damage
along the coast from Brevard County northward consisted mostly of broken tree
limbs, downed small trees, signs, and power lines; some beach erosion, and
minor rainfall flooding. Most of the damage was in the Titusville-Cocoa area
where storm rainfall measured about l4 inches at some stations.
June 5, 1995 -- morning -- Taylor Co., Apalachee Bay -- Hurricane
Allison became the earliest hurricane on record to cross the Florida coast when
it came ashore in Taylor Co. just
barely at hurricane strength. Minor storm surge flooding was reported along the
eastern shoreline of Apalachee Bay. Minor wind damage was reported in northwest
Florida.
That’s all for this weeks Time Capsule. I hope you enjoyed it. I love to
hear from you! Please e-mail me your ideas and suggestions to JOESDISCOWEATHER@AOL.COM. As always,
for the latest in severe weather updates and now winter weather updates from
your hometown go to JOESDISCOWEATHERCENTRAL.COM! You can also join me for a
free cup of coffee and a free copy of The Hometown News at the Stuart K Mart
garden center every Saturday morning!