[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY K WOL!" Hurricane Awareness Workbook At QC 144 m T293h 1985 0 Louis 0. Giuffrida Director urricane wareness own 00, Federal Emergency Management Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce ATTENTION HURRICANE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN PLANNER. No atmospheric disturbance combines duration, size, and violence more destructively than a hurricane. Driving winds, torrential rain, and lethal storm surges combine to threaten coastal and inland communities each year. The public must be appropriately warned and adequately prepared to survive these storms. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has developed a Hurricane Awareness Workbook to help you educate and prepare people living in the nation's coastal regions. The Hurricane Awareness Workbook provides information from innovative projects throughout the country. A RESOURCES section contains names of people and organizations with experience in conducting hurricane awareness campaigns. Also included in this section are a monograph highlighting the successful efforts of various state and local governments and business and industry in innovative hurricane awareness/education programs, a bibliography, and a planning guidebook. A MEDIA chapter contains background information on hurricanes as well as sample radio scripts and newspaper articles that can be adapted for local use. Sample MATERIALS FOR THE PUBLIC are also included in the Workbook--brochures, newspaper supplements, tracking charts. While most of the materials in this package are available in limited bulk quantities, we encourage a self-help approach at the local level. You should include key representatives of community organizations, emergency service officials, weather forecasters, and police, fire, and rescue personnel in your efforts. Members of the local media are also vital resources to a successful campaign. Daily and weekly newspapers, television and radio stations are important communications vehicles--necessary elements in preparing your community for a hurricane. Involve local business and industry in your campaign activities; they are excellent sources of support for producing and distributing vital safety information. Also, check with neighboring communities and counties on their activities in hurricane awareness. Combining the resources in a region can save both money and time. The FEMA Office of Public Affairs is willing to aid you in your program. If you wish to discuss specific problems, you can call or write us or your FEMA regional office. Good luck in your campaign. 0_0 A IN AN A H Hurricane Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Section A RESOURCES People and Organizations A-1 Bibliography A-7 Perspectives on Hurricane Preparedness A-11 Hazard Awareness Guidebook: Planning for What Comes Naturally A-61 Section B MEDIA Devastating Facts About Hurricanes B-1 Sample Radio Scripts B-5 Sample Newspaper Article B-15 "Did You Know" Cartoons B-25 Section C MATERIALS FOR THE PUBLIC Hurricane Safety Tips C-1 Survival in a Hurricane (English) C-3 Disaster Driving C-5 Storm Surge and Hurricane Safety (with North Atlantic Tracking Chart) C-7 Hurricane Tracking Chart (Atlantic) C-11 Pacific Hurricane Tracking Chart C-13 Naming Hurricanes C-15 Hurricane-Floods (safety tips for coastal and inland flooding) C-17 Flood - Are You Protected ... ? C-19 In the Event of a Flood C-21 Owlie Skywarn's Weather Book C-23 Hurricane Safety Rules and Storm Surge Poster C-51 Hurricane Probabilities Fact Sheet C-53 Key Terms C-55 Sample Information from Communities and Organizations C-59 Order Forms C-103 I I Air I I I Resources I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I People and Organizations I I I I I I I I I I I I Hurrincane Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce RESOURCES People and Organizations General Information Federal Emergency Management Agency Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20472 (202) 646-4600 FEMA Region I Maine, Vermont, New Public Information: Ken Horak Hampshire, Massachusetts, 442 J.W. McCormack POCH Connecticut, Rhode Island Boston, Massachusetts 02109 (617) 223-4741 FEMA Region II New York, New Jersey, Public Information: Marianne Jackson Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico 26 Federal Plaza, Room 1349 New York, New York 10007 (212) 264-8980 FEMA Region III Pennsylvania, Delaware, Public Information: Hugh Laine Maryland, West Virginia, Liberty Square Building, 2nd floor Washington, D.C., 105 South Seventh Street Virginia Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106 (215) 597-9416 FEMA Region IV Kentucky, North Carolina, Public Information: Jack Glover South Carolina, Tennessee, 1371 Peachtree Street, N.W. Mississippi, Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia 31792 Florida (404) 881-2400 FEMA Region V Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, 300 S. Wacker Drive Michigan, Illinois, Indiana 24th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60606 (312) 353-8661 AM- A-1 RESOURCES People and Organizations General Information FEMA Region VI Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Public Information: Mike Brooks Oklahoma, New Mexico Federal Regional Center, Room 206 800 North Loop, 288 Denton, Texas 76201 (817) 387-5811 FEMA Region VII Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Public Information: Tim Seidel Kansas 911 Walnut Street, Room 300 Kansas City, Missouri 64106 (816) 374-5912 FEMA Region VIII Montana, North Dakota, Public Information: Marvin Davis South Dakota, Wyoming, Denver Federal Center, Bldg. 710 Utah, Colorado Box 25267 Denver, Colorado 80225-0267 (303) 235-4900 FEMA Region IX California, Arizona, Public Information: Verne Paule Nevada, Hawaii Presidio of San Francisco, Bldg. 105 San Francisco, California 94129 (415) 556-8794 FEMA Region X Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Public Information: Phil Cogan Alaska Federal Regional Center 130 228th Street, S.W. Bothell, Washington 9QO21-9796 (206) 481-8800 A-2 Hurri"can Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce RESOURCES People and Organizations General Information National Weather Service Foremost Insurance Company National Oceanic and Atmospheric 5800 Foremost Drive, S.E. Administration P.O. Box 2450 Dick Wood, W/CMllxl, Room 1326 Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501 8060 13th Street (616) 942-3000 Silver Spring, Maryland 20901 (301) 427-8090 Insurance Information Institute Texas Subscriber Office Marty Di5hop Suite 3200 Dade County Civil DErense 100 Interregional Highway 5600 S.W. 87th Avenue Austin, Texas 78701 Miami, Florida 33173 (512) 476-7025 (305) 596-8700 American Insurance Association University of North Carolina 85 John Street Sea Grant College Program New York, New York 10038 Box 8605 (212) 669-0400 Raleigh, North Carolina 27695 (919) 737-2454 Guy Daines Pinellas County Dept. of Civil Warren Levy Emergency Services Insurance Information Institute 15250 Spadco Drive, Route 4 110 William Street Clearwater, Florida 33520 New York, New York 10038 Education Howard A. Friedman Hurricane Research Division Atlantic Oceanographic and Meterological Laboratory 4301 Rickenbacker Causeway Miami, Florida 33149 (305) 361-4400 (Commercial) 350-1400 (FTS) A*- e A-3 RESOURCES People and Organizations GainiDQ Private Support Janice Drewing John Derr Monroe County Civil Defense Charlotte County Disaster 310 Fleming Street Preparedness Key West, Florida 33040 118 W. Olympia Avenue (305) 294-9581 Punta Gorda, Florida 33950 (813) 639-4092 Ms. Betty Wagner Mary Wiser Office of Public Affairs Tampa Bay Regional Planning Houston Lighting and Power Company Council P.O. Box 1700 9455 Koger Boulevard Houston, Texas 77001 St. Petersburg, Florida 33702 (713) 229-7595 Community/Regional Participation Coastal Area Planning and Hawaii State Civil Defense Development Commission 3949 Diamond Head Road P.O. Box 1917 Honolulu, Hawaii 96816 Brunswick, Georgia 31521 (808) 734-2161 (912) 264-7363 Ms. Madhu Beriwal Paul Connick, Director Hurricane Study Manager Jefferson Parish Civil Defense Louisiana Office of Emergency 1887 Ames Boulevard Preparedness Marrero, Louisiana 70073 P.O. Box 66536 (504) 340-8671 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70896 (504) 342-5470 A-4 Hurricane Awareness Federal Emergencey Management Agency/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Department of Commerce RESOURCES People and Organization Broadcast Techniques Chuck Wolf News Director KIKK Radio 6306 Gulfton Houston, Texas 77081 (713) 981-9600 Public Response Dr. Jay Baker Dr. T. Michael Carter Department of Geography National Weather Service Florida State University 8060 13th Street Tallahasseel Florida 32306 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 (904) 644-1865 A-5 I I I I I I Bibliography I I I I I I I I I I I I I urricanerr wareness Federal Emergency Management Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce BIBLIOGRAPHY Books & Research Reports Anderson, L. 0. and Smith, Walton R. Houses Can Resist Hurricanes. Madison, WI: Forest Products Laboratory, August 1965. Baker, Earl J., ed. Hurricanes and Coastal Storms: Awareness, Evacuation and Mitigation: R-e`p-or-FT3. Gainesville: Florida bea Grant College, 1980. Baker, Earl J., et al. The Social Impact of Hurricane Eloise on Panama City, Florida. Gainesville: Florida Sea Grant College, 1976. Brown, Billye Walker and Brown, Walter R. Hurricanes & Tornadoes. Addison- Wesley, 1972. Carter, T. Michael. Probability of Hurricane/Tropical Storm Conditions: A User's Guide for Local Decision Makers. NOAA, June 1983. Coastal Area Planning and Development Commission. Series of booklets on Hurricane Awareness: Action Guidelines for the Elderly; Action Guidelines for School Children; Action Guidelines for HotelA4otel Operators; and Action Guidelines for Local Goverrrnent Employees/ Officials. 1982. Available from the Commission, P.O. Box 1917, Brunswick, Georgia 31521. Collier, C. A. Construction Guidelines to Minimize Hurricane Damage to Shore Area Homes. Tallahassee: Florida Department of Natural Resources, November 1976. Friedman, D. G. Assessing Hurricane Impact on Human Settlments. Hartford, CT: Travelers Insurance Company, 1981. Harris, D. Lee. The Prediction of Hurricane Storm Surges: A State of the Art Survey. Gainesville: Flordia Sea Grant lege, 1982. Henry, Walter K., et al. Hurricanes on the Texas Coast. Texas ASM University, July 1975. McElyea, William D., et al. Before the Storm: Managing Development to Reduce Hurricane Damages. Chapel Hill, NC: Center for Urban and Re-g-ir-onal Studies, September 1981. Ruch, Carlton E., and Christensen, Larry B. Hurricane Message Enharcement. Texas ASM University, 1981. Simpson and Riehl. The Hurricane and Its Impacts. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University-,-M =. A' A A-7 BIBLIOGRAPHY Periodicals Baker, Earl J. "Predicting Response to Hurricane Warnings: A Re-analysis of Data from Studies-" Mass Emergencies 4 (1979): 2-24 Barbera, Terry J. "Hurricane Iwa - An Eyewitness Account." Building Standards, March 1983, pp. 11-12. Calonius, L. Erik. "Hurricane Experts Say the State of Their Art Can't Avert A Disaster." Wall Street Journal October 14, 1983, p. 1. Chang, Semoon. "Disasters and Fiscal Policy: Hurricane Import on Municipal Revenue." 'Urban Affairs Quarterly, June 1983, pp. 511-523. Cowen, R.C. "Open Season on Hurricanes." Technology Review, June 1980, pp. 8-9. "False Sense of Security on Part of General Public Hampers Hurricane Warnings." Commerce Today, July 21, 1975, p. 15. Hartman, L. M., et al. "Effects of Hurricane Storms on Agriculture." Water Resources Research, June 1969. "Help is Needed to Repair Damage Left by Hirricanes.11 Business America, March 24, 19800 p. 31. "How to Prepare for the Hurricane Season." Security Management, September 1980, p. 147. "Hurricane Danger Survey." American Meteorological Society Bulletin, September 1978, pp. 1183--11-84. "Hurricane Expert Dr. Neil Frank*Issues an Ominous Storm Warning for Millions of Americans." People Magazine, August 29, 19832 pp. 87-88. "It's 7hat Time of Year Again." The Sentinel, Second Quarter, 1984, pp. 81 10. Knotts, David. "Storm Warningt How to Weather a Hurricane." Survive., March 1984, pp. 380 43-45$ 72. Lewin, R. "Predators and Hurricanes Change Ecology." Science, August 19, 1983, pp. 737-740. National Geographic Society. "HUrricanet" National Geographic, September 1980, pp. 346-379. A-8 Hurrican Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce BIBLIOGRAPHY Periodicals "Potential Hurricane Threat." American Meteorological Society Bulletin, June 1979, pp. 694-695. Starr, Mark and Shapiro, Daniel. "Hurricane Alicia Hits Texas." Newsweek, August 29, 1983, pp. 22, 25. "Technical Conference on Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology, 14th, San Diego, CA, June 7-11.11 American Meteorological Society Bulletin, January 1982, pp. 105-113. Texas ASM University. "Hurricane Watch ... Hurricane Warning: Why Don't People Listen?" Marine Advisory Bulletin May 1980. Townsend, R. Marvin. "Hirricanes: Tracking Many But-Knowing Few." Public Management, January 1981, pp. 2-4. Walker, Barry. "Technology Takes on the Hurricane." Insurance Review, September 1984, pp. 28-34. AM- WN e A-9 I I I I I Perspectives on Hurricane I Preparedness I a monograph I I I I I I I I I I I I Introduction "We have a very serious hurricane problem ... primarily a human one." Dr. Neil Frank National Hurricane Center August 9, 1984 Experts estimate that 80 percent of the more than 40 million people who live in coastal areas along the Atlantic seaboard and the Gulf Coast have never experienced a major hurricane. Without adequate emergency planning, warning, mitigation, and public awareness programs, we could be headed toward a major hurricane disaster. Public awareness activities are vital in fighting "hurricane-aware-less-ness" and in raising the level of citizen preparedness to deal with these violent storms. This monograph highlights the successful efforts of various state and local governments, and business and industry in innovative hurricane awareness/education programs. Stories focus on awareness techniques, public response, instructional programs, and private sector and community involvement in hurricane preparedness planning and awareness efforts that can be replicated or adapted by others. A-11 Table of Contents Using Broadcast Communication Techniques When You Vacation ... Take a Weather Forecaster Along ................... 3 Using Weather Information for Emergency Management in a Small Coastal Community .................................................. 5 EBS/PIES Communications System Goes on the Air in Texas .................. 7 Instructional Programs to Encourage Family Involvement Teaching Preparedness: "Before the Hurricane Strikes" ..................... 11 Educational Program Encourages Students to Seek Hurricane Precautions ......................................................... 13 Getting and Using Private Industry and Volunteer Support Elevation Markers Remind Residents of Hurricane Danger ................... 17 Local Businesses Underwrite Awareness Effort ............................. 19 Public Information Plan Key to Utility's Response to Hurricane Alicia .............................................................. 21 Red Cross and Union Partnership: Local Unions Assist in Coastline Disaster Project ............................................ 23 Leveraging Community/Regional Participation Hurricane Preparedness: "The Georgia Plan" .............................. o 29 Improving Regional Cooperation: The Southeast Louisiana Hurricane Study ............ o .... o................. o ............. o ... 31 Hawaii's Hurricane Week Campaign Spurs Interest in Preparedness ....................................... o ..... o .......... 33 Measuring Public RS?2Lm to Shape Your Pr2Eam Hurricane Watch ... Hurricane Warning--Why Don't People Listen? ........... 37 Public Response to Hurricane Alicia: Probabilities and People of Galveston .................................. o ............ o.o ...... 43 Using New Technology Hurricane Surge Models: A Primer ..................................... o 47 A-13 I I I I Using Broadcast I Communication Techniques I I I I I I I I I I I I I A-15 I When You Vacation . . . Take a Weather Forecaster Along by Robert M. Tibi Meteorologist in Charge National Weather Service Office Parkersburg, West Virginia Think how much better your vacation National Weather Service warnings can would be if you could plan your daily be especially critical to people camping in activities based on the latest weather mountainous areas prone to flash flooding, forecast available. More important, think or to boaters who might be caught on the how much safer it would be if you had water when a severe thunderstorm moves access to weather watches, warnings, and across the area. special weather advisories when severe conditions threaten. NOAA Weather Radio, "The Yoice of the National Weather Service," is a service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and provides continuous broadcasts of the latest weather information directly from local National Weather Service offices. It's a service that virtually allows travel- ers to take a weather forecaster with them wherever they go, to constantly ad- vise them of weather conditions and to alert them of possible weather hazards on the horizon. Most NOAA Weather Radio stations operate 24 hours daily, giving information tailored to the needs of people within the receiving area. For example, stations along the sea coasts and Great Lakes pro- vide specialized weather information for boaters, fishermen, and others involved in marine activities, as well as the usual air- ing of general weather information. The stations repeat taped weather messages every four to six minutes, revis- ing the information every one to three hours, or more frequently as needed. During spells of severe weather, National Weather Service personnel can interrupt the routine weather broadcast and substitute special warning messages. A-17 They can also activate specially designed standard AM/FM frequencies plus the warning receivers. 11weather band" as an added feature. These wa rning receivers either sound an The National Weather Service operates alarm indicating that an emergency exists over 370 stations, making up-to-date or, when operated in a muted mode, are weather information available to approxi - automatically turned on so the warning mately 90 percent of the nation within message is heard. This can be especially listening range (approximately a 40-mile useful to travelers who have not had the radius of the transmitter) of a NOAA opportunity to hear a local forecast. Weather Radio broadcast. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts are Contact your nearest National Weather made on one of seven high-band FM fre- Service office for more information on quencies from 162.55 megahertz (MHz)-- NOAA Weather Radio, or write to frequencies not found on the average National Weather Service, National home or automobile radio now in use. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, However, a number of radio manufactur- Silver Spring, MD 20910. ers offer special weather radios to operate on these frequencies, with or without the NOAA Weather Radio could enhance emergency warning alarm. These radios your vacation and possibly save your life are relatively inexpensive, ranging in price during severe weather. So why don't you f rom $20 to $50. Also, there are now take a weather forecaster along when you many radios on the market that offer travel this year? Reprinted by permission from AAA WoLld copyright 1984. j A-18 Using Weather Information For Emergency Management in a Small Coastal Community by Jerry D. Hill Emergency Management Coordinator Taylor Lake Village, TX Emergency management coordinators in circuits are available. The limited small coastal communities where hurri- seasonal use of such equipment sometimes canes are an annual threat may wish to makes it difficult to justify installation in consider some new and innovative sources a small community where financial of weather information this year. When a resources are limited. storm is threatening, there can be no sub- stitute for timely, detailed information Many small municipalities use micro- from the National Weather Service (NWS). computers that can be used to access this Now, some alternatives are available for information during the hurricane season. obtaining this information. Since most of these computers are port- able, it is easy to move one to the EOC As a hurricane approaches land, weather when a hurricane develops. radars are extremely valuable--not only for tracking the eye of the storm but also The private vendors of the weather for showing the bands of heavy rain and information obtain the advisories upon squalls. Direct connection to the NWS release by NWS and have them available radar can be made in an Emergency Oper- for display or print-out for your use. ations Center (EOC), but these hook-ups Acquiring information in this way is are expensive and require some type of dependent on having telephone service and permanent arrangement. An alternative power, but these services are usually reli- source of weather radar information is able in the period when a storm is now available on many community cable approaching and important evacuation television systems. These systems usually decisions must be made. allocate one of the channels to show the display from the NWS radar; often the In addition to having the current hurri- NOAA weather radio broadcast is placed on the audio portion. Sometimes, the cane advisories, data vendors offer a franchisee in a community is willing to selection of other weather information. install a gratuitous drop in the local EOC This includes hourly weather reports from for use when a storm emergency exists. airport stations giving wind direction, wind speed, rainfall intensities, accumu- When NWS issues its regular advisories, lated rainfall, and other valuable it is often desirable to have a printed copy inf ormation. of the full text, including the new proba- bility data. Also, the marine advisory-- The cost of hurricane advisories and with data on the radius of gale force other weather information via computer is winds, wave heights, and the forecast usually nominal because hardware is storm track--is valuable, However, much already available for use in most commu- of this information is presented in sum- nities. Typically, you can expect to spend mary form by NOAA Weather Radio. The about $100 on data for a particular storm full text can be obtained only if a tele- unless it stays for an unusual number of printer and appropriate communications days. A-19 For more information about these to compute the direction of movement and weather data vendors and services forward speed of a storm in addition to available, ask your local National Weather displaying a map showing its track. Most Service contact for a list of companies. computer software catalogs list sources of these programs. New computer software programs are available that use the storm coordinates A-20 EBS/PIES Communications System Goes on the Air in Texas When Hurricane Alicia hit the Texas impressed the Federal Communications coast on August 18, 1983, the community Commission that it could become a model of Baytown was among the hardest hit. for other cities nationwide and along the Located in the storm's path 45 miles Gulf Coast. northwest of Galveston on Galveston Bay, more than 500 Baytown homes were The system uses a special radio fre- flooded and 100 people had to be rescued quency (161.64 MHz) to link all of the from the rising waters. Miraculously, no participating Emergency Operations Cen- one in the city of 60,000 was killed or ters (EOCs) in Houston's 41 suburban cities even injured. Ask Baytown Emergency with the more than 60 media outlets Management and Preparedness Coordina- (radio, TV, newspaper, wire services, etc.) tor Fletcher Hickerson what saved in the metropolitan area. PIES receivers Baytown and he will answer you with two have already been installed at most of words: Luck, and PIES. these media outlets, and transmitters have been operational in the Houston/Harris The Public Information Emergency Sys- County and Baytown EOCs since 1982. tem (PIES) is a new radio communications network that is now operational and being The system proved to be crucial when expanded in the Houston/Galveston area. Baytown's local radio station lost its tower PIES is the first such disaster network of in 100 mph winds around 2 A.M. on the day its kind in the entire country, and has so Hurricane Alicia hit. A Houston radio A-21 station picked up the information Hicker- PIES would allow faster correction to all son was broadcasting on PIES and relayed news outlets. it back to Baytown residents. Instead of trying to communicate by Instant information proved to be the key telephone lines (which often become busy in surviving Alicia, because the storm kept or go dead because of high winds, flooding changing. As Hickerson got new informa- or overloaded phone circuits), each city tion from the National Weather Service, and county EOC would communicate by he broadcast it over PIES, along with the radio on the same frequency. This means latest tide and wind readings. they would also be able to communicate with each other and coordinate their "In spite of everything, we had people activities. They would be aware of a caught by the waters. We came through nearby town's evacuation, for example, because of the good information we were that could cause traffic problems for able to get out. No one was even injured-- them. because we had PIES, in our opinion," John Caswell, Emergency Coordinator Hickerson said. for the City of Houston and Harris Since Alicia, the PIES network has been County, calls PIES "the most valuable expanding in Texas. When completed, asset enabling us to get information to the broadcast band two-way radios will be in- public more expediently during a disaster." stalled in each of the Emergency Opera- It was Caswell who pioneered the idea in tions Centers in the five-county Houston 1979, when he purchased monitors for metropolitan area, so that mayors, county media outlets in the Houston area. judges, and civil defense officials will Not long after the Houston system have direct radio contact to primary and became operational, Chuck Wolf, news secondary Emergency Broadcast System director for KIKK Radio-Houston, became (EBS) stations, as well as other news interested in expanding PIES areawide and media outlets. took the lead in developing the Houston During an area disaster such as a hurri- Area Emergency Broadcast System/PIES Plan, which has been approved by the Fed- cane, Houston's primary and secondary eral Communications Commission. Wolf EBS stations act as EBS/PIES Net Control reports that the FCC is very interested in Stations, coordinating a series of "round expanding the system to other areas of the robin" city-by-city, county-by-county country. He believes the EBS/PIES could reports, with break-in capability for any be an asset in many major metropolitan emergency update. With these reports areas where there are a large number of coming directly from each city or county media outlets. "With PIES, one message EOC, the information should be more reli- goe Is out to everybody at the same time, able, timely, and would be shared equally and everyone gets reliable information," with all the news media, which could dis- he said. seminate the same accurate information to the public. This would minimize the For more information on the EBS/PIES, possibilities of being misquoted, sensa- technical specifications, costs, and licens- tionalized, or in conflict with other ing procedures, contact Chuck Wolf at reports. If a mistake is made, the EBS/ KIKK Radio-Houston, (713) 981-9600. Developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the cooperation of KIKK Radio-Houston, Baytown Emergency Management and Houston/Harris County Civil Def ense. A-22 I I I I I Instructional Programs to Encourage Family Involvement I I I I I I I I I I I I I A-23 I Teaching Preparedness: "Before the Hurricane Strikes" The past 30 years have been marked by A hurricane safety checklist was a demographic 5hift that hd5 moved mil- devised to aid students in developing their lions of people into coattal 7ones own family hurricane prvl2arcdnc53 plans vulnera6le to hurricane wind.5 and flood3, The checklist, which is in the form of % Many of these new coastal residents bring 118ickotornous key," requires each 5tudent with them little or no experience or know- to make two yes/no decisions. When this is ledge of the destructive potential of. completed, the student is guided into a hurricanes. planning process. Each planning phase begins with a statement outlining the po- John Sanders of Sanders Scientific tential risk that the student and his family Enterprises in Marina, California, has might face if a hurricane threatens. The developed an approach to improving public student then uses the checklist as a guide awareness of the hurricane hazard based in preparing a family hurricane prepared- on fundamentals of how people learn and ness plan. remember. While with the University of North Carolina Sea Grant College The concept of the checklist and family Program, Sanders put together an instruc- plan was initially tested with 40 eighth- tional package for schools. The kit, grade members of the Pamlico Junior High entitled "Before the Hurricane Strikes," School Science Club in Bayboro, North includes an 18-minute videotape and a Carolina, during the 1982-83 school year. teacher's guide with selected hurricane To complete the exercise, students con- readings and suggestions for a variety of sulted with parents, teachers, and local educational activities and exercises. officials, including the County Emergency Management Coordinator and the Soil In developing the educational program Conservation Officer. Thirty-seven of the in North Carolina, Sanders considered the students traveled to Raleigh and slept on following features to be important: cots at Wake County Red Cross Head- quarters, as they would if a hurricane � Simplicity: Any material developed forced evacuation of Pamlico County. for the public should be easy to The trip was the subject of several stories comprehend and apply. in newspapers and on television and radio. One cable TV station later produced a � Learning about the physical pro- special based on the project, while the cesses of the hurricane should take state's largest newspaper used it as a lead place. for a story on hurricane preparedness. � People should become familiar with Dick Simmons was director of Pamlico appropriate preparedness measures. County Emergency Management when the junior high school undertook the hurricane � People should be able to retain and project. "So many people in rural areas recall his knowledge with accuracy like Pamlico County say, 'we're not going at a later time. to get hit.' But when their kids' come A-25 home with knowledge about wind speeds Sanders observed that bringing families' and tide surge, they begin to realize what into the discussion has an additional bene- they need to do," he said. Simmons parti- fit. "People with pre-existing notions of cipated in a workshop with the students on how they would deal with a hurricane County hurricane evacuation plans. In respond more effectively when a hurricane fact, as a result of working with Sanders hits," he said. and the Pamlico Junior High School pro- ject, he decided to revise the county's Through his research, Sanders has found hurricane evacuation plan because it left that parents will take the time to answer unclear the point at which evacuation a child's questions about the checklist and would be ordered. to help make decisions about important elements of the family hurricane pre- While completing the hurricane safety paredness plan. "About 80 percent of the checklist is a relatively simple task, the students who take home the assignment exercise is valuable because the students complete the plan with the help of their not only take a look at the checklist, but parents," Sanders indicated. also involve their parents in the process. "One student learned for the first time The core of the educational package is that his grandparents' house had been an 18-minute videotape that uses newsreel destroyed during the 1933 hurricane and footage and interviews with an emergency his father was carried from the house on official and a survivor of Hurricane Hazel his bed by the storm-induced tide," in 1954 to illustrate the destructive force Sanders said. "These things had never of a hurricane and to put the devastation been discussed until the son brought home in human terms. The kit, which also the assignment to complete the family includes the teacher's guide, is available hurricane preparedness plan." for purchase or rental from the Educa- tional Media Center, 2318 D.H. Hill Library, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27650. Developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the cooperation of John Sanders, Sanders Scientific Enterprises, Marina, California. A-26 Educational Program Encourages Students to Seek Hurricane Precautions A rate of growth equal to about seven landfalling hurricane is but one objective times the national average has resulted in of the program. Increased hurricane "hurricane-aware-less-ness" for 80 percent awareness is expected to encourage an of South Florida's population. This growth informed citizenry to participate in cer- rate, with the burgeoning of capital devel- tain precautionary local, state, and opments along South Florida's hurricane- national governmental processes. Such vulnerable coasts and past coastal processes, for example, would be limiting mismanagement practices, has stimulated the development of coastal and ecologi- the development of a two-phase instruc- cally sensitive storm -vulnerable areas; tional model designed to create an strict enforcement of building codes, awareness of the area's hurricane problem. zoning, and setback requirements; and the The model-identified by the acronym provision of local facilities for disaster CALM, for Cognitive and Affective prevention and public safety. Learning Model--has been developed by The cognitive phase of the CALM model meteorologist Howard A. Friedman of the uses a simple computer-assisted instruc- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- tional technique to guide each student istration's Atlantic Oceanographic and through a series of learning units about Meteorological Laboratory Hurricane hurricanes as a geophysical phenomenon, Research Division, where it is undergoing proof -of -concept testing. and about precautionary public policies that can be adopted to mitigate the effects of future storms. However, the Improvement of the public's ability to self -paced program can be easily adapted respond to a call for action to survive a for use without a computer. A-27 Friedman uses actual newspaper editor- classes. Friedman explains that the ials, news stories, and radio and TV tapes CALM model looks at the hurricane from that trace the efforts of groups of local a number of different perspectives. A citizens who are fighting to limit social studies teacher could use the pro- development of storm -vulnerable areas. gram as a bridge to demonstrate how local This "current events" material illustrates disaster preparedness decisions are made, steps that can be taken to protect areas or to explore interrelationships between from hurricane-associated dangers before local, State, and Federal governments. An the threat is imminent. English teacher could use the same exer- cise to look at the role of the journalist, Once students demonstrate mastery of and to fashion strategies for effective the material in the cognitive phase of the communications. A psychology class instructional model, they are ready to might focus on how people react in a crisis progress to the affective phase, which and discuss how they can be encouraged to explores the dynamics of the social and take a threat seriously, and to take appro- political processes at work when a com- priate actions without panicking. And munity faces the prospect of a landfalling finally, the science teacher could use hurricane. Here, students assume the this geophysical event--a hurricane--as a roles of some of the main actors in such a window on science, mathematics, and drama: the mayor; emergency manage- technology. ment coordinator; police chief; a business While the material is written for use in leader or hotel/tourism industry represen- tative; and a member of the media, to South Florida communities, local infor- name a few. mation could be substituted for use in other areas. If proven to be an effective During the simulation, they are pre- teaching tool, Friedman said the CALM sented with a realistic hurricane scenario model may eventually be adapted for use and asked to react according to their in awareness programs for other natural perception of how the person whose role and manmade hazards. Right now, the they are playing would act, given the program is still being tested by NOAA, information at hand. After the exercise, a and Friedman is working on a guidebook to teacher helps students process the infor- accompany the instructional package. mation they have gleaned through "We want to enhance not only aware- participation in the simulation. Friedman ness, but we want students to think about says that one common misconception can things and participate in decisionmaking be cleared up right away: "Students processes that can have a real impact on generally think that once a storm is th6ir routine way of life," Friedman said. detected, people first begin to make plans. The idea is that students will bring home Most students are unaware of the long- new information about the hurricane range planning that precedes the hurricane danger and, with their parents, develop season, and that hurricane plans are their own family hurricane action plans. already in place," Friedman explains. That concept is central, Friedman says, because research in the behavioral and The CALM model is intended for use social sciences indicates that people are primarily with students in secondary more likely to follow decisions they help schools and above, and not just in science to formulate. Developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the cooperation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Hurricane Research Laboratory. A-28 I I I I Getting and Using I Private Industry and Volunteer Support I I I I I I I I I I I I I A-29 I Elevation Markers Re mind Residents of Hurricane Danger Residents of Key West, Florida, are hurricane season, they place a newspaper reminded daily of how vulnerable to article cautioning residents about the hurricanes their neighborhoods are, thanks hurricane threat and alerting them to the to a simple, inexpensive, and effective elevations posted throughout the city. It awareness tool developed by the Key West is one way to get people thinking about Planning and Restoration Commission. what they need to do when a hurricane Using data collected for a sewer project, strikes. the city stenciled highly visible elevation markers on utility poles at about 90 "It's an excellent tool," Drewing said. intersections throughout Key West. The "People see the markers every day, so markers show the elevation in feet above they are constantly reminded of the mean sea level in the eye of the standard hurricane danger." hurricane symbol. "By making people aware of how low their neighborhoods are, they know that in a hurricane they may have to relocate into the center of town, if not out of the county," explained Janice Drewing of Monroe County Civil Defense. Drewing coordinated the project a little over two years ago, when she was Key West's city planner. "I thought it was an important thing to do, especially because some areas of town are extremely low, just four feet above mean sea level," Drewing said. The cost of the project was minimal because elevations had already been shot for a sewer project, and because Drewing was able to enlist the help of an engineer with Sea Grant funding at the University of Florida. He verified the elevations and prepared a map. The 478th Civil Affairs Company, U.S. Army, did the actual stenciling of the markers on utility poles. Key West and Monroe County Civil Defense use the markers as a focal point in hurricane awareness campaigns. For instance, at the beginning of each Developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the cooperation of Janice Drewing, Monroe County Civil Defense, Key West, Florida. A-31 Local Businesses Underwrite Awareness Effort When the Board of Commissioners The Office of Disaster Preparedness turned down a request for $3,900 to print uses elevation maps supplied by the 77,500 evacuation maps for Charlotte Southwest Florida Regional Planning County (Florida), Disaster Preparedness Commission that utilize SLOSH (Sea, Coordinator John Derr had to look Lake, and Overland Surge from Hurri- elsewhere for support. He did, and the canes) data to identify vulnerable areas in project ended up costing the county the event of storms of various intensities. absolutely nothing. Major roads and local landmarks are added to the maps by an artist paid by the County, as are the locations of evacuee Derr knocked on a lot of doors and staging areas and Red Cross operated eventually f ound 20 Punta Gorda shelters. This year, even the artist's fee businesses willing to invest between $50 was paid for with advertising revenues. and $500 in exchange for advertising space in two corners of the attractive four-color Each participating business agrees to maps. "We thought it would be a good print a certain number of maps with only community service project," explains Don its own advertising on them. The 20 spon- Witter, president of First Federal Savings soring businesses this year agreed to print and Loan. The bank contributed $500 to between 500 and 10,000 maps each, for print 10,000 maps bearing its logo, and the total of 77,500--enough to supply each makes them available to patrons in each Punta Gorda household with a copy for of its four branches. "Hurricanes are each of the next two years. After that, something everyone thinks about here, and the Office of Disaster Preparedness will a real concern every June through update data and begin another reprinting September," Witter said. He added that campaign. supporting the map project has made bank employees more aware of the hurricane The maps are distributed by participat- danger. "We like to track the storms that ing businesses and are also available in may become a threat," he said. One side public buildings and libraries. The local of the llxl4-inch map provides a grid for Chamber of Commerce lends support to plotting movement along the Atlantic the project by mailing out maps to its Coast. 1,000 members. Developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the cooperation of Charlotte County Disaster Preparedness, Florida. A-32 Public Information Plan Key in Utility's Response to Hurricane Alicia it was Monday, August 15, when Seven hundred and fifty thousand cus- Alicia--the first named tropical storm of lomers lost electrical service--more than the 1983 Atlantic hurricane season-- the total number of customers HL&P had formed in the north-central Gulf of when Hurricane Carla struck in 1961. All Mexico. power to Galveston Island was lost. Six hundred miles of line--the distance lilt's kind of like a gorilla with a between Houston and Birmingham --were M achine gun. It goes where it wants to," blown to the ground. said the meteorologist in charge of the weather service for the Houston area. Service was restored to over 80 percent of customers within four days, and to all The slow-moving Alicia finally made up affected customers in 16 days. its mind and came ashore about I a.m., Thursday, August 18, at San Luis Pass, Maintaining the flow of information to with winds of up to 135 mph. It proceeded customers, federal, state, and city offi- northward on a path of destruction that cials was a major responsibility. The left approximately three-quarters of a company provided daily updates of million Houston Lighting & Power (HL&P) restoration progress to the Public Utility customers without power. Commission of Texas and the mayor of Houston. Company officials also con- When the fury of Alicia had passed, it tacted the Department of Energy's Office was painfully obvious that the hurricane of Energy Emergency Operations in had caused the greatest damage to HL&P's Washington the day after Alicia struck to electric system in the company's 102-year apprise them of the status of HL&P's sys- history. tem. Public Affairs personnel worked A-33 around the clock making sure that critical Public Affairs personnel also assisted information was made available to news news media representatives in providing media as it came into the company's information on downed wires. Passengers Emergency Evaluation Center. who found themselves in cars with lines down on them were advised on how to Public Affairs' storm preparations is leave the vehicle safely. renewed at the start of hurricane season each year by updating large wall maps in Customers trimming trees were advised the media center and by installing storm to stay clear of power lines. In recently phones with direct lines to service cen- restored areas, customers were reminded ters. Communications to news media not to drop trimmed limbs on power lines were distributed by Western Union TWX as lest the service be lost again. One news- well as by telephone and direct delivery. paper declined to name an individual who Special storm telephone numbers were accidently caused his subdivision to lose also given to news media outlets at the power in this way due to fear for his per- onset of the storm. As a result, communi- sonal safety if his neighbors found out. cation was never a problem. News media interviews were also Besides providing damage and repair arranged with work crews and company updates throughout the days and nights officials. Rumors were quelled and ques- before and after the storm, Public Affairs tions were answered. Frauds were worked to make sure that particularly reported. For example, as tree trimming important messages got priority. All news crews worked through a neighborhood, a media, particularly radio stations, gave man went ahead of the crews to collect a excellent cooperation in relaying current fee for their services. With news media information out to customers. help, customers were quickly advised that the company was seeking no fees and that For example, a serious safety concern the police should be notified if someone for linemen and customers from portable sought to collect for HL&P's tree trim- generators was publicized. If these ming work. machines are wired directly into a home's electrical system, current can flow back Over 500 calls were received from news through the HL&P wires, with trans- media outlets seeking information--some formers boosting the voltage to dangerous from as far away as England--and a large levels. Effective communication was number of calls were initiated to local needed to warn customers of this hazard. news media. Thirty-nine storm damage and restoration progress reports were distributed by the department during storm repair efforts. Excerpted from "The Alicia Story: How Houston Lighting & Power Company responded to Hurricane Alicia," August 1983, by Houston Lighting & Power. Used by permission. A-34 Red Cross and Union Partnership: Local Unions Assist in Coastline Disaster Project by W. M. Lawbaugh Editor, The Ironworker Hurricanes . . . a fire . . . f looding . . . saved if the Red Cross could have hit the earthquake . . . explosions . . . a tornado. disaster scene running. For more than a century, whenever However, in some Gulf and Atlantic disaster strikes, we have counted on the regions, local trade union halls are now American Red Cross to come into the stricken area to coordinate evacuation, ready to serve as administrative disaster emergency health care, and temporary headquarters, thanks to a remarkable housing and f ood, and to mobilize partnership between organized labor and community and volunteer relief services. the American Red Cross. The story of this partnership has been called "the best Typically, during a major disaster, the project the labor movement has ever been American Red Cross can send in 200 to involved in" and yet another example of 500 paid staff and volunteers to set up and the community-minded spirit of union coordinate emergency services. But if we members who often are either volunteers depend so much on the Red Cross in a in Red Cross rescue and emergency disaster, who can the Red Cross depend on efforts, or, sadly, victims of a hurricane, to make their vital disaster services easier tornado, flood, or fire. and more efficient? "We hope this union hall is never to be used as a Red Cross emergency center," Human lives and property are in the says one local union official, "but if disas- balance during a disaster. In the past, the ter strikes, we're ready." American Red Cross would dispatch those 200 to 500 experts to a disaster area with Fifty local unions are now equipped and nowhere specific to go. First, they would ready to turn their hall keys over to the have to f ind a place for crisis American Red Cross with a minute's administrative control. Of ten such notice, from Lake Charles, Louisiana, to facilities would have to be repaired on the Norfolk, Virginia--more than 2,000 miles spot. Then emergency vehicles and of coastline. equipment would have to be located and moved in, including generators if the Now, when disaster strikes anywhere power were out. Finally, a reliable along the Gulf or South Atlantic Coasts, communication system would have to be the American Red Cross has a place to go, installed, including telephones (and now with the Coastline Disaster Project. In satellite systems), to receive and place the halls, telephones drop from the ceil- calls for more help to specific stricken ings; there may be an emergency areas. generator out back; and plenty of room for parking and emergency work. Instead of All this set-up and coordination could several days for mobilization and set-up, take several days, even a week. Precious these facilities are ready for emergency time is lost as the disaster claims more operation in less than half a day. This lives and property which could have been unique partnership between organized A-35 labor and the American Red Cross did not the past, knew and appreciated the just spring up overnight or automatically. American Red Cross. The story actually begins during Hurricane Frederick, September 1979, in Mobile, The local union halls selected had to be Alabama. on high ground but near an airport and motels. Some had to be pre-wired, Death, destruction, injury, and home- altered, and equipped with emergency lessness surrounded the scene as the Red telephones and diesel emergency genera- Cross scrounged around Mobile for an tors. Generators and communications administrative center to coordinate emer- equipment were donated by Southern Bell, gency services. They had to find a South Central Bell, General Telephone of shelter, telephones, and a generator Florida, United Telephone Service, and before staff and volunteers had something Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone. they could call a headquarters. It was the Installing and retrofitting, as well as same story 78 years ago when an earth- building insulated sheds for the genera- quake and fires killed 600 people and tors, were performed by volunteer union leveled 30,000 buildings in San Francisco. construction workers. Ditto a few years later when a hurricane whipped through Tampa. Ditto virtually The 50 local unions involved agreed to every year since: when disaster strikes, turn their meeting halls over to the the American Red Cross often has no- American Red Cross during a disaster, where to go to set up an emergency often lasting up to two months until the administrative headquarters. emergency administrative headquarters is shut down. Unions so far involved in the In Mobile, Chuck Johnson got to think- Coastline Disaster Project are the IBEW ing: Can we ever be ready to go during a Electrical Workers, Communications disaster? Johnson is Director of Labor Workers, Steelworkers, Longshoremen, Participation for Regions 3 and 4 of the Tobacco Workers, Government Employees, Eastern Operation Headquarters of the Bricklayers, Carpenters, Plumbers, Oper- American Red Cross and National AFL- ating Engineers, Auto Workers, Boiler- CIO Community Services Liaison. The makers, Textile Workers, Machinists, Boy Scout motto ate away in Johnson's Paperworkers, and Ironworkers. mind over and over until 1981, the centen- nial anniversary year for both the AFL- Cooperation continues between the Red CIO and the American Red Cross. Then Cross and strategic local unions to extend he met with Ralph Barlow, disaster di- the Coastline Disaster Project from Texas rector for the Red Cross in the Southeast, to Maine, and eventually out west and and outlined a plan whereby local union inland. After all, similar Red Cross disas- halls would be retrofitted and equipped to ter relief centers are needed in Utah for serve as emergency administrative head- mudslides, in Missouri for floods, and quarters all up and down the Atlantic and elsewhere for explosions, fires, tornadoes, Gulf. earthquakes, and potential nuclear acci- dents. But with the hurricane season Barlow, now deceased, was enthused by approaching, the Gulf and South Atlantic the idea--Coastline Disaster Project--and coastlines are better prepared as a result immediately Johnson began contacting of this partnership between organized state f ederations and central labor labor and the American Red Cross. councils for the best locations of union meeting halls for prospective Red Cross So far, in the two-year development of disaster relief centers. In spite of the Coastline Disaster Project, only three recession, declining membership, and tight union halls have been used by the Red finances, without exception the response Cross, and one was in Jackson, Mississippi, of organized labor was generous, last year during that region's second worst cooperative, and enthusiastic. After all, flood on record. The worst was in 1978, union members, as volunteers or victims in and the Red Cross had to scramble for A-36 several lays to set up an administrative Chuck Johnson f inds nothing but headquarters. cooperation and good will from state federations and central bodies of the AFL- Last year, however, Red Cross officials CIO for the Coastline Disaster Project. flew into Jackson, drove to a CWA local The quiet, generous work of 50 local union hall on high ground, cranked up the unions, until now, has gone unheralded, emergency generator, and dropped all the hardly noticed--but greatly appreciated by necessary telephones out of the ceiling Jackson, Mississippi, and presumably thes. In an unprecedented 30 minutes, the wherever disaster strikes next. Red Cross had an emergency administra- tive headquarters from which staff and volunteers could begin mobilizing rescue efforts and coordinating all the thousand- Ironworkers Take the Lead in and-one details of a disaster operation. Coastline Project "Unless you've been through something Three Ironworker local unions were li ke this," says Jackson Mayor Dale Danks, among the first to sign over their facili- "you don't know how comforting it is to ties to the American Red Cross for see people, maybe strangers from out of emergency headquarters under the Coast- town, who care about you and your line Disaster Project. community." He applauds the unions, phone companies, and Red Cross for the In the event of a major disaster, Iron- Coastline Disaster Project. worker halls in Savannah, Charleston, and Norfolk are ready to go for the coordina- So far, the value of the Coastline tion and administration of Red Cross Disaster Project tops $10 million in disaster relief services. These halls were equipment, machinery, and manpower, selected for their location in disaster- every cent of it donated and voluntary. prone areas, convenience to airports, As such, the partnership strengthens the accessibility to lodging, and relative ties between the American Red Cross and safety such as high ground during flooding. AFL-CIO unions, but more importantly, the 50 retrofitted local union halls dotted Local 601 in North Charleston, South all along the Gulf and Atlantic provide Carolina, was selected, for example, faster emergency services meeting human because of its location. The Coastline needs during a disaster. Disaster Project facility is not located in Myrtle Beach because it would be under Today, Chuck Johnson and Lucious Webb water if a major hurricane hit. are running up and down the East Coast trying to get more local union halls Coastline Disaster Project coordinator retrofitted for emergency Red Cross use Chuck Johnson first approaches the State as the hurricane season approaches. AFL-CIO federation and then the appro- Running interference for them, especially priate AFL-CIO central labor council. In in right-to-work (for less) states, is E.T. the case of Local 79 in Norfolk, Virginia "Al" Kehrer, southern director for the shares a meeting hall with the central AFL-CIO Civil Rights Department. You'd labor council on the highest hill around. be surprised to find pockets of resistance During a flood, the local Red Cross to what the Southern Field Office chapter and the blood center would both Advisory Council of Red Cross calls "a be underwater. truly remarkable example of responsible citizenship on the part of organized labor" Local 709 headquarters in Savannah, in the Coastline Disaster Project. Georgia, is a back-up to the main Coast- line Disaster Project facility operated by Nevertheless, while commercial media the Boilermakers, which could suffer continue to hammer away at the AFL-CIO extensive damage during a severe disaster. as a "special interest" of "labor bosses," In that case, Local 709 would become the A-37 administrative disaster headquarters from has been endorsed by top Red Cross and which the Red Cross would operate. AFL-CIO officials who are now encourag- ing nationwide cooperation between the "Ironworkers have been among my top two organizations in order to expand the supporters," Johnson said in an interview project to every major hit area in the recently. His Coastline Disaster Project nation. Reprinted by permission from The Ironworker magazine. A-38 I I I I Leveraging Community/ I Regional Participation I I I I I I I I I I I I I A-39 I Hurricane Preparedness: "The Georgia Plan" Nearly 350,000 people reside on or near Planning he 111-mile stretch of Georgia coast- line--a coastline affected by one out of A unique element of the plan is the every seven hurricanes in the Atlantic designation and participation of inland or region. In 1980, Georgia's Coastal Area "host" counties. In addition to the six Planning and Development Commission coastal counties designated as evacuation (CAPDC) began studying the needs of areas, 23 host counties participated in local governments in disaster preparedness planning and preparedness efforts. Uni- planning. The study resulted in a model form plans were developed for reception storm preparedness program that is both and care of evacuees in host areas, with comprehensive and innovative. routes mapped, shelters identified, and emergency personnel designated for both What began as a prototype storm pro- response and recovery phases. Evacuation gram funded under FEMA's Comprehensive planning began with a telephone survey of Cooperative Agreement was continued households in the designated evacuation through successful local initiatives. Fed- areas. Survey results indicated that the eral funding totaled $133,000 and was least likely residents to evacuate were awarded to the CAPDC in 1981-82. those with the longest period of residency. Money to continue the project was Obviously, an effective public informa- obtained through a voluntary tax of 50 tion/education program was needed, as cents per capita in the 29 coastal and host well as a reliable network to inform resi- counties involved. dents of the dangers of "riding out" a storm. The key to the success of "The Georgia Plan" is found in this introductory state- Public Education ment to the Storm Preparedness Guide developed by the CAPDC and published Public education efforts began with the last April: "A storm preparedness identification of target audiences--local program is more than just a set of docu- ments containing response procedures. It is an ongoing, coordinated effort to prepare the general public for emergency situations. It is also an effort to prepare responsible public and private agencies and groups that direct, control, and support operations in emergency situations. In short, it is the difference between having a written plan and active planning." Fully implemented in the coastal Georgia area by 1983, the program incor- porates several critical elements: the ntergovernmental coordination process guided development of the overall pro- i gram followed by the development of major functional areas including planning, public education, and mapping. A-41 government employees/of f icials, the Mapping elderly, school children, hotel/motel operators, and marina/boat operators. Perhaps the most time-consuming Then a series of formal action guidelines aspect of developing the storm prepared- were prepared and distributed. Each ness program was the mapping procedure. guideline provides preparedness and safety Two types of maps were developed: information designed for a specific target Emergency Operation Center maps to be group. An ongoing educational program, used by civil defense and other emergency including seminars and other "hands-on" managers and simple maps for use by the public contacts, was initiated and made an general public. Maps outlining evacuation important part of the public information routes, shelter locations, and other perti- program. nent information were published in local CAPDC staff also worked with the local phone books. news media to ensure a uniform program "The Georgia Plan" illustrates how of communication and warning for the regional planning agencies can be an general public. In cooperation with the effective mechanism to help groups and National Weather Service, a five-phase agencies coordinate their emergency pre- storm condi tion/preparedness/ response paredness planning efforts. The Georgia activity was put into operation. Beginning experience also shows how a little "crea- with "Condition 5,11 which identifies the tive financing" can go a long way at the development of a tropical storm disturb- locallevel. ance, the public is made aware of the various stages of hurricane development. Information about "The Georgia Plan" At "Condition I" (a declaration that a hur- can be obtained from: The Coastal Area ricane will probably strike an area of the Planning and Development Commission, Georgia coast within 12 hours), a full- P.O. Box 1917, Brunswick, Georgia 31521. f ledged emergency is declared and hurricane response plans are implemented. Developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the cooperation of the Coastal Area Planning and Development Commission, Brunswick, Georgia. A-4 2 Improving Regional Cooperation: The Southeast Louisiana Hurricane Study The Jefferson Parish Office of Civil them to read it when they have a chance," Defense has put together a tabloid telling explained Hurricane Study Program Man- residents how to prepare for a hurricane, ager Madhu Beriwal of the Louisiana OEP. with help from the Louisiana Office of This time, the individual parishes -are Emergency Preparedness (OEP), local working together with the state and with elected officials, meteorologists from the each other on virtually every aspect of a National Weather Service, public utilities, coordinated hurricane survival study and and local businesses. Jefferson Parish's plan for the area. hurricane preparedness tabloid will even- tually be adapted for use by eight other The hurricane study relies on SLOSH parishes in the New Orleans area that are (Sea, Lake, and Overland Surge f rorn Hur- part of the Southeast Louisiana Hurricane ricanes), a sophisticated computer Study. It is one example of the resource- simulation model available through the sharing and cooperation that have grown National Hurricane Center, to facilitate out of this two-year-old hurricane study evacuation planning. The State OEP has and preparedness planning project, which provided the parishes with SLOSH data involves the Louisiana OEP and the par- showing the rise and fall of surge levels ishes (or counties) of Jefferson, St. and wind speeds for 12 different hurricane Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John scenarios. The SLOSH model makes it the Baptist, St. Tammany, Lafourche, possible to show tide surge differentials in Plaquemines, and Orleans. minute detail and in areas as small as one- quarter square mile. "Usually the state produces a massive report with hazard analysis on a broad The parishes use the SLOSH data to scale, throws it at the parishes, and tells develop evacuation zone maps and to A-4 3 determine evacuation routes and time- nected with their overall goal of frames for the 12 hurricane scenarios. coordinating emergency response efforts Each parish also updates data on shelters and developing generic plans for all haz- and community facilities at risk, and iden- ards. The group is negotiating with an tif ies households requiring special airborne traffic monitoring company that assistance. To aid in evacuation planning, provides daily traffic reports to radio sta- the State OEP coordinated a behavioral tions. They are planning an aerial study with the parishes in which people monitoring and reporting system with ties responded to questionnaires about what to the Emergency Broadcast System to aid they had done and would do during a hur- traffic flow during evacuations. The nine ricane. parishes have also agreed in principle to work with the University of New Orleans Improving regional cooperation has been on development of course materials on a special challenge in the New Orleans emergency management issues. area effort, where the nine parishes in- volved are autonomous political juris- Because of their close economic and dictions, each with its own form of local social ties, geographic situation, and mu- government. Jefferson Parish Civil De- tual interests, the nine parishes present fense Director Paul Connick says that the an ideal subject for a comprehensive civil defense directors in a few of the emergency management project. In parishes had met together to discuss August 1983, FEMA Region VI, the common problems before the State OEP Louisiana Office of Emergency Prepared- organized the Southeast Louisiana Hurri- ness, and the nine parishes agreed to build cane Study, but that the study has upon the foundation laid by their partici- broadened and solidified regional rela- pation in the Southeast Hurricane Study. tionships. "We know each other and we The hurricane study forms the nucleus of a know each other's politics," Connick project enlarged to include all hazards and explained. a wider scope of activities, and is designed to use Integrated Emergency Management All nine parishes in the area now parti- System (IEMS) concepts and methods to cipate in regular regional meetings and improve the region's overall emergency are working on a number of projects con- management systems. Developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the cooperation of the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association, Jefferson Parish Civil Defense, and the State of Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness. A-4A Hawaii's Hurricane Week Campaign Spurs Interest in Preparedness The Hawaii experience is another from the Governor declaring Hurricane example of how it often takes a disaster Week is not a newsworthy event unless it before people start to think seriously can be built around activities that will about preparedness. When Hawaii State include the public and the media," Kali Civil Defense (SCD) offered awareness explains. materials for its 1983 hurricane season campaign, public response trickled in. To publicize the week, SCD prepared Then came Iwa, the most damaging and distributed 80 press kits for the hurricane ever to enter Hawaiian waters. media, issued 25 press releases, 19 public Between November 19 and 25, 1982, service announcements (PSAs) for radio, Hurricane Iwa caused an estimated $234 and produced two PSAs for television with million damage to the Islands. the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO). As a result of the effort, newspapers pro- The storm also caused a surge of public vided a total of 1,601 column inches of interest in the hurricane hazard, reports publicity along with editorials in three Hawaii SCD Public Information Officer major newspapers. Marilyn Kali. The next time SCD promoted hurricane preparedness, there "Electronic media also generously sup- was an attentive audience for its ported the program, which is noteworthy message. Hawaii Hurricane Preparedness because Hawaii Hurricane Preparedness Week (July 17-23, 1983) was successful Week was not 'hard news' but more in the mainly because SCD sparked the interest line of a public service feature," Kali said and active participation of public in a summary of SCD's Hurricane Week officials, the private sector, news media, effort. Two of the three networks and Hawaii residents in a variety of attended a kick-off press conference and activities designed to increase awareness ran news features. Later in the week, and offer ideas for preparing for the next each ran a feature story on the "Hurricane Pacif ic hurricane. Guide" prepared by SCD. All three net- works covered Governor Ariyoshils tour of Sponsored jointly by state and county the NWS Forecast Office at Honolulu civil defense agencies and the National International Airport, where he received a Weather Service (NWS), the campaign was personal briefing from the meteorologist- kicked off by Governor George Ariyoshi, in-charge. who signed the Hawaii Hurricane Pre- paredness Week proclamation and urged Radio coverage included live and taped the public to become more aware of how interviews with civil defense and NWS to prepare for an eventual hurricane. staf f. Many radio stations also used the Kali pointed out that SCD had originally PSAs that SCD had provided. scheduled only one activity to mark 1983 Almost 500 people attended open houses Hurricane Preparedness Week--a Hurri- and took tours of the state and Oahu cane Conference sponsored by NWS, to Emergency Operating Centers and NWS which the general public was not invited. forecasting offices. More than 1,200 Instead, SCD decided to expand the scope people viewed a 20-minute slide show put of the week's events. "A proclarnation together by SCD and shown in public A-45 libraries and other locations throughout of survival kits in all exchanges and the state. distributed hurricane preparedness brochures. Perhaps the most dramatic measure of how much interest the hurricane pre- At SCD's request, Foodland printed paredness campaign generated was in the hurricane preparedness messages on gro- public demand for more information on cery bags and distributed 960,000 of them how to prepare themselves for a hurri- during July. cane. SCD produced a special edition of its newsletter, Civil Defense Report that included an eight-page insert, "Hurricane HECO promoted Hawaii Hurricane Pre- Guide for Hawaii Residents." Based on paredness Week in its "Consumer Lines" past demand for this type of publication, insert and on electric bills. HECO also SCD decided to print and distribute 2,000 produced a brochure, "Setting Up Your copies on a by-request basis. That wasn't Hurricane (and Power Outage) Survival nearly enough: at last count, Kali said, Kit," and received 1,620 individual more than 30,000 copies of the Hurricane requests. Guide had been distributed, and requests still come in. SCD also produced a brochure, "Hurri- cane Preparedness Inf ormation for Major retailers were invited to support Boaters," that was distributed by the State Hawaii Hurricane Preparedness Week Harbors Division to all registered boat through special promotions. Foodland, owners in the state, marinas, yacht clubs, Sears, Pay IN Save, A. L. Kilgo, and and boat dealers. Total distribution was Honsport purchased newspaper advertising 20,000 copies. Survival kits were featured during the week to advertise survival kits. on a bus poster developed by SCD and Kilgo's radio advertising featured hurri- printed by Oahu Civil Defense. The poster cane preparedness. The Army-Air Force was displayed on 600 Oahu buses from July Exchange Service set up special displays through October. Developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the cooperation of Hawaii State Civil Defense. A-46 I I I I I Measuring Public I Response to Shape Your Program I I I I I I I I I I I I A-47 I Hurricane Watch . . . Hurricane Warning- Why Don't People Listen? Why do some people respond to uniqueness of Galveston, all are applicable hurricane warnings while others do not? to any coastal area that could experience What specific types of information are a hurricane. most conducive to timely response? These questions were the focal point of a The experiments were grouped into five research study completed in the spring of subject areas: 1980 at Texas A&M University which tried to determine what motivates people to 1. Simulated hurricane variables; respond to hurricane warnings. 2. Consequences of exposure to hur- ricane fury via television; The researchers knew that many long- 3. Inf I uence of other residents, time residents have been conditioned to authority figures, and events; hurricane watches or warnings and no 4. Response as a function of media longer consider an approaching storm a presentation; and threat to safety until it often is too late 5. Response to fear, information, and to respond appropriately. Many other testimony in current hurricane residents are newcomers and have never material. experienced a hurricane. Subjects were selected at random from Psychological experiments were the local telephone directory and were conducted with residents of Galveston, Texas, an island 75 miles southeast of Houston that last experienced a major Ed. Note: This article first appeared in hurricane (Carla) in 1961. While some 1980. rricane Alicia hit Galveston in conclusions relate essentially to the August 1983. A-49 either interviewed in their homes or par- cant. Those interviewed seemed unable to ticipated in group experiments at distinguish adequately between the two, Galveston Community College or Texas even though definitions for each were A&M University at Galveston. given prior to the experiment. Twenty variations of a simulated hurri- It also may be significant that people do cane, Karen, were developed, and booklets not differentiate between Force Two, containing 28 weather bulletins and Three, Four or Five type of hurricanes.* advisories were prepared for each. Each They tend to group everything beyond bulletin or advisory was designed to Force One into a single category; this measure the influence of one aspect of the could impair sound judgments and correct storm --direction, movement speed, sta- responses. tionary status, wind speed, distance from Galveston, issuance of a watch,* issuance Consequences of Exposure to of a warning,** amount of anticipated Hurricane Fury Via Television storm surge, and an evacuation warning. The chief experiment in the second The study involved 381 people who were study involved 32 residents who were interviewed in their homes. For each evenly divided into control and experimen- bulletin or advisory, the subject was asked tal groups. Each group heard six tape- to choose a response ranging from "wait recorded items of hurricane information for further bulletins" to "evacuate on a developing storm and was asked to immediately" and to indicate his or her indicate its responses. The experimental perception of danger on a furnished scale. group then viewed a video tape of the most destructive scenes from several hur- Scoring was based on statistical ricane films, while the control group saw a probability. An item was considered film on other psychological experiments. statistically significant only if there was All 32 again were asked to respond to six less than a five percent probability that tape-recorded messages relating to a the pattern of scores could have occurred developing hurricane, and these responses by chance. were compared with the original six. Only two items, distance from Galves- There were more than three times the ton and evacuation warning, proved to be number of increased positive responses statistically significant. It should be among the group exposed to the hurricane noted that neither issuance of a "watch" fury videotape than among those who saw nor a "warning" were statistically signifi- the other film. The probability that such a response pattern occurred by chance was less than one in 100. It can be concluded that a more positive response to hurricane information does occur after examples of *Watch--The first alert when a hurricane hurricane fury are shown on television. poses a possible, but as yet uncertain, threat to a certain coastal area. Small craft advisories are issued as part of a Influence of Other Residents, hurricane watch advisory. Authority Figures, and Events **Warning--Notice that within 24 hours or Twenty-four people participated in the less a specified coastal area may be primary experiment in the third study, subject to (a) sustained winds of 74 mph or which was designed to determine the higher and/or (b) dangerously high water effect of outside influences on response. or a combination of dangerously high in one phase of the experiment, each water and exceptionally high waves, even though expected winds may be less than hurricane force. *See definitions at end of article. A-50 subject could see a master display panel Response to Fear, Information, and was told it indicated others' responses and Testimony in Current to hurricane information. Each individual Hurricane Material was led to believe that others were making more or less extreme responses Fifty-two persons were divided into four than his or her own. It was learned that groups of 13 to record their responses to the mere knowledge of others' actions was six items of pre-recorded information that insufficient to influence response patterns depicted a developing hurricane. Each signif icantl y. At the same time, it was group then received currently available discovered that a statement from an hurricane-related material, such as authority figure, such as a National television and radio spots and programs, Weather Service spokesman, did have a films, and printed material, and was asked significant positive effect on those with to rate its responses to each. Each group's no prior hurricane experience. There was material emphasized a different element a less significant effect in this regard for or theme. One group, for example, persons with prior hurricane experience, received material on the destructiveness but they were influenced more by of a hurricane which potentially would surrounding events such as plant closings. produce fear. Another received testi- This latter group probably was aware of monial-type material, such as an interview the actions taken by surrounding industrial with a survivor, and the third was given plants during previous storms, and the information-oriented material. The fourth people focused on these events as an group's material represented a combina- indication of the severity of the impending tion of the themes. hurricane. There was less than five percent probability that these results Following this, all 52 again responded to could have occurred by chance. six items of hurricane information. It was found that the combination approach had the greatest inf I uence on positive Response as a Function of responses. The -next most effective was Media Presentation fear. Information alone or testimony The fourth study involved radio and alone had little effect. There was less television presentations viewed by 30 than a one percent probability that the Galveston residents. The chief finding resulting differences occurred by chance. resulted from comparing two series of five specially prepared sequential television Conclusions presentations that related to development of a simulated hurricane. The two series These studies indicate that certain of presentations were identical, except things can be emphasized during hurricane that one used a point or dot to locate the awareness programs to increase respon- hurricane on a map and the other used a siveness during actual threatening condi- saw-like satellite representation to locate tions. the storm. The saw type normally is shaped like a circular-toothed saw blade, 1. People need to be told specifically covers a broader area of the map, and what they should do during a watch indicates more clearly the extensiveness and during a warning. of the hurricane. 2. People should be informed of the It was found that the saw-type video differences in severe hurricanes; representation led to a more positive they tend to perceive all hurricanes response pattern than the point or dot beyond Force One as "bad.it type because it indicates the magnitude of a hurricane more effectively. There was 3. People need to be informed about less than a three percent probability that the amount of tidal rise that will this response pattern could have occurred block evacuation. In Galveston, for by chance. example, only about one-fourth of A-51 those interviewed were aware of 4. Hurricane warnings and evacuation the small tidal rise needed to halt notices are more effective in egress. stimulating safety responses when there is a combination of fear, 4. People should be told how long it information, and testimony themes takes to evacuate. Again in in the media presentation. Galveston, nearly 30 percent of those interviewed believed the 5. Television exposure to the destruc- entire island could be evacuated tive consequences of previous within six hours while the most hurricanes also helps stimulate recent studies have indicated a maximum safety responses. This minimum of 12 hours. becomes particularly effective if the films are shown just before an When a threatening condition exists, evacuation notice is issued. there are several emphases that can be made, particularly by the mass media, to 6. This study found that the distance enhance a warning message's ability to of a hurricane from land and evacu- elicit maximum safety responses. ation notices were most effective in stimulating safety response 1. When the position of a hurricane is patterns. Consequently, the media indicated by television weather- should emphasize these in its hurri- casters, a saw-type satellite loca- cane messages. tion indicator conveys the massive- ness of the storm better than a 7. Media presentations should estab- point- or dot-type indication. lish the connection between hurri- canes and tornadoes. In Galveston, 2. Persons without hurricane exper- 72 percent of the residents indicat- ience are best motivated by ed they feared hurricane-spawned respected authority figures, such as tornadoes more than the hurricanes someone f rom the National themselves. Weather Service. 8. Special efforts should be made to 3. To motivate persons with hurricane make advisories, bulletins, and experience, emphasis should be local statements bilingual. In most placed on surrounding events, such areas, radio and television news as plant closings, which they use to presentations are only in English confirm the severity of the hurri- but many of the residents may be cane. Spanish-speaking or Oriental. A-52 Hurricane Categories* Force One--Winds of 74 to 95 miles per feet or less above sea level flooded eight hour. Damage primarily to shrubbery, miles inland or more. Evacuation of low- trees, foliage, unanchored mobile homes, lying residences within several blocks of and, possibly, poorly constructed signs. shoreline possibly required. OR--Storm surge four to five feet above normal. Low-lying coastal roads in- Force Four--Winds of 131 to 155 miles undated, minor pier damage, some small per hour. Shrubs and trees blown down, all craft in exposed anchorages torn from signs down. Extensive damage to roofs, moorings. windows, and doors. Complete destruction of mobile homes. OR--Storm surge 13 to Force Two--Winds of 96 to 110 miles 18 feet above normal. Flat terrain 10 feet per hour. Considerable damage to shrub- or less above sea level flooded as far as bery and tree foliage, some trees blown six miles inland. Major damage to lower down. Major damage to exposed mobile floors of structures near shore due to homes and poorly constructed signs. Some flooding and battering by waves and damage to roofs, windows, and doors. No floating debris. Low-lying escape routes major damage to buildings. OR--Storrn cut by rising water three to five hours surge six to eight feet above normal. before hurricane center arrives. Major Coastal roads and low-lying escape routes erosion of beaches. Massive evacuation of cut by rising water two to four hours all residences within 500 yards of shore before arrival of hurricane center. Con- possibly required, and of single-story siderable damagetopiers. Marinasflood- residences on low ground within two miles ed and small craft in unprotected of shore. anchorages torn from moorings. Evacua- tion of some shoreline residences and low- Force Five--Winds greater than 155 lying island areas required. miles per ho-ur. Shrubs and trees blown down, all signs down and complete Force Three--Winds of III to 130 miles destruction of mobile homes. Extensive per hour. Foliage torn from trees, large shattering of glass in windows and doors trees blown down. Practically all poorly and complete failure of roofs on many constructed signs blown down and mobile residences and industrial buildings. Small homes destroyed, Some damage to roofs, buildings overturned or blown away. OR-- windows, and doors and some structural Storm surge greater than 18 feet above damage to small buildings. OR--Storm normal. Major damage to lower floors of surge nine to 12 feet above normal. all structures less than 15 feet above sea Serious flooding at coast and many smaller level within 500 yards of shore. Low-lying structures near coast destroyed. Larger escape routes cut off by rising water three structures battered by waves and floating to five hours before hurricane center debris. Low-lying escape routes cut by arrives. Massive evacuation of low-lying rising water three to five hours before residential areas within five to 10 miles of hurricane center arrives. Flat terrain five shore possibly required. *Developed by Herbert Saffir, Dade County, Florida, consulting engineer, and Dr. Robert H. Simpson, former National Hurricane Center director. This is a summary of Sea Grant report TAMU-SG-80-202 entitled "Hurricane Message Enhancement." The full technical report is available for $5.00 from Marine Information Service, Sea Grant College Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843. Reprinted from Marine Advisory Bull@t@n, May 1980. A-53 Public Response in Hurricane Alicia: Probabilities and the People of Galveston by Dr. Jay Baker Environmental Hazards Center Florida State University Tallahassee, Florida At 5 p.m. CDT on Monday, August 15, someplace they believed to be safer, but 1983, the residents of Galveston, Texas, of those who left their homes, almost 40 were told that Hurricane Alicia had a 17 percent stayed on the Island. As in most percent chance of affecting their city hurricane evacuations, the plurality went within the next 72 hours or less and that to the hornes of friends or relatives (47 hurricane warnings might be posted for percent in this case). Most of the evacu- the Texas coast on the following day. This ees said they left in part due to advice marked the first time the public had ever from friends and relatives, the National been advised of the probability that a hur- Weather Service, or the media. Only five ricane or tropical storm would strike their percent specifically mentioned probabili- area. In the ensuing 60 hours before Hur- ties as being a reason for their decision. ricane Alicia eventually made landfall on Galveston Island, the public neither *The Immediate Response Project is disregarded the threat due to "low" funded through the Natural Hazards probabilities nor panicked. Public Research and Applications Information response to Alicia was pretty much the Center, Institute of Behavioral Science same as response has been to past hurri- canes without probabilities. Evacuation University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado. from high-risk areas was extensive and timely, and the citizenry generally evacu- ated upon the advice of public officials or failed to do so in its absence. Alicia did not, however, provide anacid test for public response to probabilities because the issuance of probabilities was discontinued before Alicia became a dangerous storm. The bulk of the popu- lation of Galveston was never told by public officials to evacuate, and when people were receiving probability messages, Alicia was not expected to be severe enough to pose a major threat to the safety of most Galveston residents. Why Did People Evacuate? Several weeks after Alicia struck Gal- veston, a telephone survey was conducted with approximately 200 randomly selected residents of the island.* Forty-four per- cent said they left their homes to go A-54 Why Did People Stay? from the media or private forecasters. Seventy-five percent felt the media pre- Those who stayed generally indicated sentations of the probabilities were clear, that they did so because they felt safe and another 20 percent felt they were where they were, or they wanted to stay pretty clear. Eighty-two percent said behind to protect their property from the they personally understood the probabili- storm or looters. No one mentioned low ties, and 15 percent said they understood probability val ues as a reason for them pretty well. Respondents had staying. When asked directly, 87 percent slightly less confidence in their friends' of the total sample said they heard no understandings, however. advice from public officials that they should leave, but about half said they heard advice from unofficial sources such Did Probabilities Affect as friends. Response Decisions? Sixty-eight percent said the probabili- Did People Hear or See the ties helped convince them that Alicia Probability Information? would hit their area; 15 percent said that initially the probabilities made them think Eighty-two percent of the respondents the storm wouldn't hit, but later numbers said they remembered hearing or seeing changed their mind; and two percent said probabilities, and about 85 percent of the probabilities made them think Alicia those indicated that they saw or heard wouldn't hit. The remainder either said probabilities for other locations as well as the odds figures had no effect on their Galveston. Probabilities were discon- belief one way or the other or they tinued 21 hours before landfall of the couldn't remember. Half the sample said storm and were never greater than 51 they would pay greater attention to the percent. About 80 percent of the numbers next time or place greater respondents, though, recalled hearing emphasis on them in deciding what to do. probabilities "just before" or "a few hours About hall felt they would deal with the before" landfall, and 42 percent remem- future probabilities in about the same way bered seeing probabilities higher than 60 they had with Alicia's. Ninety-six percent percent. These apparent inconsistencies said they believed probabilities are useful with the actual issuance of probabilities in response decisions, and only one percent could result from use of imprecise terms felt they weren't; three percent weren't ("just before"), memory lapses, recall of sure. old" probability information, or recall of erroneous information. Over 70 percent Overall, the public response to Alicia of the respondents correctly indicated was very good, and there is no evidence that Galveston's probabilities were higher that probabilities inhibited people from than at other places. evacuating. The high-risk areas of Galveston Island were advised to evacuate when Alicia's chance of hitting was only Where Did Probabilities Come From? 36 percent, and evacuation in those areas was almost total. Clearly, people believe Almost 80 percent said they received they understood the probabilities and think their probability information from tele- that they were useful. This study, in vision, and 54 percent indicated hearing conjuncton with previously existing the numbers on radio. Seventy percent evidence, indicates that the public can correctly believed that the probabilities comprehend probability information in the were being issued by the National Weather form it was disseminated in Alicia and Service, with the remainder simply not make reasonable use of it in their response knowing or thinking the numbers came decisions. A-55 I I I I I Using New Technology I I I I I I I I I I I I I A-57 I Hurricane Surge Models: A Primer As a hurricane approaches the shore, approach of all possible sizes, intensities, several factors combine to cause a rise in and shapes of hurricanes along all relevant sea level which can produce severe inun- tracks and at all possible speeds. The dation and great destruction. This is the simulations are also extremely valuable to "hurricane storm surge." The storm surge emergency preparedness efforts, because s a dome of water, perhaps 50 miles wide the data allow planners to develop evacua- and from four to 18 feet high, that sweeps tion maps and plans in much greater detail i across the coast near the point where the than has ever been possible. hurricane makes landfall. The storm surge is responsible for perhaps as many as 90 to Three major surge models are used in 95 percent of hurricane-related deaths. the United States: Through modern technology in computer e SLOSH (Sea, Lake, and Overland applications, historical hurricane surge Surge from Hurricanes), the newest information has been used to develop model developed by the National numerical surge models to calculate storm Weather Service (NWS); innundation. These models take into account the intensity of the storm and the SPLASH (Special Program to List unique topography of the bay, estuary, or the Amplitudes of Surges from Hur- coastline shelf to predict the storm surge ricanes), which is an earlier NWS at the most hurricane-prone sections of model; and our coastline. Using these models, mete- orologists and emergency planners can The FEMA Flood Insurance Storm now estimate the storm surge at a specific Surge Model, used for the FEMA coastal location by simulating the flood insurance program. A-59 SLOSH SPLASH The SLOSH model is used in basins that To obtain open coast surge height data have irregular coastlines and contain large for a relatively smooth coastline, the bays or estuaries such as in the New numerical storm surge prediction model Orleans area, Tampa Bay, and Galveston/ called SPLASH can be used. The SPLASH Houston. Five storm intensities on the model predicts the height and duration of Saffir/Simpson Scale are provided by the open coastline storm surge heights created SLOSH model. In addition to its intensity, by an approaching and landfalling hurri- any surge damage potential to a particular cane. It assumes a generally smooth area depends on several other factors, coastline and the absence of amplification including the track, size, and forward of the surge by a bay or estuary. With the speed of the hurricane; and the nature of SPLASH model, inland routing techniques the area's coastline. Each hypothetical are used to delineate the innundation hurricane simulated by SLOSH would con- areas. front an area with hurricane force winds in one of five scenarios. FEMAXIA Model The output of the SLOSH model pro- vides four major types of information on A third storm surge model, the FEMA/ the effects of the simulated hurricanes. FIA model used by FEMA's Federal Insur- They are: ance Administration, calculates coastal flooding due to hurricanes. This is also a (1) Surface envelope of highest surges computer model, which uses the same above mean sea level; types of equations as SLOSH and SPLASH (2) Time histories of surges at selected to set coastal flood insurance rates under gages or grid points; the National Flood Insurance Program. (3) Computed windspeeds at selected The FEMA model is used to calculate the gages or grid points; and 100-year storm elevation--a value of surge (4) Computed wind directions at height that has a probability of occurring selected gages or grid points. within 100 years at a given location. Developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with cooperation from the National Weather Service. A-60 I I I I I I Hazard Awareness Guidebook: I Planning for What Comes I Naturally I I I I I I I I I I I HAZARD AWARENESS GUIDEBOOK: PLANNING FOR WHAT COMES NATURALLY Prepared by: Sally S. Davenport Texas Coastal and Marine Council Austin, Texas Penny Waterstone Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center Institute of Behavioral Science University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado TEXAS COASTAL AND MARINE COUNCIL Austin, Texas October 1979 Reprinted with the permission of the Texas Coastal and Marine Council, P. 0. Box 13407, Austin, Texas 78711. A-61 Prepared with the Support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Washington, D. C. 20235 Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the conference participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Additional copies of this publication are available from the Texas Coastal and Marine Council P. 0. Box 13407 Austin, Texas 78711 Hufricane Awamniiiiiiis Pm9ram A Public Service Program By The Governor's Division of Disaster Emergency Services Texas Catastrophe Property insurance Association Texas Coastal and Marine AMRME= Council April 1980 A-62 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Comments and conclusions of participants in the National Hazard Awareness Workshop, March 22 and 23, 1979, provided the basic material for this Guidebook. Additional material has been collected from relevant research and personal contacts. Final suggestions on how to conduct a natural hazard awareness program or information campaign have been drawn from all of the above. Gilbert F. White, Director of Natural Hazards Research and Applica- tions Information Center (NHRAIC), University of Colorado, Boulder, pro- vided the initial spark for conducting the Workshop and for this publica- tion. His steady encouragement and wise thoughts were vital to the suc- cess of the effort. Susan Tubbesing of NHRAIC deserves the warmest of accolades for her patience and hard work in the organization of the Workshop and for her good advice during preparation of the Guidebook. Joe C. Moseley, former Director of the Texas Coastal and Marine Council (TCMC), was also instrumental in the early formulation of the Workshop; and Howard T. Lee, current Director of TCMC, provided much-needed support during all stages. Funding for the Workshop and the Guidebook was provided by the Na- tional Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Additional assistance with the Workshop was given by the Sea Grant Program Of- fice, Texas A&M University. Many thanks go to Richard Foster of NOAA, Coastal Zone Management, and Willis H. Clark, Texas A&M University, for making this support available. Our appreciation also goes to Allen Martin of Texas A&M for his aid in coordinating the Workshop and to Burrel Montz and Joanna Regulska of NHRAIC for their assistance with the Workshop activities. Many reviewers willingly gave of their time to comment on the final draft of the Guidebook, and we appreciate their contributions. Jenny Aldridge, TCMC, deserves a grateful thanks for her aid in final prepara- tion of the Guidebook as do Maryann Kroll, TCMC, and Elizabeth Sterling for sharing the typing responsibilities. Credit for the excellent job with graphics and artwork goes to Jack Wilson of The Art Studio. A-63 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .............................................. 1 GETTING STARTED ............................................ 1 Determining The Spark Which Ignites ........................... 1 Setting Goals ............................................... 2 PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF YOUR PROGRAM ............. 4 Early Stages ................................................ 4 Data Needs ................................................. 4 Development of Materials .................................... 4 Choosing Your Approach ..................................... 5 EVALUATING YOUR PROGRAM ................................. 8 CONCLUSION ................................................ 8 APPENDICES ................................................. 9 Appendix A Sample Public Questionnaire Preceding Instigation of Hurricane Awareness Program ........ 9 Appendix B School-Based Hazard Awareness .................. 10 Appendix C Example Time-Line Chart For A "Hurricane Awareness Program .................. 11 Appendix D Status Report of Sample Hurricane Awareness Program ............................. 12 Appendix E Hurricane Information Questionnaire .............. 13 Appendix E Hurricane Awareness Slide Show Questionnaire .................................. 15 Appendix F State- Loca I- Federal Roles in Hazard Awareness Programs ............................ 16 Appendix G Selected Hazard Awareness Program Resources ..................................... 18 A-64 HAZARD AWARENESS GUIDEBOOK PLANNING FOR WHAT COMES NATURALLY INTRODUCTION Increased awareness of natural hazards on the part of our citizens is essential if property losses and human suffering "Dos" For A Hazard Awareness Program from natural disasters are to be reduced. Many programs to Carefully define program aims. Whom do you want to raise hazard awareness have been initiated throughout the reach? What message do you want to convey? country with varying degrees of success. It is advantageous to review these experiences and recent research on public Start your program with simple goals and realistic ex- information raising programs. This Guidebook will help pectations. those who are currently involved in planning programs to im- Find out what others have done or are doing in hazard prove the public awareness of threats from nature, awareness, both in your area and in the nation. The Guidebook grows out of a national Hazard Awareness Workshop held in Corpus Christi. Texas, March 22 and 23, Make your message specific. Let it indicate what con- 1979. The goal of the sponsors of the Workshop, Texas structive action can be taken. Tailor it to your chosen Coastal and Marine Council and Natural Hazards Research audience. and Applications Information Center, Boulder, Colorado*, Repeat and reinforce your message regularly. was to provide a setting for exchange of information among Use different types of media to reach different au- those involved in communicating natural hazard information diences. to the public. From this interchange of information, it was hoped to provide some guidelines for future awareness ef- Use existing organizations or networks, both in gain- forts concerned with earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, tor- ing support for your program and in disseminating nadoes, or the other natural hazards with which people must your message. learn to cope. Choose the individuals or organizations most likely to It was obvious during the workshop that we do not have have credibility with the target audience. all the answers necessary to initiate, conduct, and evaluate awareness programs, but we can draw on a number of com- Use the best available natural hazards data, but have mon experiences to produce an outline of elements which media and public information professionals simplify need to be considered when putting together a hazard infor- and adapt the information for public use. mation program. These elements are summarized in the Build in an evaluation of the program, however simple, following list of "dos". More complete lists of dos and from the beginning. don'ts are contained within the text. GETTING STARTED Determining The Spark Which Ignites Survey, National Weather Service, state Sea Grant programs), local colleges or universities, property insurance Dos and Don'ts companies, and volunteer groups (from the Red Cross to local environmental groups). DO - Look for a dynamic and concerned in- Often the initial spark comes from a dynamic, concerned dividual, in the private or public sector, individual who is willing to devote time and energy to getting who has the knowledge, drive, and con- a hazard awareness program off the ground. This person or nections to get an awareness program organization can sometimes gain support through legislation off the ground. either already enacted or being considered at the federal or state level. For example, the National Flood Insurance Pro- DO Try to gain the support and involve- gram has given some impetus to efforts to inform the public ment of all concerned parties early in and their local officials about the program and flood the program formulation. preparedness efforts in general. Local interests can pick up DON'T Forget to check local, state or federal on these information attempts and tailor them to their own legislation which could give impetus to communities. In California, hazard disclosure legislation has initiating an awareness program. been passed requiring that a prospective purchaser of prop- erty be informed if that property is located in the area in which active surface faults have been identified. The ex- Who starts a hazard awareness program? Who should get istence of this legislation can be used to further public involved in the initial planning efforts? Any individual or awareness of the earthquake hazard. organization which identifies the need for such a program Sometimes, the legal question of liability for failure to and can garner the necessary support provides the spark. notify those susceptible to different hazards can be the very The original push might come from the federal, state, or spark with which to initiate an awareness program. Try to local government level, or from private business, civic find a sympathetic, concerned legislator or local governing organizations, or religious groups. Awareness programs official to lend aid in initiating the awareness program. have been initiated by groups as diverse as the Automobile Look around for other groups which might have an in- Club of Southern California, Denver's Urban Drainage and terest in a public information program and may have more Flood Control District. local museums and libraries, civil resources than you. Inform other groups of your proposed preparedness agencies (all levels), state or federal agencies education efforts and these groups, in turn, could provide concerned with particular hazards (United States Geological support and ignite further interest. The Natural Hazards Assistance in funding and conducting the Workshop were also provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Texas A&M University, Sea Giant Program. A-65 Research and Application Information Center in Boulder awareness of such events by latching on to efforts to plan serves as a clearinghouse for hazard-related subjects and for other, more visible, hazards in the community that have may be able to establish important contacts for you.** already received more attention. In formulating program goals and approaches, a survey to evaluate public opinion or level of preparedness for a certain hazard can be helpful (see example Appendix A). Be realistic in setting your initial goals and expectations of program Setting Goals results. Start with simple objectives and materials and gather steam as your effort matures. Two sets of goals- long-range and short-range-are recommended. Dos and Don'ts Among the short-range goals would be to communicate to the audience the susceptibility of certain areas to the hazard DO Define the community or area with and then indicate the correct preparedness steps. Long- which you are concerned and deter- range goals would include attempting to gain support for mine what sections are at risk to the stronger building codes and wise use of undeveloped hazard you are addressing. hazard-prone lands. DO Determine what alternative measures Your "target" audience may be local government officials, are available to lessen the risk and school children*, industry workers, retired persons, or what responses you wish to encourage newcomers vs. hazard veteran's vs. fringe veterans (those through your program. who "think" they have experienced the worst possible DO Define your target audiences (social, natural disaster). Some of your own background research or economic, locational, etc.) and tailor that of others may give a better idea which groups most your messages to them. need the information. This need could vary by type of hazard as well as location. The make-up of a community-social, DO Be realistic in setting your initial goals. economic, geographic-will play a part in defining the au- DON'T Assume that distributing information dience approaches to stimulate the desired behavior. Certain will by itself change people's actions. populations are generally harder to reach, but may be the most vulnerable, e.g., the non-English speaking, the elderly, the poor. Identifying and working directly with leaders of It is important as a first step to define the risk to the com- your selected audience or community may be the most effi- munity and examine alternative measures which might cient way of targeting information. Simply giving people alleviate risk. This step does not need highly precise infor- good information about a hazard does not necessarily mation; your information and risk assessments can be re- change their behavior or stimulate the desired response. fined later. What is necessary is to understand what section People interpret the same information differently. There are or sections of the community and what kinds of property are many steps between receiving information, making it mean- at risk. As soon as you identify the risk, you can begin to ingful in one's personal life, and actually altering one's establish the aims of your awareness program. behavior. For example, a person may see a T.V. spot telling Your assessment of the risk might reveal certain situa- him that the use of automobile seatbelts can save lives, tions where increased awareness on the part of officials knows that he has a seatbelt in his car, but still not use the and/or the public is crucially important. You might discover seatbelt. that in a community which is generally prepared and aware of the risk, certain sections remain highly vulnerable and unaware-a mobile home park in the tornado belt with no Gathering Resources tie-down regulations or shelter, or a mountain canyon vulnerable to flash floods where awareness may be low and the warning system inadequate. Dos and Don'ts As you begin to define the aims of your program, you must decide what behavioral response you want to en- DO Check with all relevant government en- courage through your program. Do you hope to encourage tities when attempting to find funding response to warnings, purchase of disaster insurance, the and other support for hazard construction of homes or businesses to withstand various awareness programs. hazards, relocation of residences out of high-hazard areas, or other worthwhile goals? Your choice could be a combina- DO Approach local businesses and in- tion of the above, but your aims will ultimately determine the dustry to gain their support. They have content and mode of dissemination of your messages. Deter- an interest in safeguarding the lives mine precisely why increased hazard awareness is and property of their employees and necessary or important to your chosen audience, because citizens. financial and community support for your program will then DON'T - Forget to include volunteer organiza- be easier to obtain. tions when seeking resources for your Some of your goals will be determined by the nature of program. Carefully match the skills of the hazard or hazards to which the community is vulnerable. each potential contributor to ap- It is much more difficult to initiate and sustain public in- propriate roles in the program. terest in low probability, high risk hazards such as major earthquakes, or slowly occurring hazards with less im- mediate evidence of destructive potential such as erosion or Once you have decided to begin a hazard awareness pro- subsidence than to achieve an awareness of a more fre- gram, where do you obtain the money and resources to get quent event such as hurricanes and recurring riverine floods. started? Public education of low probability hazards should be com- bined with broader programs on public safety, environmental Funding processes or adequate community construction practices The few hazard awareness programs actually conducted and building codes. It is often possible to increase thus far have tapped as many sources as programs exist. *Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center Institute for Behavioral Science, #6 Campus Box 482, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80309. (303)492-6818 See Appendix B for further information on developing a school-based hazard awareness program. A-6 6 Federal, state and local governmental entities lave provided Agricultural and Marine Extension most funds for awareness programs. On the federal level, Agents the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Na- Community Colleges and tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Universities United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the United Structural Engineering Societies States Army Corps of Engineers (USCE) are among those Religious Organizations which have assisted in the past. On a state level, check your The Red Cross, although a volunteer agency, plays an offi- state planning, natural resource, and emergency cial role in disaster preparedness and relief and should also preparedness agencies. On a local level, check city and be contacted as a resource and for coordination of efforts. regional planning agencies and universities. Water, urban Remember to consider the ramifications or consequences drainage, and other special districts should also be con- of accepting the support of a particular group. If the group tacted for possible funding assistance. is controversial or unknown to your target audience, they In general, the more specific and localized informational could do more harm than good. On the other hand, if the material is, the more readily it is accepted and utilized. Un- right interest group comes aboard, it can often influence fortunately, the availability of funds often travels in the other government officials, developers, or others to participate and direction, with the federal level having the most funds for take effective preparedness measures. A network of Volun- general preparedness materials and the locals having the tary Action Centers coordinating such activities is in place least for specific materials. However, if the government in- in most states and cities throughout the United States. terest is there, or can be created, cooperation at all levels Headquarters for the Centers is in Washington, D.C.* can ultimately result in the best product. Most important is Volunteers can aid in localizing and disseminating infor- to get something started, however simple, at whatever level mation through personal contact in their communities. If an possible. awareness program is initiated on a state or federal level, Support Services they will provide a way to reach the appropriate people with There are many resources which can be tapped to con- the necessary messages. tribute time, skill or services, as well as money to an Those who have worked with volunteer organizations in awareness program. All the government agencies mentioned public information programs say that several steps are in- previously have great amounts of data which would be volved in making their participation effective, including: valuable to instigators of an awareness program. Each state Recruitment and city government has skilled people (e.g., geologists or Orientation planners) who can help prepare risk assessments- probably Training have maps, and often have slides and photographs. Getting Evaluation in touch with them early can save time and money in the in- Feedback to the Volunteers formation gathering stages. Call your city water board and Recognition of Achievement find out who has responsibility for flood control and call the Promotion** local building inspector's office and talk about building Organizers have also found that it is very important to codes for disaster mitigation. A look through the government screen individual volunteers. Most volunteers have special listings in your phone book and a few phone calls and visits talents and experience to offer and it is important to use will yield a lot of information and turn up individuals who these appropriately, matching up needs and skills. A teacher either have responsibility for hazard awareness or have a or retired advertising executive would have valuable roles to genuine personal interest. play in an awareness program if their talents were used in In addition to government resources, there are many the correct way. Boy or Girl Scouts can deliver brochures or private and community resources. Insurance agents can be "starving" artists might design great posters for free if approached to use their contacts to distribute information allowed to sign them and gain publicity for their work. It is about hazards and possible protection. Banks and savings important to let each volunteer, whether individual or and loans can encourage hazard mitigation activities to pro- organization, know what job is to be undertaken, by whom it tect their mortgages and loans. Owners of local businesses is to be done and when it is to be accomplished. and industrial plants may be interested in helping financially In some instances, solicitation of volunteer observers for with warning systems or in distributing information which aid in determining the timing or possibility of natural would protect their customers and alleviate potential disasters also serves to increase general public awareness. liabilities. An example of this type of public awareness is provided by Take advantage of the special skills of concerned citizens. the use of flood watch volunteers by the National Weather Do not forget to involve and mobilize existing volunteer Service on a local or regional basis. These citizens provide groups in educating your audience about natural hazards. If valuable monitoring along creeks and rivers during critical they are given accurate information and appropriate roles, periods. volunteer groups or individuals can play a large part in Project Earthquake Watch*** uses volunteers from generating hazard awareness. The list of organizations seismically active regions of California to observe specific which might become involved is long and varied: changes in animal behavior which some say precedes earth- 4-H Clubs quake occurrence. These volunteer observers are pet owners Amateur Radio Clubs (RACES-Radio or people who are around animals for much of the time Amateur Civil Emergency Service) because of their work or hobby. They are recruited by news American Association of Retired releases, radio and TV interviews, direct mail, conferences Persons with farm and animal-related organizations, and contact with Girl Scouts federal ly-supported county volunteer organizations. Potential Boy Scouts observers for Project Earthquake Watch are screened by a Sierra Club questionnaire and given a specific set of responsibilities, in- Volunteer Action Centers cluding immediately reporting any unusual animal behavior League of Women Voters over a toll free hotline, and keeping a daily log describing Civic and Business Clubs the behavior of their animals. All of the above activities -Contact Executive Director, National Center for Voluntary Action, 1214 Sixteenth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. **See Peter Ward, Proceedings of Conference IV, The Use of Volunteers In The Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, February 2-3, 1978. united States Geological Survey, Office of Earthquake Studies, Menlo Park, California 1978. For information, contact Leon S. Otis, Project Leader, Project Earthquake Watch, SRI International, Menlo Park, California 94025. A-67 hopefully serve not only to provide valuable information for for Potential sources of funding and community support. prediction research, but to increase general public Part of good planning is tapping as many sources as pos- awareness of the earthquake hazard. sible to contribute money and services to your effort. It is important to remember in beginning a hazard awareness program to be creative and resourceful in looking PLANNING AND COORDINATION OF YOUR PROGRAM Early Stages A basic early step in formulating materials for an awareness program is to search out the best available data and information concerning a particular hazard. Types of data which could be needed include: Dos and Don'ts 9 delineation of areas susceptible to the natural hazard under consideration such as earthquakes, mud slides, DON'T - Hesitate to redefine goals and set storm surge, freshwater flooding, erosion, etc.; realistic priorities according to 9 an up-to-date checklist of preparedness measures and available resources. safety rules to follow before, during, and after a disaster; DO Avoid duplication and obtain ideas for e good photographs or slides showing past damage due to useful materials and approaches by the hazard; knowing what others have done. 0 information on long-term disaster mitigation steps which DO Determine exact elements or tasks of can be taken to lower future loss of life and property; your program and set dates for comple- 0 information on road conditions and elevations; and tion of each. e current population at-risk figures for vulnerable areas. Past experience has shown that correct preparedness ac- Once initial funding and players are established, planning tions are the easiest information to communicate. The high for the best and most efficient use of funds is essential. It cost and amount of time spent in obtaining and com- may now be necesary to redefine goals and set priorities in municating accurately mapped data is, however, more diffi- terms of available resources. Initial surveys and contacts cult. Help from federal and state agencies or local colleges should have already established a need for the program and is often available to map vulnerability to hazards. Agencies perhaps determined the subject matters on which the pro- such as United States Geological Survey, United States gram should center. Corps of Engineers, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- Finding out what others have done is vital in determining ministration, Red Cross, state parks and wildlife depart- the elements of your program. Contact other states, agen- ments or planning agencies often have excellent slide and cies or institutions which might also be preparing awareness photograph;c files available for public use. Check all ex- materials. You will have already tapped many of these isting sources of information and choose the best for your sources in your initial assessment stages (see Gathering purposes. A recent publication by the U.S. Department of Resources). These contacts can aid in avoiding costly Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- duplication of materials and enable more efficient use of tion and U.S, Department of the Interior, Geological Survey your resources. The likelihood of putting out conflicting in- gives an Inventory of Natural Hazards Data Resources in the formation is also significantly decreased through coordina- Federal Government.* tion. It is vital that the information and data collected is ac- Determine the exact elements of your program and the curate and that its validity is subject to as little questioning steps necessary to implement each stage. A flow chart or as possible by the intended users. Since the credibility of time-line chart (see sample, Appendix C) of proposed ac- the data is so important, some programs have used tivities can easily be put together and modified as necessary historical rather than predictive data whenever possible. A as implementation of the awareness program proceeds. In possible drawback to using only historical data is that it the planning process, it is important to: set forth all could falsely lead receivers of the information to feel that elements to be undertaken, by whom they will be done, and the historical examples depicted the worst possible effects when they will be accomplished. A status report sheet (see of the hazard. sample, Appendix D) also allows awareness coordinators to see where they are in their program steps at any one time. It is always smart to start planning one year ahead for the Development of Materials next year's program, since actual production and prepara- tion of materials is time-consuming. Dos and Don'ts Data Needs DO - Keep it simple, when developing original materials. Have a professional Dos and Don'ts public information specialist and graphic artist translate technical DO Determine precise data and informa- material into a readable and attractive tion which you wish to communicate to format. your chosen public and locate the best and most accurate source for each DO - Structure your message to reach most type. directly those in your chosen audience and relate it to experiences with which DON'T Attempt to use information which can- they can identify. not be transferred into a clearly understandable form. *Available upon request from National Geophysical and Solar-Terrestrial Data Center, NOAA, 3100 Marine Street, Boulder, Colorado 80303. A-6 8 Find and use a good graphics person to do your printed layouts. It is important that the awareness material be easy Dos and Don'ts to read and instantly identifiable. An eye-catching, con- sistently used logo is a good idea. Basic materials will need DO Give your audience positive solutions an occasional update, but never a complete revision if done or actions which they can take to correctly the first time around. Utilize the unique expertise of reduce their susceptibility to the each individual involved in the awareness program (writers, hazard. planners, artists, good solicitors of support, etc.) and buy DON'T Neglect to pre-test approaches or your expertise, if needed. As discussed earlier, people are more likely to listen to materials to determine their effec- concrete hurnan experiences interwoven with data, rather tiveness. than to a simple presentation of dry statistics. Also, the DO Sustain your awareness program from more the material can be localized, the more useful it will year to year and concentrate on im- be. If a citizen can find his/her community, street, or house proving the quality of your products on :@ map delineating the flood or earthquake zone, then the each year. information will be more meaningful. Once you have communicated the problem to your au- dience, be sure to give them a solution or positive actions which they can take to alleviate their vulnerability. Do not Once the initial workplan has been selected, the budget leave them dangling. Instead, explain the benefits to be estimated, the target audiences identified and appropriate received from taking certain kinds of actions. data gathered, it is time to put together the most effective Once is not enough. It has been found that awareness in- package of materials possible. This may mean the develop- formation and emergency warnings must be repeated and ment of one really good brochure or one television or radio reinforced. A sustained program becomes vital in this con- spot, a basic slide show, the holding of a series of public text-a one-shot blitz will not be adequate. Over-saturation hearings, etc. "Start simple, but start soon," is the best of information may be possible, but this has not yet been adage to follow at this point. Do not, however, expect to proven. reach all sectors of the population with one medium. In the long run, it is quality not quantity that will deter- Having identified your target audience and the desired mine the success of various elements of this program. behavorial outcome during your goal setting stage, you now Before you launch a full-scale program, conduct a pre-test of must decide how our message can best be structured to your materials. Advertising and communication departments reach your audience within the limits of your available funds in local universities may be willing to test program materials and staff. Slide shows may be most effective with one audi- as class projects. Be most concerned with how well your ence, while printed materials may be the approach to use material is done, not who gets the credit for it. It you try to with another. All the above factors must be taken into con- turn an awareness program into a promotional campaign for sideration when tailoring material to the chosen audience. It an agency or industry, credibility is lost. is particularly important to be sensitive to special needs of your target population: translate materials for significant non-English speaking populations; do not send information to the poor about insuring the contents of their houses for Choosing Your Approach up to $25,000. Such seemingly obvious considerations are often overlooked and can undermine the credibility of the final product. Dos and Don'ts As mentioned previously, finding out what others have done is most important, not only in data gathering but in ac, DO Try to determine the most effective tually putting together materials, Copying is the sincerest means of reaching your chosen audi- form of flattery and if something has been done well in ence, but do not rely on only one form another state or city, why re-invent the wheel? Naturally per- of media or approach to reach them. mission should be sought when reproducing materials, and DO Keep and update a file of all organiza- credit given when appropriate. A paper prepared for the tions, publications and individuals who Hazard Awareness Workshop by Joanna Regulska provides should regularly receive awareness a discussion of many ongoing awareness programs.- materials. Assistance in translating technical information into lay or simple language may be required. This step is essential for DO Use newspapers for long-term educa- the best understanding of materials. Often, professional tion of an audience concerning the help, perhaps volunteer, may be obtained. Technicians and nature of an area's susceptibility to scientists are usually not the people to accomplish this natural hazards and to encourage step. Relating the data to a situation with which a person readers to write for further information. can identify is helpful, For example: DO Use short (10, 30, or 60 second) T.V. spots to alert or change your � Portray the percent of damage reduction to a structure if audience's perception of the dangers certain hazard-resistant building techniques are used; of, or their susceptibility to, the natural � Give the savings in insurance costs if certain actions are hazard. taken; DON'T - Expect material developed for radio to - Provide graphic representation of earlier losses in a have the same impact as visual neighborhood. presentations, but do use it to reach appropriate audiences. DO - Consider the use of a simple, inexpen- Develop contacts with and support from professionals in sive but attractive brochure or poster if advertising, public relations, or the media. Universities or you wish to maintain a sustained effort colleges in local communities are a good source as are the and reach broad segments of the public information officials in the appropriate state or population. federal agency. I ------------- *-Public Awareness Programs for Natural Hazards," is available from the Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center, Institute of Behavioral Science, #6, Campus Box 482, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado 80303, (303)492-6818, for $2.00 to cover the costs of reproduction and mailing. A-69 What types of materials or approaches can be used in a One approach which has had some success is to furnish hazard awareness program and which have been found to be the media with a feature story which is more entertainment most useful in getting across specific messages to specific than news. For example, on the anniversary of an historic publics? flood, a story interviewing a senior citizen who experienced A hazard awareness program is necessary, because most the disaster talking about his/her own experiences in the people do not perceive the threat of danger from natural flood and the changes which took place in the community hazards as a real problem. Research has shown that for afterward, is useful copy and, if accompanied by old issues in which an individual feels little real involvement, the photographs of easily recognizable locations that were inun- message is best communicated by using primarily visual dated, would provide a good opportunity for raising media which require minimal attention and effort to be awareness to the risk of future floods and mitigation ac- understood.* For this reason, predisaster, long-term tions. A moderate earthquake in California might provide a awareness efforts will probably have a betler effect through similar chance to feed information to the Salt Lake City television and newspaper exposure than if 'presented on the papers about earthquake potential in Utah. radio. Ultimately, if one form of media is resistant or seems In the event of a natural disaster, it will be important for not to produce the desired results, go to other forms, When all media to be familiar with the community's emergency your campaign begins to get the attention of the public, preparedness plans. Perhaps a briefing for the media can be other media forms will usually pick it up. arranged through a local emergency planning agency. This Options for getting the word to the people include: would provide a unique opportunity to educate the media Television not only about their crucial role during times of emergency, but also about the potential role they could play in informing Radio the people of actions that could be taken to lessen the ef- Newspapers fects of future disasters. Slide Shows Newspapers. If you can convince newspapers to use your Films materials they can be a very effective means of reaching cer- Speakers Bureaus tain audiences. Provision of camera-ready preparedness Local Magazines (chamber of checklists or ads giving an address on how to obtain further commerce, real estate, etc.) information are usually well-received by newspaper editors. National Magazines Pictures (8x10 black and white glossies) showing past Brochures disasters with a brief descriptive text might be used, Billboards especially if they are keyed to the state or local area. Timing Interpersonal Contacts the release of material can be important. If there is a Public School Education disaster approaching or if some recent incident has called Each of these vary in cost, will require different approaches public attention to the natural hazard with which you are and will very likely reach different audiences. Whatever op- concerned, the media may be eager to receive your tion is chosen, a file of names and addresses of persons, materials. Take notice of deadlines for newspapers if you organizations, stations or publications which should regular- wish your material to be run on a specific day. ly receive material issued from your program should be A series of articles could also be developed concentrating maintained and periodically updated. on various aspects of the hazard-its general characteristics and means of destruction, areas most vulnerable, increased Mass Media population and development in these areas, current con- One overriding rule to keep in mind when deciding to use struction practices, effects of the hazard on state or local in- the mass media-radio, television, and newspapers-is: dustry or tourist business, warning techniques and KNOW YOUR LOCAL MEDIA. It is vitally important to preparedness steps. Quotes from government officials establish some sort of personal communication with the (especially local or regional), industry representatives, people who make decisions in each media organiza- hazard experts (meteorologists, geologists, researchers) help tion-such as the city editor, the news director, or the to increase the impact of the articles. A professional writer science and environment reporter. A general media list for should do this type of series since the style and format can press releases, media kits and other materials can be com- make a significant difference in the acceptability of your piled from various sources such as state media directories message. If you do not have one on your staff, you can hire or local phone directories, but follow-up face-to-face contact a free-lance writer or graduate journalism student to do it for is usually necessary to insure product usage. you. At a recent Hazards Research Workshop, the editor of the At times, you may have to pay for advertising space in Boulder Daily Camera stressed the importance of personal large newspapers but small weekly papers or dailies are communication. He said that his newspaper receives 400-500 often glad to get and use interesting material. Currently, press releases a day and that those which are obviously part sample costs for a quarter page newspaper ad or space can of a large mailing (identified by computer labels or bulk per- run from $1,40041,500 in a big city newspaper, to $390 in a mits) are filed in the wastebasket without being opened. city with around 350,000 people, to as little as $120 in a small-town newspaper. Inserts can be cheaper and more ef- Early in your awareness efforts, you should drop by the fective than paid advertising space within the paper itself. local television and radio stations and the newspaper of- Television. One study** has shown that television (especially fices, introduce yourself and let them know what you are do- 10, 30, or 60 second spots) may be the way to change ing. Then when your organization is doing something that is people's opinions on the dangers of various hazards. In addi- newsworthy, let your media contact know through press tion, spots can give an address where further information releases or personal phone calls if time permits. Your (maps, brochures) can be obtained. If recorded spots are to meeting, rally, or other efforts will then have a better chance be distributed to T.V. or radio stations, a written script of being given consideration. However, do not always count should accompany each one. Another option existing for on the media to further your own goals. It is their respon- T.V. includes the use of longer documentary films. Permis- sibility to report the news; it is their job to decide which sion can usually be obtained from appropriate government among the many things occurring every day will be covered. or volunteer agencies (Red Cross) to use film clips from their -Mass Media Usage in Natural Hazards Awareness Efforts," informal paper prepared by Rahul S. Sood, Institute for Communication Research, Stanford University, Stanford, California, March 1979. **Carlton Ruch and Larry Christensen, "An Assessment of Brochures and Radio and Television Presentations on Hurricane Awareness." Mass Emergencies, March (1978). P. 209-216. A-70 products to cut costs in making more regional or localized and produce (the Texas Hurricane Awareness Program pro- spots or films. For T.V. use, any message should be espe- duced their initial two-color brochure for under 2112(; per cially simple and easily understood. Remember that if used copy) especially if you are attempting to reach a very large at all, spots and films released for public service T.V. time audience and have limited funds. will more than likely be aired during non-prime time hours Such a brochure should present the hazard problem in (early in the morning or late at night). In the case of weather- terms with which the intended audience can identify and related hazards, your local T.V. weatherperson can be a also provide solutions for them to consider. Solutions might valuable contact for dissemination of information. include preparedness steps, evacuation routes, or informa- Live or taped interviews also provide a good means of tion on building codes depending on the particular aims or presenting hazard information to the public. Again, personal goals which have been set for the program. If possible and contact is more likely to get your representative on local talk applicable, use maps in your brochure with the hazard iden- shows. In doing interviews with the news media, whether tified for as localized an area as possible. It your hazard printed or broadcast, be sure that your spokesperson has a!, area and audience covers the entire state or nation, budget the necessary facts regarding preparedness and hazard constraints could limit the detail of your map. The brochures characteristics. An information sheet should be provided to should be primarily pictorial in orientation with a minimum the reporter or interviewer in advance to aid them in asking of text and should have an extremely attractive style to en- relevant questions. courage people to post them. Succinct, simple preparedness Provision of camera-ready material, including slides to messages could also be included. A good graphic artist local T.V. weatherpersons (if the hazard is weather-related) should do the design and layout for the brochure. for use during their regular weathercasts has proven to be a Distribution of an awareness brochure can be accom- successful approach. A script or descriptive text should plished through a variety of ways. If the brochure is always accompany each slide. developed through a federal or national entity, then it is Paying for T.V. time is expensive and can vary from $25 usually shipped to regional or state offices whose job it is to for non-prime time (7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.), up to $500 prime- get it in the hands of the designated public. If the state time (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) for a one-time, 30-second spot. disaster emergency services division develops the brochure The cost for a 60-second spot will be approximately double or offers their cooperation, they can distribute it to local that of the 30-second spot. These figures represent average disaster preparedness coordinators who can distribute it in costs only and variation in pricing will occur from station to their area. The brochure could also be distributed door-to- station. Your budget, aims, and the proposed audience will door by volunteers, mailed from an advertised single ad- help you decide if it is worth the money. dress, or set out in display racks in shopping areas. Padio. Even though radio may not be the most effective Display Booths. Display booths that could be easily set up way to reach all sectors of the population, there may be in shopping areas or civic centers could be used as a rela- some people for whom it is a useful method, e.g., teenagers tively cheap tool for communicating awareness information. or for populations in remote areas. Your options for radio in- The displays could use video cassette players, slides or clude spots of varying lengths, one-shot interviews with photographs. Simple, graphic messages are most effective. knowledgeable people, or a continuing taped series pro- You should include handouts that contain specific sugges- viding information on a specific hazard. These approaches tions for constructive personal actions. can be ends in themselves or they can act as stimulants to Public Meetings. Attendance at public meetings to get people to write or call a specific place for further infor- discuss natural hazards will, of course, be difficult to en- mation. courage in the early part of your program. A useful approach If these prepared materials are given to stations as public is to work through civic or volunteer groups that might allow service advertisements, the radio stations are not required to you to take advantage of their regular meetings and present use them. Although they are required to use a certain your message. Perhaps a parentiteacher organization of a amount of public service material, they are free to pick and school in a vulnerable location would welcome a speaker at choose which material they put on the air, If they do use their monthly meeting, The chamber of commerce might be your material, it is often not played in the prime listening interested in a discussion of possible liabilities that times (6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., or 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for business might face if customers were exposed to a hazard AM stations, or 12:00 noon to 12:00 midnight for FM sta- while on their property. Civic and study clubs are always on tions), when the listening audience is higher and more paid the lookout for interesting programs. It would be useful to advertising is available. Of course, this may not be true if a develop a list of knowledgeable people in each location who disaster is imminent, and sometimes, if a hazard is seasonal would be willing and competent to speak about the hazard (hurricane or tornado). Contact with station program direc- at public gatherings. Such a speaker's bureau has been tors can be important in determining whether your public used successfully in the Texas Hurricane Awareness Pro- service material is used or not. gram through the cooperation of coastal Sea Grant marine It may be necessary to pay for your information use. In extension agents and the National Weather Service. It is radio, 30- and 60-second spots, or shorter, are usually pre- very important that the speakers chosen be regarded by the ferred and a sample cost for a station serving a city of community as having good credibility on the subject of the 350,000 would be $9.00 for a run-of-station (ROS) 30-second hazard. spot, ROS spots can be aired by the station anytime they Local publications, chamber of commerce magazines, or choose, usually, of course, in non-prime time hours. real estate publications may also be glad to use your printed Assurance of prime air time for your spot would cost approx- material, especially if straight information rather than scare imately double, or $18-$20 in this example, for a 30-second tactics are used. However, personal contacts are usually spot. A 60-second spot would double the costs for either needed to explain the purpose of your awareness program ROS or prime-time. A station may also have other package and the materials which are available for use. deals which could reduce the costs of paid programming. Other Approaches. Some campaigns have found rather Radio stations serving smaller areas are often more recep- unique sources of free distribution of their information. tive to use of public service material, since they may have Paper bag companies have been willing to print information less paid advertising. Purchase of time at stations reaching about hurricane and tornado safety at no additional cost on large audiences and counting on public service time at bags distributed to grocery stores along the Gulf Coast and smaller stations could be one way to handle the situation if in inland tornado-prone areas. The phone company in some your budget permits. parts of the U.S. has printed safety tips in the front pages of Alternative Approaches phone books, including earthquake preparedness in Califor- Brochure, A single, simple, but attractive "preparedness nia and tsunami precautions in Hawaii. The City of Boulder, and awareness" brochure may be the best first step in in- Colorado, has included messages about the flood plain in its creasing the awareness of your target audience. A brochure monthly water bills. Remember, whatever approaches you is usually the least expensive type of material to develop try, always be open for new ideas and new interests. A-71 EVALUATING YOUR PROGRAM More accurate assessment of a program can be obtained Dos and Don'ts by using several different methods such as: *telephone or mail surveys, DO Determine which program elements are most effective for specific audiences. eperson to person interviews determin- DO Determine if your information is actual- ing sight recognition of materials, and ly changing attitudes and actions. autilization of volunteers for testing various approaches and types of DON'T Assume that your target audience has materials used in your program (T.V. necessarily altered their behavior or spots vs. longer films, fear approach attitudes as a result of your program. vs. simple listing of preparedness DO Use several different approaches in steps). determining your program's effec- If you conducted a formal survey in the process of "settin 9 goals," now is the time to conduct a second survey to see tiveness. , if DO Make your evaluation a continuing, your program has changed people's attitudes or increased regular part of your program. their knowledge. Techniques such as the above have been developed for evaluating public information programs, and you might find it worthwhile to hire someone skilled in those techniques to do your evaluation for you. This approach was Once your program is underway, it is imperative that you used by the Texas Coastal and Marine Council and by the evaluate it. Are you reaching your goals? Are all aspects of Denver Urban Drainage and Flood Control District to test the the program accomplishing what you intended? if you are effects of their public information campaigns. The results using more than one type of approach, you should try to and an explanation of the methodologies used are availabie determine which elements are most effective for each of in published studies.* Samples of evaluation questionnaires your goals and which elements are reaching each of your for a multi-approach hurricane awareness program and a target audiences. It is important to test to see if your infor- slide show presentation are given in Appendix E. mation is changing attitudes and actions, not just whether or not people are receiving the information. A periodic If your budget does not initially allow for a full-blown evaluation will also give you ammunition for encouraging evaluation effort, contact a nearby university professor will- further support of your program. ing to take on the evaluation as part of a communication or Some of your goals will be simple to measure. If you are research methodologies class. The final alternative would be trying to encourage citizen participation in setting up a to pay someone to develop an evaluation technique for you, volunteer flash flood warning network, you will know you are or adapt one from a similar program, and then administer successful when the network is operational. If you wish to the survey using in-house staff, volunteers, or others already encourage the purchase of earthquake insurance, you can involved in your program, This approach is not recom- check with local insurance companies to see if sales have mended, since objectivity is important and evaluation results increased. could tend to be biased by those directly involved in the One simple technique for getting a rough measure of program. whether or not anyone is paying attention to your message After you have assessed the effectiveness of various is to offer more information to those wishing to write or call. elements of your awareness efforts, the results can be used The Texas Coastal and Marine Council has done this to improve your overall program. This periodic evaluation of through T.V., radio, and newspaper ads and has received your efforts will provide an indication of how your program very good response. The requests for information have has changed the hazard response of your target audience, helped to determine specific media use of public service and materials can then be adapted accordingly. materials as well as an estimate of the number of people af- fected by it. Inclusion of response questionnaire forms in media kits or packages will also give some idea of media use and evaluation of the acceptability of materials. Another technique for determining printed media usage of materials is to maintain a clipping file of newspaper and magazine ar- CONCLUSION ticles and ads using your awareness material. Note on file cards the newspaper name and date of each use. The cir- culation number of each newspaper can be noted and then tallied to gain a rough estimate of persons reached by your The provision of information on natural hazards to those message. vulnerable to their destruction is a necessary responsbility Of course, these simple measures are not able to give you of informed government officials and private citizens alike. any indication of the factors at work in the changes that Increasing awareness and providing preparedness alter- they record. For example, you might find that more people natives is a more complicated process than might be sup- are buying flood insurance, a possible indicator of increased posed. Guidelines which have worked in the past have been awareness. But how do you know if it is the result of your presented in the preceding discussion and will hopefully program or of other factors, such as the mortgage require- serve to make the job easier for those involved in com- ment by local banks that susceptible new residences be municating this vital information to the public. Ultimately, covered by flood insurance, or publicity about a recent flood for those who are located in hazard-prone areas, it is not if in a neighboring community? they will need this information, but when. *Carlton Ruch and Larry Christensen, "Assessment of Brochures and Radio and Television Presentations on Hurricane Awareness", Mass Emergencies, March 1978. Ruch and Christensen, Hurricane Response Model, Center for Strategic Technology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas (in progress). Marvin Waterstone, Hazard Mitigation of Urban Floodplain Residents. Natural Hazard Research Working Paper No. 34, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 1978. A-72 APPENDIXA SAMPLE PUBLIC QUESTIONNAIRE PRECEDING INSTIGATION OF HURRICANE AWARENESS PROGRAM Name: Address: Age. Occupation/Education Level: 1. How long have you lived on the coast? 2. Have you ever experienced a hurricane? a) Where? b) When? c) Outcome? 3. Did you consider the possibilities of hurricanes before you moved here? 4. What are the first two or three things you would do to prepare for a hurricane? 5. Do you feel your home is the best place to 'weather' the storm? a) Why? b) How would you (do you) evaluate its structural soundness? c) How do you estimate its elevation above sea level? 6. When you were looking at your home, did anyone discuss these things with you? 7. If you wanted to know what winds your home was built to withstand, how would you find out? 8. If the Weather Service predicted twelve foot tides for your area, what would that mean to you personally? 9. Do you know where the nearest public shelter is? Can you get there if the streets are under two or three feet of water? 10. How many feet of water (f lood level) does it take to close the causeway to your town? 11. Where would you go if you evacuated your town? 12. Where would you go for more information on hurricane protection? SCHOOL-BASED HAZARD AWARENESS APPENDIX B Programs to educate school children on the disaster potential of natural hazards could have long-term payoffs in developing desirable public disaster preparedness and response behavior. By making hazard education a part of the regular curriculum, children will be prepared to consider potential risks in making future decisions on emergency response, construction of homes and location in hazard-prone areas. The success of the 4-H Program in introducing new farming techniques pro- vides an example of the possibility of not only changing the awareness of the children, but also of the children educating their parents in the shorter term. A comprehensive study has been done for the National Weather Ser- vice on the existing weather awareness education programs (specifically hurricane) in U. S. coastal states.* The findings and recommendations from this study are useful for any hazard awareness program which has as one of its goals the effective education of school children. A sum- mary of the findings is contained in the following discussion. Every state education system is set up differently and this fact must be taken into account when attempting to place hazard awareness and preparedness materials in the schools. Efforts to introduce new materials into the schools should always be coordinated with the ap- propriate school personnel and curriculum designers. Preparedness efforts have more chance of being accepted by school systems if they can be introduced within existing courses, e.g., science or social studies. Further, school personnel are more likely to use hazard awareness program materials if they can be approached from a broad rather than a narrow perspective. For example, a unit on general weather education could be taught, relating it to conditions students can observe every day, and then a more specific discussion on hurricanes or tor- nados can be easily introduced. Earthquake awareness could be taught in a similar manner as part of a larger unit on basic geology. In general, the fifth-sixth and/or junior high level are seen as the best levels for hazard awareness program instruction. In developing specific school-based materials focus should be placed on the nature of the hazard and its impact on people and property. Students can then develop their own set of reasonable guidelines for hazard response based on their newly acquired knowledge. This ap- proach has been found to be more acceptable to educators than simply providing a list of safety rules. Printed preparedness checklists can be a supplement to this activity and can be taken home by the student for family discussion. Hazard awareness materials should contain some local ly-oriented material in addition to material of general interest for more widespread use. Reviewof local historical occurrences of hazards can often be an effective teaching tool. Knowledge of school, family, and community preparedness plans can also be acquired by the student at this time. State universities can often aid in the development of educational units through their extension service or education departments. Any instructional materials prepared for school-based hazard awareness efforts should be economical and primarily self-contained. Quality and acceptability of materials should be reviewed by technical and educational specialists as well as teachers who will use them. Pre- and post-testing in actual classrooms will ensure the effectiveness of the final product. *Ira W. Geer, Increasing Weather A wareness- Hurricanes, An Assessment of School-Based Hurricane Education in the Gulf and Atlantic Coastal States. Office of Disaster Preparedness, National Weather Service, NOAA, Department of Commerce, Rockville, Maryland. December 1978. A-74 PROGRAM ELEMENTS EXAMPLE TIME-LINE CHART FOR A -HURRICANE AWARENESS PROGRAM" -7-F,-.P-1.d...S MaPsillrochures MARCH APRIL MAY juNE luLl AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER A RAWID,senbulio, Mapslb:ochu,os S-ty Ciudifeadly .,G-d ciuce mapstwochur.. 1. Display,acks tumild h*,d,","*r, Rack. ordwed delivered CandboarclUsim Catobouransino ..1,10cip hldw lablattoo holder$ onlered delis-if Sig' & lab*ls Sign A lab*is 11, IN & window ad cklivornid `ld'" drawn poprim- Do sminstion of L ... I Placement of Follow-up local contac, sin own coord. material. & maintens- Area, dicisionon ofth..l tend. v,s,l whoullets or -up Formal *valuation of program Adisirilmled I 8 D.-I Ms.] W A MAIN OFFICE C Plantoind-iryOls110-- D.1-in.ilcm contact. and flit. will, in*, w-up appropriat mi.ln.c. I I 0 Labo,)U,.on, Initial contact wnh placement of Follow up & Union Matters appropriate materials maintenance I E CwlD.I.n.. D- up con Contact local M.p,lbrc.h.,.. flat. tract CD dimclors -,ad to at.,. CD CO SS.DW I > it. Media 1 1-11 us, ..S "Ut, hUGUS1 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER "ON01isil I A Newil P,tpa,abon end,ep,oducl D.wrib.tion _j of camela-mady maan@&@Iosn M Prepa,al of press,olessos. 01111oulio. N ""u" lions' .I I 0 TV LoCa" and reiHoduce pHl Old spols >< -i-illy .1 .... d tool. I ,:ad and,. nds of T V I Formal evaluation of program Plod- Yn.w Folio, up visit leody.. 1. to h.nd,dIT.V using. Arc. C R,d,o plan ..w,.dio fe-c! new So.:: .1 .P.I. sod . bdlos lions Conduct 5 m.n 1. Edit S, d1sillb,to Follow up intend.ws visit III Sl,dl Sho.)F.Im MARCH APRIL MAI JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER 51- $no. -S* action of shdos P,.,.nl slide show -Dtgm of ithdol, to too made - to anist Glen 1-11onn., to, handout - phniers Make @:macl. - llablish .w schedule NOA, F- I Formal evaluation of program H.", .n. Dec..,.- F.I. An...1 Film back up in piece of slide an.. ,hen p,,opn,,. I DCPA F- F- A,...l Film back up in piece of slide 50o, "h_ 'pp"n.l. Red C,o.s him Fil.AHY&I Film luack up in piece of slide splow when Appropriate APPENDIX D STATUS REPORT OF SAMPLE HURRICANE AWARENESS PROGRAM MAY 20 1. MAPS(corft'd) Target Actual Status Comment* B. Retail Distribution C. PtMlftdUWIY Distribution taw ng 1. industry Contacts & Visits with them I May 20 May - 3 Weeks 2. Pt6moroval *I Makarlads 15juns 0. Lebedu"Jons I Inium contact with union loodars I may p=-Y - 3 Weeks 2. f4acernent of Materials ISJ- 3. FolMwvp and Maintenance E. Civil Defense 1. Drom, up MOOD Cordract far Funds with Scat. CD 15 March pending 2. Contact LOCO Civil Defense Difftlars I May 20 ill" 3 waves 3. Maps Delivered to State CO 15 May 23 ill" I wook STATUS REPORT OF SAMPLE HURRICANE AWARENESS PROGRAM MAY 20 Target Actual Status Comments If. MEDIA (cont'd) C. Ra" 1. Now Radio Spota -a. Draft ISAPM1 20 May - 5 Weeks b. Record 7 May 20 may - 2 Wells. Pending c. To Station. 1JUVIS 20 May i We" 2. Radio Interview Series pending a. Conduct 20 AM) 20 May 4 Weeks pending b. Edit and Dfslrlbu1_*___ 20 20 May Ill. SLIDE SHOWIFILMS A SlIftsf. 1. Selection of slides a" design of .Iidnto.nlsts 7 May 2. Draft 1.0 1 May 20 May -3W-ks FownsiforMandowiftifflerv, 3. M"o Contacts - Establish Shm Schedule I May 20 May - 3 Weeks STATUS REPORT OF SAMPLE HURRICANE AWARENESS PROGRAM - MAY 20 Target Actual Status Commarits 111. SLIDE SHOW&FILMS(cont'd) 11. Fit.. i. "Indcand, Decision 2. Red C... Fit. 3. DCPA F Nn A-7G APPENDIX E HURRICANE NMRMATION QUES71ONNAIRE Name -Age-Sex Current Address- Phone Have you ever experienced a hurricane? Yes- No If yes, was your residence damaged? Yes No did you or a member of your family -sustain injuries? Yes No- did you evacuate? Yes No Have you had any special training in hurricanes? Yes- No If yes, where? If yes, where? Did you obtain a copy of a Hurricane Survival Checklist and Map? Yes No If yes, do you still have it? Yes- No- . Did you read it? Yes No . ffo-wdid you obtain it? Do you remember s"ing any "Hurricane Awareness" television spots? Yes No Do you remember hearing any "Hurricane Awareness" raJio spots? Yes---- No SECTION ONE Please indicate your sources of Hurricane Information. Check each of the following which apply: I . School Classes 8. Television Presentations 2. Hurricane Survival Checklists and Maps 9. Newspapers 3. Local Civil Defense 10. Other People 4. Local Red Cross 11. _Mayor 5. Educational Television Programs 12. _County Judge 6. Public Meetings 13. -Other. Please Identify: 7. Radio Announcements and/or Interviews SECTION TWO Please briefly indicate what the words "Storm Surge" mean to you (if you have no idea, put "Don't Know"): How many feet of rising water do you believe a hurricane can produce? What do you estimate the land elevation is at your residence? Out of every ten persons killed by a hurricane, how many do you estimate are killed by the rising water? Approximately how many miles of a coastline can suffer severe damage from a hurricane? When a hurricane hits the coast, where do you think the most destruction will take place? Near the center of the area hit Neat the edge_ The same throughout- How many miles do you live from the nearest salt water bay or coastline? If you needed additional information on a hurricane, how would you obtain that information? SECTION THREE For each of the following questions, place a check mark on the line under each question at the point which you feel most closely corresponds to your own opinion. 1. How necessary is it to purchase flood insurance? Is Not Necessary Is Definitely Necessary 2. How necessary is it to have building codes which incorporate hurricane standards? Is Not Necessary Is Definitely Necessary 3. If a hurricane struck one of the barrier islands on the coast, how certain is it that: a. the homes on that island in the path of the hurricane would be destroyed? Certain to Withstand Certain to Be Destroyed the Hurricane by the Hurricane b. commercial buildings such as motels would be destroyed? Certain to Withstand Certain to Be Destroyed the Hurricane by the Hurricane 4. If a hurricane struck one of the Texas coastal cities, how certain is it that the homes in the path of the hurricane would be destroyed? Certain to Withstand Certain to Be Destroyed the ' N urricane by the Hurricane 5. If you were informed that you were in the path of a hurricane and a notice had been issued to evacuate, would you do so? Would Not Evacuate Definitely Would Evacuate 6. How destructive is the wind generated by a hurricane? Is Not Destructive Is Extremely Destructive 7. How destructive is the rising water (storm surge; rising tide) generated by a hurricane? Is Not Destructive Is Extremely Destructive A-7 7 SECTION FOUR In the event you were to evacuate, do you have a pre-planned evacuation route? Yr-, No If yes, please describe the route you would take: In the event you must leave your home due to a hurricane threat, do you know how to learn the location of your nearest Civil Defense or Red Cross shelter? Yes No If yes, how would you obtain that information? When a hurricane watch* is issued, check one of the follewing which would most closely describe the actlQn you would most likely take: A. I would wait for further bulletins. B. I would do nothing but remain inside the house. C. I would board up the windows and remain Inside the house. D. I would board up the windows, tie down loose objects, collect a supply of food and water, and wait for further bulletins. E. I would board up the windows, tie down loose objects, collect a supply of food and water, and prepare to ride it out. F. I would board up the windows, tie down loose objects, and move a short di,.tance away from the beach area. G. I would board up the windows, tie down loose objects, and move to a Civii Defense or red Cross shelter. H. I would board up the windows, tie down loose objects, and evacuate. 1. 1 would evacuate immediately. J. Other type of response: When a hurricane warning" is issued, check one of the following which would most closely describe the action you would most likely take: A. I would wait for further bulletins. B. I would do nothing but remain inside the house. C. I would board up the windows and remain inside the house. D. I would board up the windows, tie down loose objects, collect a supply of food and water. and wait for further bulletins. E. I would board up the windows, tie down loose objects, collect a supply of food and water, and prepana to ride it out. F I would board up the windows, tie down loose objects, and move a short distance away from the beach area. G. I would board up the windows, tie down loose objects, and move to a Civil Defense or Red Crosq shelter. H. I would board up the windows. tie down loose objects, and evacuate. 1. 1 would evacuate immediately. J . Other type of response: Watch means that there is a real possibility of a hurricane striking an area. Warning means that a hurricane is expected to hit an area within 24 hours. Comments: APPENDIX E HURRICANE AWARENESS SLIDE SHOW QUESTIONNAIRE I. Was the material presented In an understandable manner, yes- no- 2. Will the material just presented help you prepare yourselves and your property for a hurricane? yog- no- 3. Did you loam anything now about hurricanes and how to prepare for them? yes- no- 4. (&) Did the speaker talk loud enough? yes- no- (b) Would you suggest another program on this subject next year7 yes- no- S. (a) Have you ever experienced a hurricane? yes- no- (b) If so, when and where? (c) Did you suffer any loss of propertyl yes- no- 6. Additional comments (please be candid). Signature not necessary, but would be appreciated. A-79 APPENDIX F STATE- LOCAL-FEDERAL ROLES IN HAZARD AWARENESS PROGRAMS Ideally, all hazard awareness campaigns would be formulated and con- ducted at the local level, so that they could be made as specific and meaningful as possible. Unfortunately, funds, technical expertise, and time to devote to developing awareness efforts may not be available at the community level. Thus, each level of government and the private sec- tor should contribute whatever it can do best to an awareness effort. The Federal Level The federal agencies and the research which they support should most appropriately provide: � general information on each hazard; � Federal legislation and policy support for awareness and other hazard mitigation efforts; � technical assistance (delineation and mapping of hazard zones, advice on building standards, floodproofing, etc.); � basic preparedness advice; � encouragement of long-term planning with aim to lessening future losses; � support for good research regarding human attitudes and response to various natural hazards so as to increase effi- ciency of future awareness programs; and � survey damages after a disaster for use in refining future preparedness efforts. Discussion on the role of the federal level has also posed some ques- tions: Should the "feds" be imposing their beliefs on what attitude people "should" have in regard to natural hazards? How is federal policy (read $) encouraging possibly inappropriate responses to natural hazards (e.g., rebuilding extremely hazard-prone areas with federal relief funds)? The State Level State level response to the hazard awareness problem depends on the attitude of state emergency preparedness officials and the support for such efforts within the legislative process. Given some support, the state level can provide: planning and development of basic materials keyed to a specific state which can then be localized (perhaps leaving blank spaces for printing local phone numbers, shelters, evacuation routes, etc.); A-30 e a good pass-through for federal funds designated for aware ness/d i saste r mitigation programs; e aid in identifying risks; 9 aid in identifying sources of funding and technical assistance whether state or federal level sources; and 9 providing support and perhaps funding for hazard awareness programs through state legislation and igniting interest on the local level for such programs. The Local Level The general consensus is that local officials, and leaders should have the ultimate responsibility in their areas for increasing awareness and preparedness to natural hazards. Actions which are most appropriate to the local level include: � finding and using as a rallying point a community leader with good standing, credibility, and interest in the natural hazard problem; � monitoring and updating descriptions of local conditions @road, building construction, population influx) which would impact public preparedness measures; � encouraging participation in awareness programs by local businesses, industry, civic clubs, etc.; and * localizing federal and state hazard awareness materials to fit a specific area or, if possible, developing their own where needed. A-81 I I AW I I 1 0 1 e ia I I I I I I I I AW I I I Hurricane Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce MEDIA Devastating Facts About Hurricanes Estimated Deaths Damage* Galveston, Texas (1900) 6,000 $ 30 million Florida Keys and Texas (1919) 600-900 $ 22 million Okeechobee, Florida (1928) 1,836 $ 26 million New England (1938) 600 $306 million Diane - North Carolina to 200 $832 million New England (1955) Audrey Texas to Alabama (1957) 390 $150 million Betsy Florida and Louisiana (1965) 75 $ 40 million Camille - Mississippi, Louisiana, 256 $ 90 million Alabama, Virginia, West Virginia (1969) Celia - Texas (1970) 11 $ 36 million Agnes - Florida to New England (1972) 122 $504 million David - Puerto Rico and the Virgin 3 $141 million Islands (1979) Frederick - Mississippi, Alabama, Florida 13 $493 million Virgin Islands (1979) Allen - Texas (1980) 6 $ 1.6 billion Iwa - Hawaii (1982) $ 11 million Alicia - Texas (1983) $ 40 million Diana North Carolina (1984) $ 3 million AdIM1111161 AN B-1 Hurrican Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce To make your hurricane awareness efforts more effective, we suggest you work closely with your local media. Most people in your community are touched by at least one element of the media--radio, television, newspapers. Experience has proven that people respond more quickly and with less panic if they are informed in advance on what to do in a disaster. Following is a sample media package containing information on what people should do before, during, and after a hurricane. We suggest you adapt the materials with specific local information whenever possible. Included are: RADIO SCRIPTS formatted in :10, :30, and :60 second spots, and an ARTICLE designed to run whole or as a series in daily or weekly publications. As hurricane season approaches, take the time to visit each every radio station manager and newspaper editor in your community to discuss use of this material. A e B-3 I I I I I I I Radio Scripts I I I I I I I I I I I I Hurroican Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency I National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - US, Department ol Commerce MEDIA Radio Scripts Hurricane Watch and Warning :10 seconds WHEN A HURRICANE WATCH OR WARNING IS ISSUED, LISTEN FOR OFFICIAL BULLETINS AND BE PREPARED TO ACT QUICKLY. THIS HURRICANE SAFETY TIP IS FROM . . . . ACT QUICKLY WHEN A HURRICANE WATCH OR WARNING IS ISSUED, AND LISTEN FOR OFFICIAL BULLETINS. THIS HURRICANE SAFETY TIP IS FROM KNOW WHAT A HURRICANE WATCH AND WARNING MEAN. IN BOTH CASES, STAY TUNED FOR OFFICIAL BULLETINS. THIS HURRICANE SAFETY TIP IS FROM . . . . Hurricane Watch and Warning :30 seconds IN HURRICANE LANGUAGE, A WATCH MEANS A HURRICANE IS THREATENING; A WARNING MEANS THE STORM IS CERTAIN. WHEN A HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED, LISTEN TO THIS STATION FOR THE LATEST WEATHER SERVICE ADVISORIES AND FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. BE PREPARED TO ACT IMMEDIATELY IF THE WATCH IS CHANGED TO A WARNING. THIS HURRICANE SAFETY TIP IS FROM . . . . A IN "AN e B-5 MEDIA Radio Scripts Preparing Your Home :30 seconds A THREATENING HURRICANE MEANS YOU MAY HAVE TO ACT FAST. IF YOUR HOME IS STURDY AND ON HIGH GROUNDO STAY THERE UNLESS ADVISED TO EVACUATE. LEAVE MOBILE HOMES FOR MORE SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER. BOARD UP WINDOWS OR PROTECT THEM WITH STORM SHUTTERS OR TAPE. TIE DOWN OR MOVE OUTDOOR OBJECTS THAT MIGHT BE BLOWN AWAY. STORE DRINKING WATER IN CLEAN CONTAINERS OR BATHTUBS. CHECK YOUR BATTERY-POWERED EQUIPMENT. KEEP AMPLE FUEL IN YOUR CAR SHOULD EVACUATION BE NECESSARY. LISTEN TO THIS STATION FOR ADVISORIES AND INSTRUCTIONS. THESE HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS ARE FROM . . . . B-6 Hurrican Awareness W coot Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce MEDIA Radio Scripts Preparing Your Home :60 seconds A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS YOU MAY HAVE TO ACT FAST. IF YOUR HOME IS STURDY AND ON HIGH GROUND, STAY THERE UNLESS ADVISED TO EVACUATE. LEAVE LOW-LYING AREAS THAT MAY BE SWEPT BY HIGH TIDES OR STORM WAVES, AND LEAVE MOBILE HOMES FOR STURDIER SHELTER. BOARD UP WINDOWS AND DOORS OR PROTECT THEM WITH STORM SHUTTERS OR TAPE. MOVE VALUABLES TO UPPER FLOORS. TIE DOWN OR MOVE OUTDOOR OBJECTS THAT MIGHT BE BLOWN AWAY. BE CERTAIN YOUR EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT IS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER AND YOU HAVE ENOUGH SUPPLIES TO LAST SEVERAL SAYS. STORE DRINKING WATER IN CLEAN CONTAINERS OR BATHTUBS. STOCK CANNED GOODS OR NON-PERISHABLE FOODS. HAVE A PORTABLE RADIO AND FLASHLIGHT CLOSE, AT HAND, AND STORE EXTRA BATTERIES. KEEP A FIRE EXTINGUISHER READY. AND KEEP AMPLE FUEL IN YOUR CAR SHOULD YOU HAVE TO EVACUATE. STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR OFFICIAL BULLETINS AND ADVICE. THESE HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS ARE FROM . . . . 6 _' W4, z e E-7 MEDIA Radio Scripts Evacuation :10 seconds WHEN A HURRICANE THREATENS, LISTEN FOR OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS AND BE READY TO LEAVE AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE. THIS HURRICANE SAFETY TIP IS FROM . . . . Evacuation :30 seconds IF A HURRICANE IS ON ITS WAY AND YOU'RE ADVISED TO EVACUATE., DO SO IMMEDIATELY. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. LEAVE EARLY SO YOU WON'T BE TRAPPED IN YOUR HOME. WHEN TOLD TO MOVE TO A CERTAIN LOCATION, GO THERE, AND NOWHERE ELSE. IF SPECIFIC TRAVEL ROUTES ARE RECOMMENDED, USE THEM. KEEP LISTENING TO THIS STATION FOR SAFETY INFORMATION. THESE HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS ARE FROM B-8 Hurricane Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce MEDIA Radio Scripts Evacuation :60 seconds IF A HURRICANE THREATENS AND YOU ARE ADVISED TO EVACUATE YOUR HOME TEMPORARILY, ALWAYS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN BY YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. IF YOU ARE ADVISED TO EVACUATE, DO SO PROMTPLY. IF YOU ARE TOLD TO MOVE TO A CERTAIN LOCATION, GO THERE . . . DON'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE. USE TRAVEL ROUTES THAT ARE SPECIFIED OR RECOMMENDED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES, RATHER THAN TRYING TO FIND SHORTCUTS OF YOUR OWN. IT YOU ARE TOLD TO SHUT OFF YOUR WATER, GAS, OR ELECTRIC SERVICE BEFORE LEAVING, DO SO. TRAVEL WITH CARE. IF YOU ARE DRIVING YOUR CAR TO ANOTHER LOCATION, LEAVE EARLY ENOUGH SO YOU WON'T BE MAROONED BY FLOODED ROADS AND FALLEN TREES AND WIRES. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH GAS IN YOUR CAR. AS YOU TRAVEL, KEEP LISTENING TO THIS STATION FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FROM YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT. THESE HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS ARE FROM . . . . B-9 MEDIA Radio Scripts Driving in Severe Weather :30 seconds NEVER ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH FLOOD WATER. WATER CAN BE DEEPER THAN IT APPEARS, AND WATER LEVELS CAN RISE VERY QUICKLY. MOST CARS WILL FLOAT DANGEROUSLY FOR AT LEAST A SHORT WHILE, AND CAN BE SWEPT AWAY QUICKLY IN FLOODWATERS. IF YOUR CAR STALLS IN FLOODWATER, GET OUT IMMEDIATELY AND MOVE TO HIGHER GROUND. THESE HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS ARE FROM . . . . Hurricane Driving Safety :30 seconds IF YOU EVACUATE TO ANOTHER LOCATION, KEEP THESE TIPS IN MIND: LEAVE AS SOON AS YOU ARE ADVISED TO EVACUATE TO AVOID CROWDED ROADS OR BEING TRAPPED BY FLOODED ROADS, FALLEN TREES, AND DOWNED WIRES. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH GAS IN YOUR CAR. FOLLOW RECOMMENDED ROUTES. AVOID COASTAL AND LOW-LYING ROADS. AND KEEP LISTENING TO THIS STATION FOR WEATHER UPDATES. THESE HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS ARE FROM . . . . B-10 DISPLAY1 ITEM 36668141030645 o12127560 QC 944 F293h 1985 QC 944 F293h Corporate Author:United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency. Title:Hurricane awareness workbook / [Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] Publication info:Washington, D.C. : Federal Emergency Management Agency, [19851 General Note:Cover title. Held by:CHARLESCSC Subject term:Hurricanes. Subject term:Hurricane protection. Added Author:United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Displaying 1 of 1 volumes) QC 944 F293h 1985 copies:l library:CHARLESCSC copy:l ID:36668141030645 BOOK (STACKS) 0 00 Q 0 ORDERS:NONE ell Hurrincan Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce MEDIA Radio Scripts Tornadoes Spawned by Hurricanes :10 seconds TORNADOES ARE OFTEN SPAWNED BY HURRICANES. WHEN A HURRICANE IS ON ITS WAY, L15TEN FOR TORNADO WATCHES AND WARNINGS. THIS HURRICANE SAFETY TIP IS FROM . . . . Tornadoes Spawned by Hurricanes :30 seconds TORNADOES SPAWNED BY HURRICANES ARE KILLERS. WHEN A HURRICANE IS ON ITS WAY, LISTEN FOR TORNADO WATCHES AND WARNINGS. A TORNADO WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE RIGHT FOR A TORNADO. A WARNING MEANS A TORNADO HAS ACTUALLY BEEN SIGHTED. IMMEDIATELY SEEK SHELTER INSIDE, PREFERABLY BELOW GROUND LEVEL. DO NOT TRY TO ESCAPE BY CAR. IF THERE IS NO TIME TO GET INSIDE, LIE FLAT IN THE NEAREST DEPRESSION, LIKE A DITCH OR A RAVINE. THESE HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS ARE FROM As- AN e B-11 MEDIA Radio Scripts After the Hurricane :10 seconds ALTHOUGH THE HURRICANE'S STORM HAS PASSED, STAY INDOORS UNTIL LOCAL AUTHORITIES SAY IT IS SAFE TO LEAVE. THIS HURRICANE SAFETY TIP IS FROM . . . . After the Hurricane :30 seconds ALTHOUGH THE HURRICANE'S STORM HAS PASSED, THE DANGER IS NOT OVER. STAY INDOORS UNTIL LOCAL AUTHORITIES SAY IT IS SAFE TO LEAVE. STAY TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR INFORMATION ON WHERE TO GO FOR ASSISTANCE WITH HOUSING, CLOTHING, AND FOOD. WHEN RETURNING HOME, STAY AWAY FROM RIVERS, FLOOD PLAINS, AND COASTAL AREAS UNTIL FLOODING IS NO LONGER A DANGER. KEEP OUT OF DISASTER AREAS WHEN POSSIBLE. THESE HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS ARE FROM . . . . B-12 urricane wareness Federal Emergency Management Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce MEDIA Radio Scripts After the Hurricane :60 seconds THE HURRICANE HAS PASSED, BUT MANY DANGERS STILL EXIST. REMAIN INDOORS UNTIL LOCAL AUTHORITIES SAY IT IS SAFE TO LEAVE. KEEP TUNED TO THIS STATION FOR OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS AND ADVICE ON WHERE TO GO FOR NECESSARY MEDICAL CARE AND EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING, CLOTHING, AND FOOD, AND WAYS TO HELP YOURSELF AND YOUR COMMUNITY RECOVER FROM THE EMERGENCY. STAY AWAY FROM RIVERS, FLOOD PLAINS, OR COASTAL AREAS UNTIL ALL POTENTIAL FLOODING IS PAST. KEEP OUT OF DISASTER AREAS WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT DRIVE UNLESS YOU MUST. ROADS MAY BE UNDERMINED AND COLLAPSE UNDER THE WEIGHT OF A CAR. DRIVE CAREFULLY ALONG DEBRIS-FILLED STREETS. AVOID LOOSE OR DANGLING WIRES, AND REPORT THEM IMMEDIATELY TO YOUR POWER COMPANY OR TO THE LOCAL POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENT. REPORT BROKEN SEWER OR WATER MAINS TO THE WATER DEPARTMENT. CHECK REFRIGERATED FOOD FOR SPOILAGE IF POWER HAS BEEN OFF DURING THE STORM. THESE HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS ARE FROM . . . . A H B-13 MEDIA Radio Scripts Storm Surge :30 seconds A HURRICANE STORM SURGE IS A DOME OF WATER OFTEN 50 MILES WIDE THAT SWEEPS AWAY EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH. THE STRONGER THE HURRICANE, THE HIGHER THE STORM SURGE WILL BE. NINE OUT OF TEN HURRICANE DEATHS ARE CAUSED BY THE STORM SURGE. DURING AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER A HURRICANE, AVOID THE COAST. THIS HURRICANE SAFETY TIP IS FROM . . . . Inland Flooding :10 seconds INLAND FLOODING CAUSED BY A HURRICANE IS A DANGEROUS KILLER. AVOID LOW-LYING AREAS AND WATERWAYS DURING AND AFTER A HURRICANE. THIS HURRICANE SAFETY TIP IS FROM Inland Flooding :30 seconds HURRICANES CAN CAUSE EXTENSIVE FLOODING, NOT JUST ALONG THE COAST BUT FAR INLAND AS WELL. IF YOU LIVE INLAND FROM A HURRICANE-PRONE COAST, STAY AWARE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. KNOW WHERE THE HIGH GROUND IS AND HOW TO GET THERE IN A HURRY. STAY AWAY FROM LOW-LYING AREAS. THIS HURRICANE SAFETY TIP IS FROM B-14 I I I I I I Article I I I I I I I I I I I I I - urricane wareness federal Emerge int Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce MEDIA Article Entering the Hurricane Season June to November Being prepared for the Hurricane Season can make a significant difference in your ability to cope with these violent storms. Each community in a hurricane region may have overall plans to combat this menace, but individuals, too, need to be cautious and prepare for threats to their safety. Remember, because hurricanes are so unpredictable in their destructive capabilities, you might have to rely on yourself for a period of time during one of these storms. A hurricane begins as a tropical storm somewhere over the ocean. Rotating in a circular pattern, the storm quickly picks up speed and momentum, reaching wind-speeds of 74mph and is thus labeled a full-force hurricane. While the strong winds and heavy rains of a hurricane can pose a threat to human life and property, the most dangerous element of a hurricane is the storm surge. As the storm moves across coastal areas, tides of three to ten feet above normal are common occurrences. In some cases, surging tides may rise over 20 feet and flood low-lying inland areas. A"_ H B-15 MEDIA Article It is never too early to set aside the supplies you would need during a hurricane emergency. People traditionally stock supplies such as extra medication or an extra pair of glasses for emergency situations. A hurricane emergency is no less important, and special pre.cautions or preparations should be made for your protection. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service suggest that a list of hurricane preparation supplies should include several days supply of drinking water and non-perishable food, a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a battery-powered radio, flashlights, and extra batteries. If you live in a coastal area, have a safe evacuation route planned. Your community's hurricane preparedness plan should include designated safe areas, areas to be evacuated during a hurricane emergency, and safe evacuation routes to shelter. Information on evacuation planning in your area can be obtained by contacting your local civil defense or emergency services office. B-16 Hurrican Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce MEDIA Article Knowing Hurricane Alerts Thanks to modern detection and tracking devices, the National Weather Service can usually give 12 to 24 hours of warning of an impending hurricane landfall. A HURRICANE WATCH is issued when a hurricane becomes a threat to coastal areas. Everyone in the area covered by the watch should listen for further advisories and be prepared to act promptly if advised to do so. A HURRICANE WARNING indicates that hurricane winds of 74 miles an hour or higher, or a combination of dangerously high water and very rough seas, are expected in a specific coastal area within 24 hours. Safety actions should begin immediately. The National Weather Service issues hurricane probabilities as part of its official advisories as a hurricane approaches the U.S. Such probabilities (expressed as percentages) are issued four times a day and are used by your local government officials to make emergency decisions and give you emergency preparedness instructions. The probabilities are defined as the chance (in percent) that the center of the storm will pass within approximately 65 miles of 44 selected locations from A 6V Brownsville, Texas, to Eastport, Maine. B-17 MEDIA Article As a hurricane approaches the U.S., you may be informed of these probabilities over television, radio, or in the newspaper. As a hurricane moves toward land, a probability percentage is assigned to several points along the coastline. If the percentage increases with each advisory, listen carefully to your local radio and television stations for emergency instructions. Ready your household and be prepared to evacuate if advised to do so. Hurricanes can cause extensive flooding--not just along the coastline, but far inland as well. Flood insurance is valuable financial protection for your property. You should be aware, however, that homeowners policies rarely cover damage from flooding. Check into the availability of flood insurance to protect your property by contacting your insurance agent or broker. Several insurance companies now underwrite "flood policies" in cooperation with the National Flood Insurance Program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. B-18 Hurruicane Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce MEDIA Article Preparing for a Hurricane If a hurricane threatens, keep listening to your local radio or television station for the latest Weather Service advisories as well as special instructions from local government officials. The first rule to remember is that when you are advised to evacuate--do so immediately. Evacuation is always an option, but it is a life-saving means of protecting yourself and your family. Be familiar with your community's evacuation plan procedures--what route you will take to go to designated safe areas. Fill your car's fuel tank to be prepared in case evacuation should be necessary. There is always the possibility that service stations may be inoperable after a storm strikes. Residents of low-lying areas that may be swept by high tides or storm waves should evacuate such areas without delay. It would be extremely dangerous to be caught in your car on an open coastal road. Roads to safer areas could become flooded before the full force of the hurricane strikes, and getting out of such areas could be further complicated by the fact that the density of population in some areas makes it mathematically impossible for the few roads to accommodate everyone within one day. .-- A B-19 MEDIA Article If your local government advises evacuation of your area, DO SO IMMEDIATELY. Do not wait to see "what develops." Keep your car radio on to listen for further instructions, such as the location of emergency shelters. If you live inland, away from the beaches and low-lying coastal areas, your home is well constructed, and local authorities have not called for evacuation in your area, stay home and make emergency preparations. Hurricanes can cause power and water failure. Make sure battery-powered equipment such as radios and flashlights are in good operating condition. Your battery radio could be your only source of information in a hurricane emergency. Store a supply of drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles, and cooking utensils because your normal water system may be contaminated or damaged by the storm. Board up windows or protect them with storm shutters or tape. Danger to small windows is mainly the result of wind-driven debris. Larger windows may be broken by wind pressure. Although tape may not keep a window from breaking, it is an effective way of preventing flying glass. B-20 J Awareness Hurrican own 00, Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce MEDIA Article Secure outdoor objects that might be blown away. Garbage cans, garden tools, toys, signs, porch furniture, and a number of other harmless items can become weapons in hurricane winds. Boats should be moored securely, or moved to a designated safe area before the storm arrives. As you monitor Weather Service advisories, be alert for tornado watches or warnings. Tornadoes are often spawned by hurricanes. Should your area receive a tornado warning, seek inside shelter immediately, preferably below ground level. When the storm arrives, STAY IN YOUR HOUSE, until you have been advised that the storm has passed. Travel is extremely dangerous. Be especially wary of the "eye" of the hurricane. If the storm center passes directly overhead, there will be a lull in the wind lasting from a few minutes to half-an-hour or more. Because a hurricane is a rotating storm, at the other side of the "eye", winds will increase rapidly to hurricane force and will come from the opposite direction of the initial wind impact. AN e B-21 MEDIA Article After the Hurricane Has Passed If a hurricane forces you into a public shelter, remain there until informed by local officials that it is safe to return to your home. Keep tuned to your local radio or television station for advice and instructions about emergency medical, food, housing, and other forms of assistance. Do not drive unless you must. Debris-filled streets are dangerous and roads should be clear for emergency vehicles--you might interfere with essential rescue and recovery work. Additionally, along the coast, soil may be washed from beneath the pavement, which could collapse under the weight of a car. Avoid loose or dangling wires, and report them to your local power company, local police, or fire department. Also, report any broken sewer or water mains. Be particularly careful to prevent the outbreak of fire, as lowered water pressure may make fire fighting difficult. Hurricanes moving inland can cause severe flooding. Stay away from river banks and streams until all potential flooding is past. B-22 urricane Awareness OF -- -- I - ---- ro Federal Emergency Management Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce MEDIA Article Be suspicious of water which may have become contaminated. If the power has been off, check refrigerated food for spoilage. Once a freezer is without power, it should keep food in satisfactory condition up to 36 hours provided it is kept closed. Wrapping the freezer in blankets will help insulate the cold. Hurricane Preparedness is for Everyone Discuss the information in this article with your children. Explain your family's plans and preparations. Share your ideas with friends, neighbors, and relatives. Hurricane preparedness is a job for everyone in the community. Additional information on hurricane preparedness is available at the local civil defense or emergency service office at (address) NOTE: Those paragraphs that are bracketed are especially adaptable for inserting information such as evacuation maps, addresses or phone numbers, or other information that is pertinent to your local emergency response programs or agencies. A I- AN H B-23 I I I I I I "Did You Know" Cartoons I I I I I I I I I I I I I DID YOU KNOW DID YOU KNOW YOU CARRY IN YOUR WALLET THE NAME AND ADDRESS I OF YOUR AGENT OR 5ROKER WHO WROTE YOUR FLOOD IkWRWE POLICY. AS A PART OF PREPARING FOR HURRICANE SEASON YOU SHOULD VAKE A LIST OF ALL YOUR PERSONAL PROPERTY IT'S A GOOO IDEA TO TAKE PICTURES OF TRESE ITEW AND OF YOUR HOME, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT. THE3E PHOT05 WILL HELP ADJUSTERS TO SETTLE ANY CLAIMS YOU MAY HAVE TO FILE. 7% FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE. MANAGEMENT OFFICE. DID YOU KNOW DID YOU KNOW FLOODS ARE DECEPTIVE MA Alf- A Now YU HOME"V@ POLICY' M OT COAR DANIA& r-ROM FLOCIOING. z CHECKINTO THE AVAILABILITY OF FLOOD INSURANCE THtROuGH THE WATOX FLOW INSURANCE PROGRAM BY CONTACTING YOUR LOCAL INSURANCE AGEN r oR BROKER. AVO 10 ALREADY FLOODED AREAS. X NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS ANY S7RETCH OF FLOOD WATER IF THE WATER IS ABOVE FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR LOCAL YOUR KNES. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE. FOR =INFORMATION CALL YOUR LOCAL ENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE. B-25 DID YOU KNOW DID YOU KNOW ImuR ANNIJAL PREPARATIONS FOR HURRICANE SEASON 0 SHOULD INCLUDE CASECKING TO SEE rHAT @DU HAVE A IT Is WISE TO LEAVE EARLY FROM SUPPLY OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, PIRSTAID &PPLIES LOW-LYING ARGAS WHICR COULD BE SWEPT FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BATTERY By HIGR TIDES OR SlORM WAVES BEFORE POWERED RADIO, FLASHLIC7HT ANID DURING A HURRIrANE. AND W11RIES. 'Z @,J@ FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR LOCAL MANAGEMENT OFFICE. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE. DID YOU KNOW P DID YOU KNOW P a :% 41111 YOU SHOULD LEARN THE SAFEST ROUTE =7 FROM YOUR ROME OR PLACE OF BUSINESS TO HC34, WE GROUND BEFORE A AURRICANe OCZURS. YOU SHOULD PMCE IF k HURRICANE IS ON It WAY, YOU SHOULD 50ARD TAKING T14EM ROUTES 13FIFORE. IF A UP WINDOWS OR, PROTECT THEM WITH STORM HURRICANE PRODUCES FLOODING, YOU MAY SHUTTERS OR TAPE. LARGER WINDOWS MAY BE ONLY HAVE MINUTES TO GET TO SWETY. BROKEN 5Y V41ND PRESSURE AND ALL WINDOWS MAY 13E SHATTERED 13Y FLYING DEBRIS. TAPE IS AN FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR LOCAL EFFECTIVE: WAY OF PREVENTING FLYING GLASS. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE. B-26 D YOU KNOW P DID YOU KNOW P ft SHOULD CARRY IN YOUR WALLET THE N" AND ADDRESS OF YOUR AGENT OR BROKER WFID WROTE YOUR FLOOD INWXWE POLICY *A PART OF PREPARING FOR HURRICANE v: SEASON YOU SHOULD MW A LIST OF ALL YOUR PERSONA). PROPERTY IT'S A GOOD IDEA 1.0 TAKE LrTUlE.SlF T ITIEWIS AND F 'OUR E, TH @2 E AND OIT- THESE PHOTOI "LlylIlLl,., ADASTEKS TO SEITLE A. CLA YOU NW NINE TO FILE DID YOU KNOW DID YOU KNOW? FLOOPS ARE DECEPTIVE Homcma@ PoLry OK5 D7 COVER DAMAGE FROM FLOODING CkIECK "TO THE AAILOLITY OF FLOOD INSURANCE THROUG14 T4 NATIONAL FLOOD INSUFUNCE PRO6RAM BY CONTACTING 4DUR LOCAL INSURANCE KANTOR BROKER. AVOID ALREADY FLOODED AREAS. DO AN C" INOTFLAITOTE.MUTIOR 51ROT5.S. WAYTESRTRE'ABOll YOLIR KNEES. A.A.- 11 1 DID YOU KNOW P DID YOU KNOW P 0A AWAL PREPARATIONS FOR HURRICANE SEASON SE EAVE EARLY FROM r IT IS WI SHOULD IN LUCE CHECKING To SEE THAT YD=,,A ING ARAL, W'HICH COULD OF SKP 5 LOW-12Y ORE T SUPPLY OF NDN-PERISHABLE FOOD, FIRST A (3y HIC714 TIDES OR STORM WAIES BEF FIRE EVINGUISHER. BATfERY POWERED RADIO, FLA$HLIONT AND DURING A HuRKiCPNE. AND BATTERIES. -0 ... 11- AI, 0-y _,C DID YOU KNOW p DID YOU KNOW C=)C*- YOU SHOULD LEARN THE Sfff ST ROUTE FROM, YOUR HC#AE OR PLACE OF BUSINESS TO HIGH, $AFE GROUND BEFORE A HURRICANE OCCURS P,, URRCANp',S FN TTTr 0, D,,@D YOU SHOULD PRACTICE %. D, @, TAKING THESE ROUTES BEFOREHAND. IF A ' jDtl I _Y HURF A N= 'ICANE PROPUUS FILCOVING. YOU MAY O'll'EVIll INW PR ONLY 14AVE MINUTES TO GET TO SAFETY. BE SHATTEREDY130YFFLYING, TAPE IS A" IVE cm WA mv,,, YING GLA5S eFFErT CIRI DE EPTIVE B-27 I I AW I AW 0 1 1 Materials for the Public I I I I I I I I I I I tips Keep tuned to your local radio or television sta- tion for advice and instructions from local govern- LEAVE EARLY from low-lying beach areas ment about emergency medical, food, housing, and that may be swept by high tides or storm other forms of assistance. waves. Leave mobile homes for more substan- Stay out of disaster areas which could be danger- tial shelter - they are particularly vulnerable ous and where your presence will interfere with to overturning in strong winds. essential rescue and recovery work. BE AWARE that some areas may flood long Do not drive unless you must. Roads should be before the arrival of the storm.. Your escape left clear for emergency vehicles and debris filled may be further complicated by the fact that streets are dangerous. Along the coast, soil may be the density of population of some areas makes washed from beneath the Pavement, which could col- it mathematically impossible for the few roads lapse under the weight of a car. to accomodate everyone within one day. Don't Avoid loose or dangling wires, and report them im- get caught by the hurricane in your car on an mediately to your power company or local police or open coastal road. fire department. If local government advises evacuation of Report broken sewer or water mains to the water your area, DO SO IMMEDIATELY. Keep your department. car radio on to listen for further instructions, Prevent fires. Lowered water pressure may make Tap 1%@, such as the location of emergency shelters. fire fighting difficult. Hurricanes moving inland can cause severe flood- ing. Stay away from river banks and streams until all potential flooding is past. R If you live inland away from the beaches and low-lying coastal areas, your home is well construct- If power has been off, check refrigerated food for ed, and local authorities have not called for evacua- spoilage. Be suspicious of water that may have been tion in your area, stay home and make emergency contaminated. preparations. Make your plans and preparations for a hur- 0 Be alert for tornado watches and warnings as ricane emergQncy the subject of a family discus tornadoes are often spawned by hurricanes. Should sion. Share your family's plans with friends X v, your area receive a tornado warning, seek inside shel- and relatives. Hurricane preparedness is a team ter immediately, preferably below ground level. effort for everyone in the neighborhood and C 0 M M U n i t y. During the hurricane If Federal Ernergency Management Agency Remain indoors during the hurricane. Blowing Washington, D.C. 20472 debris can injure and kill, Travel is extremely danger- ous. Be especially wary of the "eye" of the hurri- cane. If the storm center passes directly overhead, there will be a lull in the wind lasting from a few minutes to half-an-hour or more. At the other side of the "eye" the winds will increase rapidly to hurri- cane force, and will come from the opposite direc- tion. After the hurricane has passed If you are in a public shelter, remain there until in formed by those in charge that it is safe to leave. L-105 April 1980 safety tips for M rr Getting ready for the hurricane For those who haven't felt surance is valuable financial Protection. You should Keep tuned to a local radio or television station the force of a hurricane be aware, however, that your homeowners' policy for the latest Weather Service advisories as well as does not cover damage from flooding. Check into the special instructions from local government. It was pleasant - a breezy Indian Summer Sunday availability of flood insurance through the National evening. As the hurricane approached the beautiful Flood Insurance Program by contacting your local Check battery-powered equipment. Your bat- saucer-deep bay, long-time residents sat on their insurance agent or broker. tery-operated radio could be your only source of in- patios and sipped tall drinks. The last hurricane was formation, and flashlights will be needed if utility ser- only a dim 22-year old memory. The storms broke Your annual preparations for the hurricane season vices are interrupted. their once-every-six-year average of hitting the coast should include checking to see that you have a supply long ago. When they did hit, it never amounted to of non-perishable food, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, Keep your car fueled should evacuation be more than a splash of water blown up to the property battery-powered radio, flashlights, and extra bat- necessary. Also, service stations may be inoperable lines or porch steps. Evacuate in response to civil teries. after the storm strikes. C) defense sirens and radio warnings? Why bother? IJ They were having too much fun! Advisories and warnings Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles, and cooking utensils as your town's water But by morning the bridge was out. They were Thanks to modern detection and tracking devices, system may be contaminated or damaged by the stuck. Record 200 mile per hour plus winds shredded the National Weather Service can usually provide 12 storm. their homes splinter by splinter, as they cowered in to 24 hours of advance warning. Advisories are issued upper floor back bedrooms, clinging to mattresses. by the Weather Service of NOAA when hurricanes Board up windows or protect them with storm approach land. shutters or tape. Danger to small windows is mainly Those alive tried to concentrate on shutterless from wind-driven debris. Larger windows may be flashbacks of their lives as they waited in terror for A "hurricane watch" is issued whenever a hurri- broken by wind pressure. Although tape may not the end. Then a mighty storm surge plowed inland, cane becomes a threat to coastal areas. Everyone in keep a window from breaking, it is an effective way its giant wind-driven waves over 20 feet high, strew- the area covered by the "watch" should listen for of preventing flying glass. ing devastation, and finishing what the wind had further advisories and be prepared to act promptly if started. a hurricane warning is issued. 0 Secure outdoor objects that might be blown away. Garbage cans, garden tools, toys, signs, porch This could happen to you. A "hurricane warning" is issued when hurricane furniture, and a number of other harmless items be- winds of 74 miles an hour or higher, or a combination come deadly missiles in hurricane winds. of dangerously high water and very rough seas, are ex- Enter the season prepared pected in a specific coastal area within 24 hours. Pre- Moor your boat securely before the storm ar- If you live in a coastal area, plan a flood-free cautionary actions should begin immediately. rives, or move it to a designated safe area. evacuation route. Your community's hurricane pre- paredness plan should include designated safe areas, areas to be evacuated during a hurricane emergency, 7 1 and safe evacuation routes to shelter. Get informa- tion on emergency planning in your area by contact- ing your local civil defense or emergency services 7:7 - office. Hurricanes can cause extensive flooding, not just ,@Vc es along the coastline, but far inland as well. Flood in- I Enter the June-November season prepared. inventory boards, tools, batteries, nonperishable foods, and other emergency AL equipment. When your area receives a hurricane warning: 9 Leave low-lying areas. U Moor your boat securely or evacuate it. 8 Protect your windows with boards, shutters, or tape. 9 Secure outdoor objects or bring them indoors. 0 Fuel your car. 8 Save several days' water supply. A Stay at home if it is sturdy and on high ground. 11111 Leave mobile homes for more substantial shelter. 0 0 Stay indoors during the hurricane. 41F HURRICANE WATCH: Hurricane conditions pose a possible -,%h threat to your area. A hurricane causes sea level to rise above normal tidal In especially vulnerable areas, early evacuation may be heights, with giant wind-driven waves and strong, unpre- necessary when a Watch is issued. Otherwise you should dictable currents. These are the storm's wcmt kiffer. review hurricane safety procedures and make preparations. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio and commercial radio and � Know your property's elevation above mean sea level. television for the latest information and instructions for � Have a safe evacuation route planned. lei your location. � Learn the storm surge history for you. HURRICANE WARNING: Hurricane conditions are expected in your area within 24 hours. Tornadoes spawned by hurricanes are S/ Areas subject to storm surge or tides should be evacuated extremely dangerous. When a hurricane approaches, listen for tornado watches NOAA/PA 70027 as well as areas which could be isolated by flood waters. and warnings, and be ready to take im- iftevised Nov. 19811 Follow the instructions of local officials. You will not be mediate shelter. asked to leave your home unless your life is threatened. REMEMBER: Latest storm-related information will be avail- U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE able on NOAA Weather Radio and commercial radio and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. television. Do not tie up telephone lines by calling local officials or the National Weather Service. Listen carefully to F-k hy lh@ [email protected] D-U, U,& G.-, Pini@g Off- broadcasters serving your immediate area. Wohmirm. D.C. -2040,2 roll safety tips for motorists in emergencies mmer Heat Emergency STAY OUT OF A Supplies PARKED CAR KEEP IN THE CAR Ca's should be equipped with supplies which could be useful in any emergency. Dependingon location. climateofthe area, During ho weather, heat build-up in a personal requirements and other variables, closed or nearly closk car can occur the supplies in the kit might include (but are Tornado quickly and intensely. Children and pets not limited to) the following: can die from heat sliroke in a matter of minutes when left in a closed car. Never t., leave anyone in a parked car during periods of high summer heat. Blizzard Developing Emergency STAY INFORMED Earthquake In times of developing emergencies such as toxic material spill, nuclear plant acci- dent, or enemy attack, keep a radio or television on and await instructions. It evacuation is recommended, move quickly but calmly, following instructions as to NEVER CARRY GASOLINE IN COW route to be used, evacuation shelter to be TAINERS OTHER THAN THE CAR'S GAS sought, and other directions. TANK! FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY Via- W_ 1 vw ming Flood NA GET OUT OF THE CAR ns -=r- hkl@ America a world-famous for their long-term love at fair with the automobile. In times Of emergency, however, people often react incor- Hurricane Blizzard rectly, either staying with or abandoning their EVACUATE EARLY Never attempt to drive through water on a STAY IN THE CAR cars a the wrong time. road. Water can be deeper than it appears, A mistake can be fatal. and water levels can rise very quickly. 111111111ift After almost every disaster, search and rescue Most cars will float dangerously for at least @e his lind victims who might have,survived if Ma 2 a short while. A car can be buoyed by flood ey had known whether to stay wi h or leave waters and then swept downstream during their cars, a flood. Floodwaters also can erode road- Following are safety lips for c@fivers, in v,@hroious Flooding can begin well before a hurricane ways, and a missing section of road-even types of emergencies. This in orma ion s ud nears land. Plan to evacuate early, and a missing bridge-will not be visible with Avoid driving in severe winter storms. If b kept in the glove compaftment of your car. In you are caught in a storm and your car ,ey . keep a full tank of gas during the hurricane water running over the area. Wade through n ituation, the most important rule is: Don't floodlVaterS only it lh& Water is not flowing becomes immobilized, stay in the vehicle panic. season. Learn the best evacuation route rapidly and only in water no higher than the and await rescue. Do not attempt to walk before a storm forms, and make ar- knees. If a car stalls in floodwater, get out from the car unless you can see a definite n rangements with friends or relatives inland safe haven at a reasonable distance. Disor- to stay with them until the storm has quickly and move to higher ground. The a floodwaters may still be rising, and the car ientation during blizzard conditions comes 01 pa sed, Never attempt to drive during a rapidly and being lost in the show is ex- hur ri cane or until the all-clear is given after could be swept away at any moment. ceedingly dangerous. Turn on the auto Earthquake the storm. Flash flooding can occur after a engine for brief periods to provide heat, but STAY IN THE CAR hurricane has passed. Avoid driving on always leave a down-wind window open coastal and low-lying roads. Storm surge slightly to avoid deadly carbon monoxide and hurricane-caused flooding are erratic poisoning. Make sure the exhaust pipe is and may occur with little or no warning. 0 LOT, I I I Q* clear of sn Exercise occasionally by clap Tornado ping hand's and moving around. Do not GET OUT OF THE CAR 7:7 remain in one position for long, but avoid overexertion and exposure from shoveling or pushing the car Leave the dome light on Bring the car to a halt as soon as safely LISTEN to radio or television for the latest at night as a signal for rescuers. It more possible, then remain in the car until the National Weather Service bulletins on than one person is in the car, sleep only in shaking has stopped. The car's suspension severe weather for the area in which you shifts. system will make the car shake violently will drive. during the quake, but it is still a safe place A car is the least safe place to be during a to be. Avoid stopping near or under build- tornado. When a warning is issued, do not INS @ngs. overpasses and utility wires When try to leave the area by car. If you are n a 11 he quaking has stopped, car, leave it and find shelter in a building. If tious(y, avoiding bridges and oiner a tornado approaches and there are no I ht have vated structures which mig beer, safe struciures nearby, lie flat in a ditch or cou damaged by the quake and could be dam- other ground depression with your arms d further by aftershocks over your head. TWO_ HURRICANES STORM L 140 J..r1984 Major hurricanes are relatively rare events at any The hurricanes that strike the ...far. United URGE AND location Coasts' residents fro, Brownsville. States are born in the tropical and substropical 0S Te., to Eastport Me., he,* a good chance of North Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, ..it living any year.' without a, enercing one. But 4= Gull of Mexico. Most occur in August. Sap none of a, our coastal areas arep I. "Not hem! 11ber, and October, but the six-month period HURRICANE We he, n't had a hurricane in veu,"r could b tram I* November 30 Is considered the 'a tic cam season. the most dangerous words you'll ever hear. ft': Allen ""Zirli best to be prepared. This could be die year. The principal regions of tropical cyclone origin vary during the season- offl early IMay SAFETY 1 June) storms ig in 11 Gull of M and Hurric rise are tropical cyclones in whch winds or nate the x cc reach constant speeds of 74 miles Par hourrelor and western Caribbean. In July and August, the more. and blow in a large spiral around a- areas of most frewnt origin shift eastward, and With North Atlantic r_ly calm cent-the eye of the hurricane. by Septembe are located over the larger area Every year, these violent storms brin destruc- from the Sahre-3 southeastward to the Les r Tracking Chart tion to coastlinet, and islands in their euatic path. Antilles, and thence eastward to south of the Cape Verde Island,. near the vwft coast of Stated very simply, hurricanes are giant whirl- Africa. Alter mid.Septomber, the principal areas winds in which air moves in a large tightening of origin shift back to the Caribbean and spiral around a center of extreme low pressure, Gulf of Mexico. reaching maximum velocity in a circular band On ever. awlixt Atlantic hurricanes occur par e,te of out ard 20 of 30 miles from the rm or year Be t` Ing- .r. hem are gnificant deviations he eye. This circulation I$ CaInterclockwise in from this a I 6sand , . - the Northern Hemisphere. and clockwise in the canes wer'e'a,`laB`rvh` 91 950 11 hurri ad' and no hurricanes were Southern Herrisphere. Near the center, hurricane observed in 1907 and 1914 During 1893. 1950, winds may gust to more than 200 miles per hour. and 1961 as ... n,, four hurricanes were observed The entire storm dominates the ocean surface in progress at the same time. and loweir, atmosphere over tens of thousands of A,Sorne hurricanes (usually @veaker 1,1.*,n that , S, n Ceti! f4il suare rn as. lantic counterparts) may strike outl forn is,rd bring torrential rains to the southwest 2e eye, like the spiral structure of the storm, 1. U.S. ,u. to hurricanes. He,., wind, 1. fight and tv., 0clear or partly cloudy. Bua Hurricanes begin as relatively small tropical cy- Kies are tthis calm 3 1. deceptive, bordered as it is by maximum fo`c clontes which drift gradually to the est-north' winds and torrential rains. Many man, we. (nthe Northern Hemisphere), imbedded in peahave wL been killed or injured when the calm ey ured the wardblow,mg, tradewinds of the tropF.. Under certain conditions them disturbances in them ut of shelter. only to be caught I. the maximum winds at the far side of the oy ,where cream in size, speed, and intensity until they the wind blows from a direction opposil: to that boxons full-fledged hurricanes. in the leading half of the storm. The atoms move forward very 31011Y in the Hurricane wind. do much damage, but drantming tropics, and may remain almost stationary for r Is the grestast cause of hurric ths. As the sh rt periods of time. The initial forward speed is 8" else wouall 15 miles per hour or less. Then, as the P F torm approaches and mows across the coast- y hu no it brings huge waves, and storm tide, which nican moves farther from the Euator. lift r lorwa speed tend$ to increase; at difle ati- at The it may exceed 50 miles per hour in extreme let Iland$. Waves and currents erode bisachesnao@md barrier cases. ay each 25 feet or more bow rd rim may come rapidly. flooding cos ludes islands, undermine waterfront structures, and The great storms are driven by the heat released wash out highway and railroad beds. The for- by condensing water vapor, and by external rential rains that accompany the hurricane pro- mechanical forces. Once cut off from the warm duce sudden flooding as the storm moves inland. ocean, the storm begins to die. starved for water A. A, its winds diminish, minfall floods constitute and heat energy, and dragged apart by friction the hurricane's greatest threat. as it mows over the land. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Nati net Oceanic and Atmospheric Adom'mistration National Weather Service NOAA/PA 78019 jul., 1982 0 STORM FLOODS SURGE The floods and flash floods brought by the killed 200 persons and cost an as torrential rains of a hurricane are dangerous $700 million in damage. In 1972, Agne killers. Even though hurricanes weaken rap- with another storm system, flooding The storm surge is a great dome of water Pass Christifin,in Miss@ssippi. Lesser heights idly as they move inland, the remnants of the and river basins in the Northeast with often 50 miles wide. that comes sweeping are more usuff but stl extremely dangerous. storm can bring 6 to 12 inches of rain or more than a foot of rain in less than 12 hou across the coastline near the area where the to the area it crosses. The resulting floods ing 117 people and causing almost $3 eye of the hurricane makes landfall. The Many factors are Involved in th formation have caused great damage and loss of life. damage. Hurricane Beulah f.1 67ib su 1@ Hurricane 2nne of 1955 caused little damage major floods to southern Te a9s k It rge' aided by the hammering effect of and propagation of a storm sul such as breaking waves, acts like a giant bulldozer the strength of the storm, bottom conditions as it moved into the continent; but long after persons and causing millions of sweeping everything in its path. The stronger where the surge comes ashore. and the posi- its winds subsided, it brought floods to Penn- damage. the hurricane, the higher the storm surge will tion of the storm center in relation to the sylvania, New York, and New England that be. This is unuestionably the most dan er- shore. Thew diagrams, therefore, cannot be "ad byr,the storm all coastal ur r us par; life hurricane. Nine out of ten h - representative of all surges to 4 ri..ne ala ifies are caus, areas. The a diagrammed here is typi surge. During the infamous Hu icane Ca- of those pro"d'ugc'ed by a hurricane approacchal mille in 1969, a 25-foot storm surge inundated Ing the lower-Atlantic or Gulf coastal areas. A 'MSL A@ WSL----- 8A6L 2 NNW NORMAL TIDE - HIGH 12 HOURS BEFORE PEAK SURGE It N a nomud tomh d". Th, gio, kon, ond total rmr@ Into luml .... no . I,oooo . .,I- doolort . mi. bto@h WINDS dict,mly ofth solftortoord,ol limit mfl- Thom tim IM - old tho Walch hoo boon Clumped it, I Ithohume .... 1 .0 -. A h.r,l-. h" donollpod and a Wr.hV,, no homi,soo, Is 12 foxint too". The limit Is th,od,on, W,t,h Is m ftict to, mot loo. a ditto im*"` shot "for - h'sh" up m* The winds of a hurricane-by definition 74 The greatest threat from a hurricane's bolock. tho."o - boomnin to - It it- mo, doop miles an hour or more-can be very danger- is their cargo of debris-a deadly barr __ '"d brooking - - afam -0.0 ous. For some structures, wind force is sut_ flymg missiles such as lawn furniture, .101 loo-rash itoloor, ond m wil w thoo thoom, ficient to cause destruction. Mobile homes roofing, and metal siding. Mat. Me- So. L.v.1 t kh, It PkMV are particularly vul nerable to hurricane winds. Some hurricanes spawn tornadoes which contri ute to incredible destruction. I---, pr-ppolly, MU b. ..bl. to offholood! IN -iold,ohl A" h'"F-- is "'"In 'shot' clo""'. it It high - tirn, Thl, firt., tholl. ....It of oind nd onifin. 5.1_1 ... go ddodl to mo --I 2.f,,t cr-lng . 11 1-1 .1 Vd.. " a .... ... d of lid, ' - Tho -xImill.. .1 idonn Imt, b.tl.,In, -.., M otiu." b."'In. ._ 1. .-Ing likollf, fulth 4. lh,, hor@orh,`. -1 dotodly 1,113- loth.. hep" by W.d. W .... Hir. 50 . 10 It.. ift. 130 oiff. on homt. U..h 1. @ @ 96@10011 m _V2W ACTION TERMS TO KNOW CHECKLIST By international agreement tropical cyclone is Storm Warnings may be issued issued when winds of 55- the general term for all cyclone circulations 73 miles an hour (48-63 knots) are expected. If Here is a list of the many things to consider be- *Moor small craft or move to safe shelter originating over tropical waters, classified by a hurricane is expected to strike a coastal area fore,during and after a hurricane. Some of the *Stock up on canned provisions form and intensity as follows; gale or storm warnings will not usually precede safety rules will make things easier for you during *Check supplies of special medicines and drugs hurricane warnings. a hurricane. All are important and could help *Check batteries for radio and flashlights Tropical disturbance: A moving area of thunder- save your life and the lives of others. storms is the Tropics that maintains its identity A hurricane Watch is issued for a coastal area *Secure lawn furniture and other loose material outdoors When a hurricane threatens your ares. You will for 24-hours or more. A common phenomanon in when there is a threat of hurricane conditions Stay or Leave? *Wedge sliding glass doors to prevent their lifting When a hurricane threatens your area, you will the tropics. within 24-36 hours. have to make the decision whether you should *Tape,board, or shutter windows to prevent shattering Tropic depression: rotary circulation at surface, highest constant wind speed 38 miles per hour A hurrican Warning is issued when hurricane 33 knots. conditions are expected in a specified coastal area in 24 hours or less. Hurricane conditions evacuate or whether you can ride out the storm in and/or dangerously high tides and waves. Actions safety at home. Tropical storm: Distinct rotary circulation, con- for protection of life and property should begin If local authorities recommend evacuation, you When a Hurrican Warning is issued for Your Area of the strenght of the storm and its potential for death and destruction. Flash flood Watch means a flash flood is possible of the strength of the storm and its potential , * Stayed turned to radio, TV. or NOAA weather Hurricane: Pronounced rotary circulation, con- in the area: stay alert. In general: radio for official bulletins Flash Flood Warning means a flash flood is im- * If you live on the coastline or offshore islands, minent; take immediate action. plan to leave. -board up garage and porch doors cal cyclone treatens a coastal area, small craft Tornadoes spawned by hurricanes sometimes * If you live mear a river or in a flood plain, -Move valuables to upper floors operators are advised to remain in port or not to produce severe damage and casualties. If a tor- plan to leave. -bring in pets issued. beaches, consider staying. -fill containers (bathtub) with serveral days Gale Warnings may be issued when winds of 39- supply of drinking water 54 miles an hour (34-47 knots) are expected. In any case, the ultimate decision to stay or -turn up refrigerator to maximum cold and carefully consider the factors involved-espe- -use phone only for emergencies cially the items pertaining to storm surge. -Say indoors on the downwind side of house away from windows -beware of the eye of the hurricane At Beginning of Hurricane Season (June) Make *Leave mobile homes Plans for Action. *Leave areas which might be affected by sotrm tide or stream flooding -Leave early-in daylight if possible -Shut of, water and electricty at main stations * Learn the atom surge history and elevation -take small valuables and papers but travel of area light * Learn safe routes inland -Leave food and water for pets(shelters will * Learn location of official shelters not take them) * Determine where to move your boat in an -lock up house emergency -drive carefully to nearest designated shelter * Trim back dead wood from trees using recommended evacuation routes. * Check for loose rain gutters and down spouts * If shutters do not protect windows stock boards to cover glass After the All-Clear is given: When a Hurricane Watch is Issued for Your area *drive carefully: watch for dangling electrial wires, undermined roads, flooded low spots *check often for official bulletins on radio,TV, *don't sight-see or NOAA Weather radio *report broken or damaged water, sewer, and *check mobile home tie-downs *Use caution re-entering home -check for gas leaks -check food and water for spoilage COMMUNITY ACTION Beyond Individual and family actions during waited for disaster's expensive lesson before a hurricane emergency,there is much to be taking corrective steps. To encourage com- done at the community level. Many commu- munity preparedness. NOAA's National nities on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts have Weather Service has invented a town, named made plans for action in the event a hurri- Homeport, and made it a model of hurricane cane threatens, such as delineation of areas preparedness. to be evacuated, shelter-designations, evacu- ation routes, and emergency operations of Copies of The Homeport story ave available Government Printing Office, Washington, But many exposed coastal communites are D.C. 20402. Stock number 0317-0045. Ask not prepared for a hurricane, and others have G.P.O. for current price. (D I F HOW TO TRACK A HURRICANE 4W++@ Advise a am numbered constacutively for each When you to a he Ica[ cyclone advisory, cei a Present location and mien Is cp M 1* -7 ty "Altion on the tracking charL and . T. note the advisory number! center position, inter, xpected -ent given at and forecas, d1ractIon of movement. Then clone advisories ane Issu at at. hour In., 1. mark the center -at midnight, a n= and 6 P..., Eastern Because hurricanes change direction very - - - - -- Dwight Time. Each message gives the name, U h uld list more c refully to whom (aya) go center position, intensity, and forecast =%ill 0 than"where It = been. rhovement of the -1 cyclone. S" the color block at the bottom of the chart for an axe Is of how to plot a atom from a pml- Hurricane center potlitiona am given by latitude it 1, 'p left W (for focample, 13.5 degrees North) and longitude I on, g ven In tude and I?ngitude.,- (for example 56.0 degrees West). When the sko- moves @Ithlr ming. of red... -.far pall- tions may else be given as statute miles and V OCEA ATLANTIC OCEA compeas direction from a specified point. ':57 1 1 1 ct,;- - n "1g17i.naTt- Igirl! I I ;;M..'h orm at., fury 4- n it" PWW Walton, and co stant winds over hour (33 knots). 1- + -V- L 25@ 2Y GULF OF MEXICO W..d' 0. 95* 40, 85 75* 70' 60' 5 MEXICO Y-- 2 I A ly CARIBBEAN SEA 1 95. 40o 1 80- 75 EWELA 0. 55. @0. VEN COLOMBIA 3 Ord ,,, n7y-,-, HURRICANE TRACKING CHART REMEMBER. hurricanes are large powerful storms that can suddenly change direction HURRICANE WATCH: hurricane may threaten within 36 hours *Be prepared to take action it a warning is issued *Keep informed of the storm's progress HURRICANE WARNING: hurricane expected to strike within 24 hours * Leave beachfront and low-lying areas * Leave mobile homes for more substantial shelter * Stay in your home if it is sturdy, on high ground. and not near the beach, but if you are asked to leave by authorities. Go! * Stay tuned to radio,NOAA Weather Radio or information. HURRICANE TRACKING CHART HURRICANE TRACKING CHA T TERMS M KNOW Eastern and Central Pacific Nov. Tropical d,pmW*,: A, ,, of to, pw,,e reith , c-t-Inkeriet 6-1,tm at the R --, h.--a, a,. I--- Utah -f- The i,ds me tr1pitol d1p,rbi01 are dn .dda.ly -.ba di-Ii., th- Colo. ijas f, q.-Ily rl.r.'r P,ba- - W-h. . War-ae for yo., .,.a - he 39 pro ho,, C34 knou) or 1- N.I.-I -1har sa- a,. --ol, STAY ALERT H(!RRICANE WATCH: hurricane ntay threaten within 36 h@ T, pial room: A, ,, of 1- p-e S. Frond- Ba , Parad lo -o -- f a -- r - by he Nafl-al Wealt ar S.- lith dioilct C-t-110m, mn,d, of fm, ar .1 he --, bog- 1 11 to 11 it" par hl-, 134-11 OANGER@ TAKE HEED HURRICANE WARNING: hurricane expected to strike within 24 hours . . . . . . Calif. j ....,d=f,on, @d I. to fl- fl-g a.d to. Ptam.-g,-ay, Ariz. Horn. ;Ar.-.f-y1,.p-,..i1h Ir,,, olm"Ild -ro-I.d.i. m. of -.1. h.., to, .- -an,.at,-,.,, P;. [email protected] 74 61. Pat h.., (64 knoral ., S@ V . V..r ho..- @, -,d, .. h.gh 11-d. rd 1ha ba.h. B., f lu 1. L Angeles ____ACTION REQUIRED .1k. '. `7 "' ..! S.. Rose Ph-i- N. Max. .srr, Rad.-r-r-r-m-i-c! san ch, to " - r--- --4 ral.'-f.,-i., sa@ Ch. T-n oH. 1, 1 I La. K..i Tex. I oh. Niihar, Gaimtm M.I.ktii Chihuahua da o L.,a% Mwi Duey- C risfi 11t. E,gen,, C) S.. Rose mlrftnw@, R-41, o Hawaiian 1 1 C. So. I- La P. MEXICO IslandS M ... He. S. I-' T-P.- G.talapoa Men Per',o Mexico City V.11- 14.v@aii;n o V.r... . . . thopeche Islands . . . . . . . Aca@lco Teh,a,te IF o f . . . . .. . . . . GUATEMALA 160' 140, 130' 120' 110, 100, go' I I i 4110' us DEPARTMENT DF COMMERCE N- o-.-d A-oabh-, Ad-t-.,- No @;!d -1, 1 Men- C-Wh a The Naming of U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration resent Procedure in the North Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico The National Hurricane Center near Miami, Fla., keeps a constant watch on oceanic storm- breeding areas for tropical disturbances which may herald the formation of a hurricane. If a disturbance intensifies into a tropical storm-with rotary circulation and wind speeds above 39 miles per hour-the Center will give the storm a name from one of the six lists below. A separate set is used each year beginning with the first name in the set. After the sets have all been used, they will be used again. The 1982 set, for example, will be used again to name storms in 1988. The letters Q, U, X, Y, and Z are not included because of the scarcity of names beginning with those letters. The name lists have an international flavor because hurricanes affect other nations and are tracked by the public and weather services of countries other than the United States. Names for these lists are selected from library sources and agreed upon during international meetings of the World Meteorological Organization by nations involved. 0 hy 11-Ilurricanes Are Named xperience shows that the use of short, distinctive given names in written as well as in spoken communications* is quicker, and less subject to error than the older more cumbersome latitude- longitude identification methods. These advantages are especially Important in exchanging detailed storm information between hundreds of widely scattered stations, airports, coastal bases, and ships at sea. The use of easily remembered names greatly reduces confusion when two or more tropical storms occur at the same time. For example, one hurricane can be moving slowly westward in the Gulf of Mexico, while at exactly the some time another hurricane can be moving rapidly northward along the Atlantic coast. In the past, confusion and false rumors have arisen when storm advisories broadcast from one radio station were mistaken for warnings concerning an entirely different storm located hundreds of miles away. he Six-Year List of Names for Atlantic Storms 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 Alberto Alicici Arthur Ano Allen Arlene Beryl Barry Bertha Bob 9onnie Bret Chris Chantal Cesar Claudette Charley Cindy Debby Dean Diana Danny Danielle Dennis E nesto Erin Eclouard Elerc Earl Emily Florence Felix Fran Fabian Frances Floyd Gibert Gabrielle Gustav Gloria Georges Gert Helene Hugo Hortense Henri Hermine Harvey Isaac Iris Isidore Isabel Ivor Irene Joan Jerry Josephine Juan Jeanne Jose Keith Karen Klaus Kate Karl Katrina Leslie Luis Lili Larry Lisa Lenny Michael Marilyn Marco Mindy Mitch Maria Nadine Noel Nona Nicholas Nicole Nate Oscar Opal Omar Colette Otto Ophelia Patty Pab4o Pcdoma Peter Paula Philippe Rafael Roxanne Rene Rose Richard Rita Sandy Sebastien Sally Sam Shary Stan Tony Tanya Teddy Teresa Tomas Tommy Va erle Van Vicky Victor Virginie Vince William Wendy Wilfred Wanda Walter Wirna The Names of Particular Individuals Have Not Been Chosen for Inclusion in the List of Hurricane Names. C-15 of Hurricane Names Y iS= 4W eral hundred years many hurricanes in the West Indies were named of ter the particular Fo V saint's day on which the hurricane occurred. Ivan R. Tannehill describes in his book "Hurricanes" the major tropical storms of recorded history, and mentions many hurricanes named after saints. For example, there was "Hurricane Santa Ana" which struck Puerto Rico with exceptional violence on July 26, 1825, and "San Felipe" (the first) and "Son Felipe" (the second) which hit Puerto Pico on September 13 in both 1876 and 4928. Tannehill also tells of Clement Wragge, an Australian meteorologist who began giving women's names to tropical storms before the end of the 19th Century. An early example of the use of a woman's name for a storm was in the novel "Storm" by George P. Stewart, published by Random House in 1941, and since filmed by Wait Disney. During World War 11 this practice became widespread in weather map discussions among forecasters, especially Air Force and Navy meteorologists who plotted the movements of storms over the wide expanses of the Pacific Ocean. In 1953, the United States abandoned as confusing a two-year old plan to name storms by a phonetic alphabet (Able, Baker, Charlie) when a new, international phonetic alphabet was introduced. That year, this Nation's weather services began using female names for storms. The practice of naming hurricanes solely after women come to an end in 1978 when men's and women's names were included in Eastern North Pacific storm lists. In 4979, male and female names were included in lists for the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico. Orastern North Pacific Names Given names are also used to identify typhoons and hurricanes in the Pacific Ocean. A set of six alphabetical lists is used in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. As in the Atlantic, the sets are used again when the six year lists are completed. The 1982 list will be used again in 1988. Ojoheftix-Year List of Names for Eastern Pacific Storms 1982 1983 4984 1985 1986 1987 ,qe-tta Adolph Alma Andres Agatha Adrian Bud Barbara Boris Blanca Bias Beatriz Carlotta Cosme Cristina Carlos Celia Ccivin Daniel Dalilia Douglas Dolores Darby Dora Emilia Erick Elida Enrique Estelle Eugene Fablo Hassle Fausto Fefa Frank Fernando Gilma Gil Genevieve Guillermo Georgette Greg Hector Henrlette Hernan Hikia Howard Mary Iva Ismael Iselle Ignacio Isis Irwin John Juliette JUio jimena Javier Jova Kristy Kiko Kenna Kevin Kay Knut Lane Loreno Lowell Linda Lester Uda Miriam Manuel Marie Marty Madeline Max Norman Narda Norbert Nora Newton Norma Olivia Octave Odle Olaf Orlene Otis Pau Priscilla Polo Pauline Paine Pilar Rosa Raymond Rachel Rick Roslyn Ramon Sergio Sonia Shrion Sandra Seymour Selma Tara Tico Trudy Terry Tina Todd Vicente Velma Vance Vivian Virgil Veronica Willa Winnie Wallis, Waldo Winitred Wiley A% US 00veRNMENT-N-CE 1982 - @-009 - 227/2055 NOAA/PA 79017 (Revised May 1982) C-16 safety tips for coastal and inland floWing AFTER THE FLOOD 0 Pump out the basement it it is flooded, but do � Call the insurance agent or broker who Sold you it gradually. Drain one-third of the flood your flood insurance policy immediately, it your waters each day, to minimize further St,,,- home, apartment or business has been dam- ture damage. Shovel out the mud while it is aged by the flood. The agent will submit a loss Still moist, and dry rugs and carpets form and an adjuster will be assigned to inspect thoroughly. the property. That adjuster will call an you as IIIII Make any temporary repairs necessary lo Soon as possible to inspect the damage your stop further losses from the elements or from Property has realized. Those with the most looting. Keep your receipts for these repairs, serious damages will be handled first. They may be covered by your flood insurance � Have handy your insurance policy and your policy. list of possessions to simplify the adjuster's work. This will help settle your claim sooner. E When it is safe to return to your home, before You enter the house, be sure that the St,uc@ ture is not in danger of collapsing. � Open windows and doors to let the air cir- culate. This will help remove foul odors and protect you from escaping gas. It will also help dry out the house. Take pictures of the sn,r- damage-both to the house and its contents. � Don't strike a match or use a flame when you enter the house. Escaping gas could cause a tragic explosion. Watch for live electrical wires. Be sure the electrical current is turned off, and do not attempt to turn on any elec- trically operated light or appliance until an Floods cause more damage nationwide than electrician has checked your system. any other natural disaster. If you live in a � Begin cleanup as soon as possible. Throw out flood-prone area, be smart. Protect yourself any perishable foods@ they may be con- and your family from the consequences of a taminated. Hose down hardgoods such as flood disaster. It could happen lo you. major appliances and furniture, even it they Call your local insurance agent or broker now are destroyed. You need to keep these for the to ask about flood insurance. For general in- adjuster's inspection. The adjuster will help formation, write: you make decisions on repairing Possessions or getting rid of them. Federal Emergency Management Agency Federal insurance Administration Washington, D.C. 20472 L-107 Au 984 Federal Emergency gust I Management Agency Federal Insurance Administration huffmicanemfloods Hurricanes are the greatest storms Inland r sidents also need to prepare for hur A Federal program, the National Flood In. 0 Move all the valuables you can to a higher on earth. You should be concerned ricanese by p u rchasing flood insurance@ surance Program, administered by the floor if there is one-BUT, AGAIN, ONLY IF about them, whether you live on the Remember, the damage to your home and its Federal Emergency Management Agency, TIME PERMITS. coast or inland. contents is not covered by your homeowner's im makes this possible- A simple caJJ to your in- 0 Be aware that floods are deceptive. Avoid surance policy. Even if the flooding in your home surance agent or broker starts the process to already flooded areas. Do not attempt to measures only one or two inches, it can mean cover your home, possessions, and business. cross any stretch of flood waters an foot if the For Coastal Residents: ru ined carpets, some furniture destruction, Your agent or broker will help you decide how water is above your knees, perhaps even the loss of a major appliance. And much coverage you need. IN Know that in floods cars can become coffins. If you live near the Gulf of Mexico or along the if the water did structural damage, the costs of N List all your personal property. Make an DO NOT DRIVE WHERE WATER IS OVER Eastern Seaboard, you probably know the hurri- repair and restoration could mean the end of itemized list of your furnishings, clothing and ROADS. Under those flood waters, the road cane season starts in June and can continue valuables. This list is for your protection and could already be washed away and rapidly ris- through November, As the hurricane season ap- will help prove your claims are valid. It's a ing water could lift the car and carry it proaches, you should prepare for it. Locate the good idea to take pictures of these items, as away-with you in it. Getting your feet wet on low-lying sections of your community so you can well as of your home-both inside and out, avoid them. Find the safest route to high ground. These photos will help adjusters to settle your After you have made all the necessary prepara- claims. They can also help prove uninsured tions to protect your family and your property, losses, which are tax deductible. are you fully ready to deal with a hurricane? It 0 Keep your policy and your list of personal Are you sure? Do you have flood insurance? property in a safe place, such as a safe Many people do not know their homeowner's in- deposit box. Be sure to remember, or 10 carry 00 surance policy does not cover losses from in your wallet, the name and address of the flooding. agent or broker who wrote your policy. Most coastal damage caused by hurricanes is r 0 Learn the safest route from your home o the result of flooding from giant waves driven by place of business to high, safe ground, shou d the hurricane winds. A hurricane could wipe out' a flood occur. Practice taking these routes. If your property improvements. If the insurance vacaiion plans, a child's education plan, even a there is a flood, you may only have minutes to adjuster determines flooding caused the major setback to your long-range budget plans. get to safety. devastation, not the hurricane winds, you could Without flood insurance, a major flood loss could the way to higher ground is preferable to be out of luck unless you have flood insurance. add up to financial ruin. IF THE FLOOD COMES never getting there. 0 Keep your battery-operated radio tuned to a 0 Be extra careful if you have to evacuate in For Inland Residents: BEFORE THE FLOOD local station, and follow all instructions. Keep your car at night. In the dark, you can't see People who live well inland from the coast often calm, but if you are told to evacuate, move out the flood dangers. If, by mistake, you find feel they will not be affected by an approaching N Purchase flood insurance. If the community of the house or building to safe, high ground. yourself driving in water and the car stalls, get hurricane, since they will not experience the you live in has joined the National Flood Insur- E Turn off all utilities at the main switch it out of the car and climb to high ground im- crushing hurricane winds and waves. True, as a ance Program with a pledge to adopt flood evacuation is necessary-BUT ONLY IF mediately, hurricane moves inland, its wind forces weaken plain management measures, you will be TIME PERMITS. Do not touch any electrical If you're caught in the house by the suddenly rapidly. But inland flooding caused by hurricanes eligible to apply for it. Only a five-day wait is equipment unless it is in a dry area or you are rising flood waters, move to the second floor can be extensive. The tons of water the storm required for your flood insurance policy to standing on a piece of dry wood with rubber and/or, if necessary, to the roof. Take warm picked up over the ocean will be released as the become effective. Renters can buy policies to footwear and gloves on. clothing and a flashlight with you, as well as storm moves inland. Rainfall from a hurricane protect their personal property against possi- E Open basement windows to equalize water your baltery-ope rated radio. Don't try to swim sometimes can be measured in tens of inches. ble flood damage, too. pressure on the foundations and walls BUT to safely. Wait for help. Rescue teams will be ONLY IF TIME PERMITS. looking for you. FLOOD But you must act in athartce-remember, there is a ffiv-day aiting period on rm lx)licies. Once a stom @arning has been issued, national flood insurance tray be the only thing standing hemeen you and financial disaster Call a local agent or broker today. Amounts of husurance Available The foflovvirtg linuts of insurance am avaj [able thr, mgh the National Flood Insurance Progrant. Check @ith a local agent or broker to detemune @hedber your con, If You'reHirmmled Out, munity is in the FincTency or Regular Prograrn phase. You Don'tHave To Be Wiped Out. Eme,g-@ Rg.I. Prwam SIn& Fansly S 35,000' $185,000 All Od- Redenlial 00,000.. 25a FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY S-11 Bu.1-t =,000 250@000 FEDERAL INSURANCE ADMINISTRATION (kh-, su-@ 100'" 2(X),000 NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM coNrEws ",-MU RffAdmial 10.000 60,000 smz bus-t 100@000 300 Any(Jd-,%@ 100,000 200,000 Fur Alas@ li-aii, Guun 2rkd VuSin lsland@ dw building timm an@ tCh.:k @viffi y-g- to ify- 9-W. Areyouprotected from the new disaster? "The onrush of water was terrific. You could hear those big boulders rolling down the creek and people calling out. In between flashes of lightening you could see the houses moving... All of a sudden one would fall apart and there weren't any more screams." resident near Johnston, Pa., July 20,1977 At 9 p.m. on July 19,1977, the first thundershowers Your Homeowners Policy Isn't Enough and up to $10,000 on contents. These amounts in- gave a welcome relief to the 90 degree heat in Johns- crease to $185,000 on bulding and $60,000 contents town, Pennsylvania. under the NFIP's regular phase. Just after midnight, two local rivers began overflowing their high-channeled walls and the flood that experts Losses due to flooding are not covered under most *There is a five-day waiting period for the time a said could never happen became a reality. The final toll homeowners policies. You can, however, protect your policy is purchased until you are covered with the fol- The potential for this kind of disaster is just as great emergency phase of the NFIP by adopting preliminary community has participated 30 days or less in either today. The leveling of forests and overbuilding of lands actions to reduce the flood threat. Everyone in that of the program phases, there is a waiting period of have meant that soil can no longer absorb excess water community can then apply for limited amounts of flood just one day. the way it once did. So with little warning a storm can insurance at federally-subsidized rates. -At the time of title transfer, coverage becomes ef- turn into a devastating flood- even if you don't liver near Much higher levels of insurance became available fective immediately. flood study, and local officials have enacted more federally secured financing to buy, build or improve stringent measures to safeguard life and property from structures in the flood hazard areas of a participating Flooding as a National Problem future flooding. community. This includes federal grants, FHA,and VA loans, as well as most conventional mortgage loans. Until the late 1960's most property Owners were un- To find out more about flood insurance and whether -Preventative measures to reduce flood damage to an able to get insurance against flood damage. Private your community is eligible, ask any licensed property/ insured building are often reimbursable. Policyholders insurance firms, aware of the potential for catastrophic casualty agent or broker-the same person who sells may also recover the cost of removing insured contents losses, were unwilling to assume the financial risk alone. your home and auto policies. from a building that has been declared in imminent This put the burden on taxpayers to provide costly danger of flooding by community officials. This includes disaster relief to a growing number of flood victims. the removal and /or temporary storage of contents up to In 1968, Congress addressed this issue by creating the National flood insurance program (NFIP). This federal Other Facts You Should Know a maximum of 45 days. in exchange for careful management of flood prone *Flood insurance is available on almost any enclosed areas by local communities. building and its contents. This includes homes, condo- The Next Step is Up to You Today the NFIP serves nearly two million policy miniums, mobile homes on foundations, businesses and holders in 17,000 communities across the country. It is farms. The contents of a rental unit are also insurable. At a time when flooding causes more tha $2 billion currently being administered by the Federal Emergency in property damage each year, you cannot afford to think Management Agency (FEMA) through its Federal insur- *During the programs emergency phase. Single- that it will never happen to you. It can happen , and ofter ance Administration. family homes can be insured up to $35,000 pm the building when it's least expected. Refrigerator, sofas, and other hard goods should be -Quickly separate all laundry items to avoid running hosed off and kept for the adjuster's inspection. A good colors. Clothing or household fabrics should be allowed deodorizer when cleaning major kitchen appliances is to dry (slowly, away from direct heat) before brushing to add one teaspoon of baking soda to a quart of water. off loose dirt. If you cannot get to a professional cleaner, Any partially damaged items should he dried and aired; rinse the items in lukewarm water to remove lodged the adjuster will make recommendations as to their soil. Then wash with mild detergent; rinse and dry in repair or disposal. Take pictures of the damage done to sunlight. your building and contents. -Flooded basements should be drained and cleaned as Take all wooden furniture outdoors, but keep it out soon as possible. However, structural damage can occur of direct sunlight to prevent warping. A garage or car- by pumping out water too quickly: After the flood- port is a good place for drying. Remove drawers and waters around your property have subsided, begin open swollen drawers from the front. Instead remove the draining the basement in stages, about 1/3 of the water backing and push the drawers out. Shovel out mud while it is still moist to give walls and floors a chance to dry. Once plastered walls have dried, volume each day. brush off loose dirt. Wash with a mild soap solution and rince with clean water; always start at the bottom and work up. Ceilings are done last. Special attention at this early stage should also be paid to cleaning out heating What Does National FLood and plumbing systems. Insurance Mean to You? Mildew can be removed from dry wood with a solution of 4 to 6 tablespoon trisodium phosphate (TSP). Until the late 1960s, flood insurance was practically 1 cup liquid chlorine bleach and 1 gallon water. unavailable to home and business owners. FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY and plumbing systems Since private insurance firms were unwilling to as- FEDERAL INSURANCE ADMINISTRATION sume the financial risk along. Congress voted in 1968 NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM Clean metal at once then wipe with a kerosene- to create the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). soaked cloth. A light coat of oil will prevent iron from The federal program provided flood insurance at rea- rusting. Scour all utensils and if necessary, use fine steel sonable cost in exchange for the careful management of wool on unpolished surfaces. Aluminum may be bright- flood prone areas by local communities. ened by scrubbing with a solution of vinegar, craem of Today, you can insure almost any enclosed building If You're Flooded Out, tartar, and hot water. and its contents against flood loss, as long as your com- You Don't Have To Be Wiped Out. munity is participating in the (NFIP). Remember, most standard homeowers policies do not cover flood loss. For more details on flood insurance protection, call your agent or broker today. GPO 1983 0 - 408-158 7 'About 11 o'clock last night the water started coming in over the bridge. Between 11 and 11:20 it was incredible how fast it rose. There was really no time to move. Or get out, Or anything... Whatever is gone in this neighborhood is gone. It's a total loss." resident of Austin,Texas, May 24,1981 Even if you've never experienced a major flood, you -Keep your insurance policies and a list of personal -Fill bathtubs, sinks, and jugs with clean water in case inspect your property as soon as possible. ought to know what to do if floodwaters threaten your property in a safe place, such as a safety deposit box. regular supplies are contaminated. You can sanitize community know the name and location of the agent(s) who issued these items by first rinsing with bleach. -Prior to entering a building,check for structure dam- The following tips from the National Flood Insurance these policies age. Make sure it is not in danger of collapsing. Turn off Program should he used as suggested guidelines for -Board up windows or protect them with storm any outside gas lines at the meter or tank, and let the action. Of course, if you find yourself in a flood situation shutters or tape to prevent flying glass. house air for several minutes to remove foul odors or and do not know what to do, check with local disaster When the FLood Comes -Bring outdoor possessions inside the house or escapting gas. officals. tie them down securley. This includes lawn furniture, The safety of your family is the most important con- garbage cans,tools,signs, and other moveable objects -Upon entering the building, do not use open flame as sideration. Since floodwaters can rise very rapidly, that might be swept away or hurled about. a source of light since gas may still be trapped inside; a Steps To Take Today you should be prepared to evacuate before the water -If it is safe to evacuate by car,you should consider NJ Make an itemized list of personal property,including level reaches your property. following: battery-operated flashlight is ideal. furnishings, clothing, and valuables. Photographs of you home-inside and out-are helpful.This will -Keep a battery-powered radio tuned to a local sta- *stock the car with nonperishable foods(like can- -Watch for electrical shorts or live wires before mak- assist uninsured losses, which are tax deductible. ion, and follow all emergency instructions. ned goods), a plastic container of water,blankets,first ing certain that the main power switch is turned off. -Learn the safest route from your home or place of -If you're caught in the house by suddenly rising aid kit, flashlights, dry clothing and any special medi- Do not turn on any lights or appliances until an elec- business to high,safe ground if you should have to evacu- waters,move to the second floor and, if necessary,to the cation needed by your family trician has checked the system for short circuits. ate in a hurry. roof. Take warm clothing, a flashlight, and portable radio *Keep the gas tank at least half full, since gasoline -Keep a portable radio, emergency cooking equip- with you. Then wait for help..don't try to swim to pumps will not be working if the electricity has bee -Cover broken windows and holes in the roof or ment, and flashlights in working order. safety. Rescue teams will be looking for you. cut off. walls to prevent further weather damage.The expense ate in a hurry. -When outside the house remember...FLOODS are *Do not drive where water is over the roads. Parts of of these temporary repairs is usually covered under your -Persons who live in frquently flooded areas, should Deceptive. Try to avoid flooded areas, and don't at- *Of your car stalls in a flooded area, abandon it as flood insurance policy(subject to the policy deductible). plastic sheeting, and lumber which can be used to pro- knee deep. sweep a car (and its occupants) away. Many deaths Therefore, it is important to save receipts. tect property. (Remember, sandbags should not be have resulted from attempts to move stalled vehicles. stacked directly against the outer walls of a building, -Proceed with immediate cleanup measures to pre- since, when wet, the bags may create added pressure -If, and only if, time permits...there are several pre- After the Flood vent any health hazards. Perishable items which pose a on the foundation.) cautionary steps that can be taken. If your home, apartment or business has suffered health problem should be listed and photographed be- -Buy flood insurance, You should contact your prop- *Turn off all utilities at the main power switch and flood damage, immediately call the agent or broker fore discarding. Throw out fresh food and previously erty/casualty agent or broker about eligibility of flood close the main gas valve if evacuation appears neces- who handles your flood insurance policy. The agent opened medicines that have come in contact with insurance,which is offered through the National Flood sary. Do not touch any electrical equipment unless it will then submit a loss form to the National Flood floodwaters. Insurance Program. Generally, there is a five-day wait- is in a dry area and you are standing on a piece of dry insurance Program. An adjuster will be assigned to ing period for this policy to become effective, so don't wood while wearing rubber gloves and rubber-soled -Water for drinking and food preparation should be wait until the last minute to apply. boots or shoes. boiled vigorously for ten minutes (until the public cial laundry bleach with 2 1/2 gallons of water....let stand for five minutes before using. I@Masva@ @TV000 -MEW AN I 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 a 0 C, a 0 0 ftmEwO, ,S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Nall 4:1 onal Weather Service FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY C-23 0 0 0 0 d" re-P. 4@@ 4@ Hurricane ................ ..... ........ Tornado ............................ ..........8 Lightning ..................... . ............. 12 G Flash Flood ................. .. ..... ... 16 (D Winter Storm ............................. 19 It Weather Quizzes ......................... 24 ...... .... 1, V,- F@ 1- by th. S,p--Id- I D-- 8 U' S. G--- PH,ti,g Offic, W..M.g-, D.C. 20@ 02 4Q@ C-24 0)) eather can be calm and peaceful. \A/It also can be violent and dangeous. Each year hundreds of people are killed by severe storms of one kind or another. But they don't have to be. If they paid attention to NOAA's- National Weather Service warnings, they would be safe. are Weather Warnings. Be art; remember them and do --,,@wbat they any. They may keep you Bove. NOAA stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the Department of Commerce. 2-J 3 *1000@@ - @ dan eous I ae Ig led ' b another. 'd atten 7 r r p Serv,ce wt@ v Weath Warninga Be emem r them and 0 @Y,qay@@ y may keep a. C-2 5 7 Vhe air that surrounds our p lanet weighs five quadrillion t ons-that's 5,000,000,000,000,000 tonsl It is moving all the time-swirling, blowing, sinking, rising. In summer and early fall, great masses lay over the warm oceans. They get hot, pick up lots of moisture, and start swirling. A hurricane is born. Should the hurricane move toward the shore, it could wipe out towns "f and villages Before the hurricane reaches you- Long before a hurricane reaches land the National Weather Service 40 knows about it. Satellites have taken pic- tures of the storm. Hurricane hunter air- planes fly into the storm and report on it. As it comes closer to land, special weather radars track it. Radio, television and more than 300 NOAA Weather Radio stations warn people about the hurricane. It may reach land. r e-a y or I C-26 V- Ile Air ......... ................. W en weather forecasters decide tl@e storm might reach land within 2 days, they issue a Hurricane Watch. This tells people along the coast that the hurricane over the ocean might reach the land. The National Weather Service tells you what is happening. Keep listening to the radio or television. Winds in a hurricane will blow more than 74 miles an hour. Dangerous high water and very rough seas are expected within 24 hours. When the hurri- cane hits, the sea may rise as high as 25 feet L-\ If you live near above normal high tide. This is called the storm surge- the shore, plan The great wall of water surges 11F to go inland where it's safe. over the beaches-sinking That's the best boats, knocking down piers, thing to do. washing out houses and buildings. Most peo- ple who die from hurricanes drowr of the stor7 su, @ Get out when you're told to doSO. 5 _T_ Ihan at" ith,n C-27 n a big hurricane the speed of the winds may be over 150 miles an hour. Trees and houses are blown down. Windows in buildings are blown out. And it rains. Inland there may be flooding. It you're not close to shore, you may plan to stay in your house-ride out the storm. Before the storm comes... But stay away Get a battery Put tape criss- n Put boards or from windows radio-the cross on the storm shutters during the storm. power,will windows. It pre- over big probably go off. vents flying windows. Flashlight glass. Store up some water in bathtubs, jugs and pails-the water mains may be broken. If not, water from faucets may be polluted. Pick up loose things in the yard-toys, tools, flower pots, The wind could pick them up and make them fly like bullets. When the hurricane comes... EYE, Stay indoors. Trees could fall on you. You could be blown over. Flying boards, limbs, chairs could crash into you. You could be hit by a live elec- tric wire. Beware of the eye. A hurricane is a big doughnut of winds with a calm section at the middle-that's the eye of the hurricane. The whole hurricane could be 300 miles across. The calm center may last from a few minutes to an hour or more. The sun may come out and you think the storm's over. But it isn't. As the hurri- cane moves winds will blow just as hard, but from the opposite direction. don't be tricked by the eye of the hurricane. Hurricanes are killer storms. Don't be caught by one. Get out of its way. Go inland. Follow advice. AL_ Be smart- prepare for a hurricane. 6 C-28 building began to creak and the windows Mary Ann lived near the broke out. Water started flooding in and (A14j Gulf of Mexico when Hurri- was all over the apartment in a matter of cane Camille struck her three story 2 minutes. And the apartment was on the apartment building in 1969. Mary Ann second floor. In about 5 minutes Mary was one of 24 people who didn't leave Ann's bed was floating half way to the the Richelieu Apartments when they were ceiling. As the building began to fall apart, warned, When the storm surge hit, the Mary Ann floated out of the window and 7_77" grabbed on to a sofa pillow that came by. something it would be ripped from her She became tangled in wires and debris. hands. She kept getting hit by the wreck- It was dark but Mary Ann saw the building age and was bloody from head to feet come down all around her. The wind was from the nails in the boards. This went on awful. It reached 234 miles per hour dur- for 12 hours before Mary Ann was found ing Camille. Mary Ann continued to hold 4112 miles away from her home. She was on to anything she could-furniture, tree taken to a hospital in very bad shape. She limbs and parts of houses and buildings. stayed in the hospital for more than 3 The winds and waves were so strong that weeks, everytime Mary Ann grabbed hold of oday Mary Ann is still living in Ississippi. She tells her story over nd over so people will listen when hey're told to evacuate. --J 7 T Mi. Ita n 4 the C-29 f you ever see a big black cloud with a funnel-like extension beneath it, watch out. It could be a tornado. A tornado looks like a funnel with the fat part at the top. Inside it winds may be swirling around at 300 miles an hour. If it goes through a town. the tornado could flat- ten houses and buildings, lift up cars and trucks, shatter mobile homes into splinters. Sometimes the path is nar- row. but everything in the path is wrecked. But you don't always see the funnel. It may be raining too hard. Or the tornado may come at night. Listen for the tornado's roar. -To RNXOO Some people say it sounds like a thousand trains. Tornado Watch The Weather Service forecasts that a tornado may develop later. The sky may be blue at the time you hear the watch. Don't be fooled. Listen to the radio for the k latest news. Tornado Warning A tornado has been sighted. It may move toward you. Dark clouds boil in the sky. There may be thunder and lightning and heavy rain. And there may be hail. When you see large hail, you may be close to a tornado, Seek shelter. Power may go off. Funnels reach down from the black clouds. C-30 What to do- 0M VWM 0 When you hear the tornado watch, keep your eye on the sky for signs of I ik@ a possible tornado and listen to the radio for the latest advice from the National Weather Service. When you hear the warnin , act to protect yourself. 0 Get away from windows, The, may shatter, and glass may go flying. Go the the basement. Get under a heavy workbench or the stairs. If there is no basement, go to an inside closet, bathroom, or hallway on the lowest level of the house. 0 Get under a mattress. Protect your head. Downtown or in a shopping mail... * Get off the street. 0 Go into a building, stay away from windows and doors Outside... a Get out of a car and inside a house or building. * Don't try to outrun a tornado in a car. Torna- does can pick up a car and throw it through the air. s If you're caught outside, lie in a ditch. Or crouch near a strong building. 9 Cover your head with your hands 9 C-31 IN SCHOOL Follow directions Go to an inside hall on the lowest floor. Crouch near the wall. Bend over with your hands on the back of your head. eep away from glass and stay out of big rooms like the gym, cafeteria, or auditorium. Keep a battery radio on. Listen for news about the tornado. .-. -r. , I IIA Mon WWWW@. f you live in a mobile home, get out. Even if it's tied down, a mobile home can be shattered by a tornado, The whole thing can be lifted up and dropped. Get out and into a safer place. Somemobile home areas have storm shelters. If you can't get to a shelter, lie in a ditch and cover your head with your hands. A nd remember, when there's a tornado there can be a lot of lightning. 0 Stay away from anything that uses electricity. Tornadoes are scary. Stay away from anything metal- They pack a lot of faucets, radiators, sinks, and tubs. energy: enough to blow down a whole town. But you can live through a tornado. Don't panic 10 Be smart, know what to do, and do it. jo@Keep away fr,,, glasand sta@ u 'tr,@ a d U, C-32 * Most tornadoes are narrow and seldom stay on the ground for more than 15 miles. But the wider ones, up to a mile wide, go further and are the big killers. * On April 3-4. 1974, 148 tornadoes moved across 13 states and killed more than 300 people. * On March 18, 1925 a tornado traveled 219 miles (about 350 kilometers) across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana and killed 689 people in less than 4 hours. C_ * In 1931 a tornado in Minnesota lifted an 83-ton rail- ak@ road train with 117 passengers and carried it for 80 k*--- feet. * In 1975 a Mississippi tornado carried a home freezer for more than a mile. * Tornadoes are rare in many parts of the United States. But they have occurred in all 50 States. * Oklahoma City has been struck by tornadoes 32 times in the past 90 years, 9 One town, Codell, Kans., was struck three times-in 1916, 1917 and 1918-each time on May 20. * Most tornadoes happen in April, May. and June in Y the Central and Southeast U.S. but they have occurred in every month arid in every State in the Union, * Tornadoes usually travel along the ground at 35 miles an hour, but some can go as fast as 70 miles an hour. 9 In Texas a mother huddled in an interior closet with six children. A tornado ripped off the root of their house, tore down one wall and destroyed their gar- age, But all seven in the closet weren't even scratched. * And in Mississippi, a mother and her daughter sought shelter in their bathtub, When the tornado hit the only room left was the bathroom. C-33 R30(@GOOM&I I ightning kills more people than hur- ncanes or tornadoes. At any moment, right now, there are 2,000 lightning storms around the world. Every day someone is struck by lightning. Most of them survive, but many do not. In the United States about two hundred people die each year from lightning, or from fires caused by lightning. Not all thunderstorms produce tornadoes. But severe thunderstorms have lightning, and strong winds, and other hazards. And there may be damag- ing hail. Some hail may be the size of marbles. Others are as big as golf balls or baseballs. Some hail as large as grapefruits has been re ported. GRAPEFRUIT? C_ 21 -31 41 S] 61 DOES LIGHTNING EVER STRIKE TWICE IN THE SAME SPOT? ightning may hit the same place, or the same 1person, several times. 12 4.@ @G@RA@PEFRUIT" C-34 B ay Sullivan, a retired National ark Ranger, was hit seven times. He has been knocked down, picked up and thrown into the air: he has lost his shoes and a toenail, and he can't hear as well as he used to. But he's lucky to be alive. Now he lives in a mobile home with lightning rods on each end, and light- ning rods on trees around his home. Hopefully, lightning will follow the rods and leave Ray Sullivan alone. Lightning storms may occur in winter, but are more common in the summer. 0 Keep an eye on the sky On a hot day, cumulus clouds build up. They grow larger, towering higher and higher. They darken. The top of the clouds may be spread out by winds at high altitudes. 4 As clouds develop, particles in the clouds become charged with electric- fty. When the charges overflow, they make a lightning flash. Lightning may go from one part of a cloud to another, or from cloud to cloud. It may go from a cloud to the earth, or from earth to a cloud. ightning takes the shortest path So, it hits Ithe highest objects-a tall tree or house, a tower, or a person standing alone in a flat field. C-35 What to do, and not to do, when there is lightning IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE if you're outside... Try to get into a house or large building Get inside a hard-topped car "00( if you're in a field, crouch on your knees and bend over. Don't lie down because wet ground can carry electricity If you're in water. get out. Get away from the beach. o' if you're inside... Stay away from water faucets. sinks, and tubs- 0 Don't go into a shed that anything that could conduct stands alone ,J: electricity Keep away from windows and doors 0 Don't go under a large tree that stands alone * Don't be higher than your surroundings el Don't use the telephone oo@ unless there's an emergency Don't stand on a MItop Don't stay out in a boat Don't carry anything Don't use electric made of metal, and appliances -irons, toasters, don't be near any- mixers-lightning could fol- thing made of metal. low the wire. Stay away from 14 the tv. /@IOF URE Yo UTS@IDE C-36 A's 1300 ell Thunder and lightning occur together. The light reaches YOU at once. Sound takes some time to reach you. Usually you see the lightning stroke before you hear the thunder. As soon as you see lightning, count the seconds until you hear the thunder. If there are 5 seconds, the lightning was about a mile away. ss-C OvAIDS (Sound goes about 1000 feet a A second.) In metric, if it takes three seconds to hear the thunder. the storm is about a kilometer away. 0 If you see lightning and hear thunder at just about the same moment, watch out. The storm is right above you, only a few hundred feet away. Lightning is also a killer. It strikes people directly. It also. starts fires. and many people die from those fires. Lightning also does strange things. It can explode a tree. Lightning heats the sap in the tree trunk, The sap changes to steam. The steam expands and blows the tree apart. In a herd of cows, one out of Sometimes when a dozen or more it's stormy, you don't might be struck see any streaks of The others are lightning, but the sky untouched. lights up occasion- ally. It means the storm is very far away, too far for you to see the streaks, and perhaps so far you don't hear any thunder either, 4V4 J /1A C-37 A, (V'V) W henever it rains heavily, there may be flash floods. Flash floods occur in mountain streams-often in canyons: or flooding of dry washes. But they do happen in cities as well. SeV4 Flash floods can occur even though ep\Nez, ces it's not raining where you are. It may be oo%jf\ raining hard farther upstream. It is rain- 2n akc\,% ing so hard, water cannot sink into the 000 ground. It rushes down the mountain- side to the stream. The stream can't carry all the water, so it floods. A flash flood may come at you as a There may be flooding. Keep alert. high wave of water. And it moves fast Be smart, watch out for heavy storms. as an express train. Chances are you Keep your eye on streams to see if won't have time to get out of its way. water is rising. If streams rise, get unless you have a plan. out fast. Go to higher ground. mn@V 91@@D When you hear "Flash Flood Warning" There is flooding. Move out right away. The flood could reach you any moment. Get to high ground. Seconds count. The National Weather Service may not have time to send out a Flash Flood Warning-be alert and ready to act on your own. 41 16 C-38 Move to higher ground-leave every- thing and run, A flash.flood can pick up cars, 4101 campers, vans, recreational vehicles and A roll them downstream. It can tumble huge 01- boulders, uproot trees and carry them, wash out roads and tumble bridges like matchsticks. What todo- *If the forecast is for heavy rain, stay home. *If you already have set up camp-stay alert. Keep an eye on the sky. Have a battery radio, and listen to local station. 0Watch for signs of rain-not only where you are, but upstream. 0Plan ahead. Pick high ground for your Y camp. Also, know which way to move 46111 in an emergency to higher ground, Check out the route to be sure it's passable. eRemern ber -seconds count. Flash floods move faster than you'd believe possible. 00m T C.0 vN A LONE Tq Keep out of storm drains in the suburbs and country. Don't play in irrigation ditches, dry washes or other waterways. These places can be dangerous even in fair weather. When it rains *he water can get deep fast and the cur- rent can be very strong. There will probably be heavy lightning, When you go to higher ground, stay off hilltops. Don't get under lone trees, Be smart- remember warnings about what to do, and not to do, when there's lightning. 17 C-39 IN A CAR - what to do- � Watch for flooding at bridges and dips in the road � Never drive where water is over bridges or roads. All of a sudden the bridges or the road could be washed out. They may not even be there under the water. � If your car is trapped, get out. Move to higher ground. You may lose your car, hut you'll save your life. � If you're driving at night be especially careful. Usually you can't see very well because of the wind and rain. If you should drive into water, don't try to drive out of it. Get out of your car. Scramble to higher ground. � If you're driving through canyon country along a stream and hear a flash flood warning, leave you car and climb to high ground-don't try to outrun the flash flood. NOAA WEATHER LOCAL RADIO WEATHER Wherever flash floods are possible keep a battery radio with you. Keep on a local station or stay tuned to NOAA Weather Radio. The flood may get worse. 18 Try to keep warm. Keep away from the stream. 0 0 0 0 0 0 <3 ash floods and tornadoes can occur 6 C 0' Dsiornewhere during any month of the year. 0 0 0 , Not so with snowstorms; they occur in - winter or sometimes in early spring or late fall. Usually the snow piles up slowly, so you have time to get to a safe place. But not always. 0 In a winter storm a few flakes may fall and the next moment there is blinding snow. It's so heavy you can't see to drive or walk. It piles up deeper and deeper. All at once you may be stalled in a huge drift. You may be trapped. The National Weather Service issues- Winter Storm Watch There may be heavy snow, blizzards, 0 freezing rain, ice, sleet. Vi Winter Storm Warning There is severe winter weather. It may move your way. Be alert. If you're thinking about going outside in a heavy snowstorm, don't! Stay inside. 19 C-41 Before a storm- VWM @M PqQ Be sure to remind your parents to have... matches and raisins, peanuts, chocolate- a warm blanket candies foods that give 4151 '@ quick energy 4- a flashlight 0. windshield scraper brush first aid kit pail of sand rm*oom knife 0 paper towels put a few coins shovel ,;;.inside for a pay phone booster cables a tow chain ?5@ I A pole and bright piece of cloth if you have no antenna. V @Oi,@ 189V@3 0600 0., � Tie a bright cloth to the antenna a . 0 U 0 and raise it high so rescuers 0 0 0 0 0 can find you 0 a 0 � It your car has no antenna, use 0 0 0 0 0 0 a pole or fishing rod 0 0 C, � As you sit, exercise. Clap your 0 hands, stamp your feet, swing 0 your arms about. Keep your blood circulating, keep warm don't leave the car 0 � If engine is running, keep win- U 0 0 dow open a bit. Conserve gaso- line and food. You may be 4, V stranded a long time � Leave the overhead light on at night so you can be seen 20 a @11 ash hl first aid I put W@VghoveIOD6r a fe C-4 2 0 B@ 00? FO I Store Remember water for Stay inside- electricity may drinking Have a batt y don't go out go off-have operated unless you a way to cook radio-sparq have a li a ine and to ke batteries fastened to warm Th:p you and to the furnace may house not work Have a supply of food flashlight, lamps, candles for light V VW caw (i3@ @QDVow � Wear mittens, they are warmer than gloves � Wear several layers of clothing. Sev- eral layers are warmer than a single garment. Layers should include wool and a windbreaker � Wear a hood that covers your mouth � Wear a hat and ear muffs � Don't move away from the house without a lifeline during a heavy snow storm or blizzard 21 C-43 In the Antarctic there is a rule. When the temperature is 30 below, and the wind is 30 miles an hour, a person can survive only C> 0 During the winter you will often hear about wind chill. That's when the air temperature and the wind combine to make your body feel colder than the Once a winter storm temperature reading. hits, itIs too late to do You get that feeling when you get too much about it. Pre- out of the pool or ocean in the summer pare your house, your 6 time. In winter it can be very danger- car and your clothing ous. For example when the outside ahead of time. temperature is zM @@ Most winter tragedies 0 occur because people and the wind speed is 20miles per hour, were not ready for the storm. thewind chill makes it feel like its Be smart. Prepare for a win er torm. clieck 41,sr 3Avo cr 0 The lowest tempera- ture in the United Did States was -79.81 (-62.10C) at Prospect you Creek Camp in the 0 0 know? Endicott Mountains in the lower 48 States, 0 is Northern AIE ,ka on Of 0 the coldest tempera- January 23, 1971. ture was -69.71 0 (56.50C) in Rogers Pass, Mont., on Janu- The hottest 0 ary 20, 1954. temperature ever recorded in the Uni- he greatest snowfall 0 ted States was 1340 One storm from Feb- in twenty-four (56.70C) at Greenland hours in the Ranch in Death Val- ruary 13 to February United States ley, Calif., on July 10. 19, 1959 dumped 189 was at Silver 1913. inches of snow at Mt. Lake, Colo., on Shasta Ski Bowl, Calif. April 14-15,1921 - 22 C-44 93. FGFMT The most snow in the United States in one month-390 inches (321/2 feet)-fell at Tamarack, Calif. in January, 1911. And in one season, the winter of 1971-1972, 1"MU1 (11122 inches) of snow fell at the Rainier Paradise Ranger Station in the State of Washington. In the United States temperatures are given in Fah- renheit (OF) degrees. The Celsius temperatures, (also called Centigrade) are used in most other countries of the world. Here are both scales so you can convert one to another. At -401 both scales come together. oF oc 'F oc 212 100 Wat r Boll: 14 -10 194 90 -4 -20 176 80 -22 -30 158 70 -40 -40 Scales 140 60 1 Coincide 134 - - 56.7 -58 -60 122 - - 50 -76 -60 104 - - 40 -79.8 -62.1 86 - - 30 -94 - - -70 -112 - - -80 68 20 -130 - - -90 50 10 32 0 water -148 - - -100 Freezes 23 C-45 R Try these true or false questions. Ten right-you're a weather wizard; eight right-you're okay: six or less right, take another look at the booklet. It may save your life. T F 1 .Tornadoes kill more people than any other kind of storm. Ll T F 2. Hurricanes are very large storm systems. T F 3. Wind is the main cause of loss of life in a hurricane. T F 4. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place. T F 5. Tornadoes occur only in the midwestern states. T F 6. Flash floods occur only when it's raining where you are. T F 7. In a tornado the winds may swirl 200 - 300 miles an hour. T F B. Winter storms develop only after several hours of warning winds and clouds. T F 9. A safe place to be during a lightning storm is inside a hard top car. T F 10. During a lightning storm get under a large tree for protection, ANS 24 C-46 O hurricane, tornado, lightning, flash flood, or winter storm. 1. The path of a is sometimes narrow, but very destructive. 2. Usually before a hits you see a fun- nel extending from a dark cloud formation. 3. Usually high towering clouds develop before a storm. 4. Severe can occur as late as April, which happened in 1982. 5. usually occur in valleys where there are narrow stream beds. 6. A is an extensive storm that usually develops in August _september. 7. In a the winds blow at least 74 miles an hour. 8, When a approaches, go the cellar or to an inside closet or hall. 9, When a approaches, at away from the seashore; go to a safe inland location. 10. Don't try to outrun a in your car. 0;468r ANSWERS: 6(Opeuiot -0 1. aueopin '6 'OPeuJOV09'9ueoujn'L 'Gu8oijjnt4,'pooIj SBII2;0c LUJOIs JOIulffi 't,'66=04611 08VOPOLU01 08Vo0peuJol' I.) 25 Al C-47 You can protect yourself against weather hazards. Things to do, or get, are listed below. After each, write in the weather hazard, or hazards, that apply. 1. go to the cellar 2. tape windows 3. stay away from windows 4. stay in your car 5. get out of your car 6. stay away from metal 7. stay indoors 8. have fresh water 9. have battery radio 10. cover your head with your hands ANSWERS: (1.Torando, 2.hurricane, 3.hurricane, lightning. tornado, 4.winter storm lightn- ing, 5.flash flood, 6.lightning, 7.hurricane, lightning, winter storm, torando, 8.rip current, 8.hurricane, torando, winter storm, 9.hurrican, tornado, winter storm, flash flood, 10.tornado) Vwhe re are five weather hazards. Under each write in the s a nings about them that you remember. Include both Do's and Don'ts. r 1,:E 198-21-659,:1616. 27 C-49 Z Name School Rw NOAA/PA 82004 March 1984 C-50 X,,@r Awr SUFETYAUZES Ahhm Ak- W kt P.- iL 4, -Wqk.@, 7 @'7 -"p Hurricane advisories will help you save your life. . . * Keep your car fueled. Because of flooding or interrupted electrical but you must help. Follow these safety rules during power, service stations may be inoperable for several days after hurricane emergencies: the storm strikes, due to flooding or interrupted electrical power. . Stay at home, if it is sturdy and on high ground. If it is not, move I. E ter ca h hurricane season prepared. Every June through to a designated shelter and stay there until the storm is over. N(n)vembecr, recheck your supply of boards, tools, batteries, non- - Remain indoors during the hurricane. Travel is extremely danger- perishable foods, and the other equipment you will need when a ous when winds and tides are shipping through your arL hurricane strikes your town. * Monitor the storm's position through NOAA National Weather 2. When you hear the first tropical cyclone advisory, listen for Service advisories. future messages; this will prepare you for a hurricane emergency 11 in advance of the issuance of watches and warnings. AVOID THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE 3. w"ben your area is covered by a hurricane watch, continue If the calm storm center passes directly overhead, there will be a lull normal activities, but stay tuned to radio or television for all in the wind lasting from a few minutes to half an hour or more. Stay NOAA National Weather Service advisories. Remember: A hurri- in a safe place unless emergency repairs are absolutely necessary. But cane watch means possible danger; if the danger materializes, a remember, at the other side of the eye, the winds rise very rapidly hurricane warning will be issued. Meanwhile, keep alert. Ignore to hurricane force, coming from the opposite direction. rumors. When the hurricane has passed- 4When your area receives a hurricane warning- Seek necessary medical care at Red Cross disaster stations or .Plan your time before the storm arrives and avoid the last minute hospitals. hurry that might leave you marooned or unprepared. Stay out of disaster areas. Unless you are qualified to help, your eKeep calm until the emergency has ended. presence might hamper first aid and rescue work. .Leave low-lying areas that may be swept by high tides or storm Drive carefully along debris-filled streets. Roads may be under- waves. mined and may collapse under the weight of a car. Sfides along *Moor your boat securely before the storm arrives, or evacuate it cuts are also a hazard. to a designated safe area. When your boat is moored, leave it, and Avoid loose or dangling wires, and report them immediately to don'( return once the wind and waves are up. your power company or the nearest law enforcement officer. .Board up windows or protect them with storm shutters or tape. Report broken sewer or water mains to the water department. Danger to small windows is mainly from wind-driven debris. Prevent fires. Lowered water pressure may make fire fighting Larger windows may be broken by wind pressure. difficult. .Secure outdoor objects that might be blown away or uprooted. Check refrigerated food for spoilage if power has been off during Garbage cans, garden tools, toys, signs, porch furniture, and a the storm. number of other harmless items become missilesiof destruction in Remember that hurricanes moving inland can cause severe flooding. hurricane winds. Anchor 'hem or store them ins de before the Stay away from riverbanks and streams. NOAA National Weathe storm strikes. Service advisories will keep you informed on river flood stages. -Store drinking water in clean bathtubs, jugs, bottles, and cooking utensils; your town's water supply may be contaminated by flooding or damaged by hurricane floods. j'Aft" -Check vour hattery-powered equipment. Your radio may be your @\ oniv link with the world outside the hurricane, and emergency Americam ('101 Red Cross + cooking facilities, lights, and flashlights will be essential if utili- P-ter 922 nozw"m Lnmh u L hur"cane "orm strike "tore dr--ki uten" "''u, floodmg or -be, our cril, linkw cooking fac ties are interrupted. C-51 jArrrrR11zFS N'. j- 21@ Afit STORM/ Killer From the Sea SURGE/ A hurricane causes the sea level to rise CV@ICLIMC(l dUring a hLirricane cmcrg@.:iicy. aiid above normal tidal heights, with giant wind- safc c\ @icuatjon rOLItCS to slicitcr. Alf, . driven waves and strong, unpredictable currents These are the hurricane's worst Lcam flic storin SLirgc Iiistoxy for \'OLir area. killers. If you live in a coastal area, be During the hurricane emergency, stay tuned prepared. to vour radio or television for the latest Know thc clc\-ation of your property :tl)o\-c N6AA National Weather Service advisories, ilicall sca lc\-Cl. Tilis i4orriiatimi is :'i\-ai1ah1c froiii and follow hurricane rules. cit\, and COMM' cilginecrs. Hurricane watches mean a hurricane maN I-LiVC ',I S@IfC CV11CL1.1tioii roUtC I)II11111Cd. YOUr threaten an area. Hurricane warnings mean C011MIL111itV'S IlUrricanc prcparccIncss plan S110L11d a hurricane is expected to strike an area itICILKIC de signatcd safe .ircas, arcas to hc within 24 hours. M.4 4 Th, p-g-, f th, A-i... Rd C, 6 American m.d@ @,ibl, by th@ -1--y .. A- -d fl ... @Piol upp- @A th,_-H .. p-pk. Red Cross + C-52 Hurrican Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce FACT SHEET FOR HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM PROBABILITIES The National Weather Service issues hurricane/tropical storm probabilities in public advisories to realistically assess the threat of a hurricane or tropical storm hitting your community. The probabilities are defined as the chance in percent that the center of the storm will pass within approximately 65 miles of 44 selected locations from Brownsville, Texas, to Eastport, Maine. Probabilities are intended primarily for decisionmakers in local government and private industry who must begin protective actions early. Local emergency management officials use probabilities to help decide wiien to begin evacuation and open shelters. Probabilities are issued four times a day, at 6 AM, noon, 6 FM, and 10:30 FM Eastern Daylight Time and are appended to the public advisories in tabular form. There are several key points to remember. First, if you live between two listed locations, you may estimate your chance of being affected by averaging the numbers on either side. Second, to assess your threat compare the probability of your community with those of neighboring locations. If you have the highest value, your hurricane threat is greatest. Finally, you should be sensitive to increasing values from one advisory to the next. Increasing probabilities indicate a greater risk than those that remain the same or decrease. When the hurricane is 36-72 hours from predicted landfall, probabilities are quite low. The numbers increase more rapidly as the storm gets closer than 36 hours. If a storm is forecast to be directly over your location in 72 hours, the maximum probability is 20 percent. At 48 hours from predicted landfall, the maximum is 13 to 18 percent. When the storm is less than 24 hours from forecast landfall, the values increase even more rapidly to 60-70 percent. If you live in an area where it takes a long time to evacuate because of traffic congestion, you may have to leave when values are low. You should listen carefully to your local officials concerning evacuation for your community and heed their advice. If you wait too long, your escape route may be cut off by rising storm tides as the hurricane gets closer. Use caution when interpreting the probabilities. Potential loss of life and property will vary depending on the intensity of the storm. The figures do not tell you about intensity; that information is given in the advisory. Secondly, hurricane/tropical storm probabilities must not be confused with precipitation probabilities which are routinely included in Weather Service Q e forecasts. Not only are the two computed differently, but the implications of being rained on and being hit by a hurricane are markedly different. C-53 Hurrimcan Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce KEY TERM S HURRICANE: A pronounced rotary circulation with a constant wind speed of 74 miles per hour (64 knots) or more, that is usually accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning. Hurricanes often spawn tornadoes. HURRICANE SEASON: The six-month period from June 1 through November 30 is considered to be the hurricane season. HURRICANE WATCH: Issued when a hurricane threatens, the watch covers a definite area and time period. A hurricane watch indicates hurricane conditions are a real possibility, usually within 24-36 hours, but it does not mean they will happen. When the watch is issued, everyone in the area should listen for advisories and be prepared to take action if advised to do so* HURRICANE WARNING: A warning is issued 24 hours before hurricane conditions are expected. If the hurricane path changes quickly, the warning may be issued 10 to 18 hours or less before the the storm makes landfall. Hurricane warnings identify where winds of at least 74 miles per hour are expected. A warning will also say where dangerously high water or exceptionally high waves are forecast even though winds may be less than hurricane force. HURRICANE LANDFALL: The point and time during which the eye of the hurricane passes over the shoreline. After passage of the calm eye, hurricane winds begin again with the same intensity as before, but from the opposite direction. GALE WARNINGS: These are issued when winds of 39-54 miles an hour (45-47 knots) are expected. STORM WARNINGS: These are issued when winds of 55-73 miles an hour (48-63 knots) are expected. If a hurricane is expected to strike a coastal area, gale or storm warnings will not usually precede hurricane warnings. SMALL CRAFT CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS: When a tropical distrubance threatens a coastal area, small craft operators are advised to remain in port or not to venture into the open sea. FLASH FLOOD WATCH: Flash flooding, quickly rising water often swift and always dangerous, is possible in the area; stay alert and take precautions. FLASH FLOOD WARNING: Flash flooding is imminent; take immediate action if A AN you are in a threatened area. C-55 ADVISORY: A National Weather Service message giving storm location, intensity, moement, and precautions to be taken. BULLETIN: Similar to an advisory. EYE: The roughly circular area of comparatively light winds and fair weather at the center of a hurricane. Eyes are usually 25-30 miles in diameter. The area around the eye is called the wall cloud. Do not go outdoors while the eye is passing; the full intensity of the storm will reoccur in minutes. FLOOD: A general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from (1) the overflow of inland or tidal waters, (2) the unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source (often called "flash flooding"), and (3) mudslides which are proximately caused or precipitated by accumulation of water on or under the ground. HURRICANE CATEGORIES: The National Weather Service categorizes hurricanes by intensity on a scale of 1 to 5, which include: Wind Surge Category 1 74-9-5 mph 4-5 feet Category 11 96-110 mph 6-8 feet Category 111 111-155 mph 9-12 feet Category IV 131-155 mph 13-18 feet Category V 156+ mph 18+ feet Two common classifications for hurricanes are: Major hurricane -- a hurricane with maximum winds of 111 to 135 mph (88-107 knots), and Extreme hurricane -- a hurricane with maximum winds in excess of 136 mph (118+ knots) STOFN SURGE: An abnormal rise in the level cf the sea produced by a hurricane. This inundation is usually responsible for the greatest loss of life and destruction of property. Danger extends for hundreds of miles from the center of the hurricane. Storm surge, also known as tidal flooding, is responsible for nine out of ten hurricane deaths. C-56 Hurricane wareness ow 00, Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce SEICHE (pronounced saych) : A phenomenon whereby a series of fast-moving, steep waves are superimposed on the storm surge. The huge wall of water may cause total destruction and great loss of life. SUBSIDENCE: Sinking of the land, caused mainly by the withdrawal of underground water from wells supplying cities and industries. This phenomenon may cause coastal areas to become more vulnerable to tropical storm flooding. TORNADO: A violently rotating air column, nearly always observable as a funnel cloud. These storms--which can occur anywhere at any time-are often spawned by hurricanes. TORNADO WATCH: Issued when tornado conditions threaten, the watch covers a definite area and time period. A tornado watch indictes tornado conditions are a real possibility; everyone in the area should listen for advisories and be prepared to act quickly if a tornado warning is issued. TORNADO WARNING: A warning is issued when tornado conditions are imminent or when a funnel cloud is sighted. The warning will describe the "downstream" area that might be affected, and persons in the threatened area should take cover immediately. TROPICAL DISTURBANCE: A moving area of thunderstorms in the topics that maintains its identify for 24 hours or more. A common phenomenon in the Gulf and Caribbean. TROPICAL DEPRESSION: Rotary circulation at the ocean's surface, highest constant wind speed 38 miles per hour (33 knots). TROPICAL STOM : Distinct rotary circulation, constant wind speed of between 39 and 73 miles per hour (34-63 knots). WALL CLOUD: The area immediately surrounding the eye of a hurricane, forming a vertical column up to 20 miles high and 20 to 30 miles wide. While the heaviest rains and most violent winds occur in this ring, the eye it surrounds is calm. Based on information from the Insurance Information Institute, Texas Subscriber Office, Austin, Texas. A*_ A C-57 Hurricane Awareness 0* Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce HURRICANE SAFETY TIPS: ELEVATOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS 1. Elevators may not be able to function during a hurricane. Water may damage the machinery and passengers could become trapped in cars. Telephones may be inoperative and elevator mechanics unable to handle emergencies due to flooded and unsafe roads. 2. Make a thorough examination of elevator machine room ventilation, including roof, walls, doors and windows for possible windblown rain leakage. If repairs are necessary, have them made now to prevent water damage to motors. Machine room doors and windows should be made watertight by weatherstripping. All open ventilation should be covered with splash guards. 3. Clear out gutters, drains and downspouts to prevent accumulation of rain water which may cascade to floors below and find its way to the elevator shafts. 4. When a hurricane approaches, park the elevator car at the top floor so that if an upper floor is flooded, the water will not fall on top of the car and damage its operating panel, door operator, electrical devices and wiring. 5. Pull the disconnect switches in the machine room and close and lock the door to prevent the elevator from running during a hurricane. Water that may run down, or rising ground water, may fill the elevator pit, causing shorts and a shutdown if the elevator is left running. 6. Once the hurricane is over, check the elevator machine room, all electrical equipment, hoistways and pits before starting the elevators. If water has affected any of these areas, have the equipment inspected before placing the elevators back in service. Taking these precautions may prevent lengthy elevator shutdowns and unnecessary repair expenses and inconvenience. Contributed by the Metropolitan Dade County Emergency Operations Center, 5600 S.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33173, with the aid of V. Pedre, Sr., of the Paramount Elevator Systems, Inc. All' C-59 urricane wareness Awn Federal Emergency Management Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST FOR OFFICE OR CCMMERCIAL BUILDINGS The following steps should be taken to prepare an office building or other commercial-type building prior to the arrival of a hurricane: 1. Cover all glass windows and doors on at least the first floor with shutters, paneling or other protective material such as plywood or masonite. 2. In the absense of shutters or paneling, criss-cross glass areas with strips of 2-irch wide masking tape placed 10 to 12 inches apart on the INSIDE of the glass. This should be done on at least the first floor level. 3. Move all records and important papers, etc. away from windows. Those on the first floor should be moved to a higher floor or raised off the floor in the event the first floor becomes flooded by either increased tidal action or excessive rainfall. 4. Disconnect all electrical appliances and equipment, such as typewriters, copiers, coffee makers, electric clocks, calculators, etc. to prevent their being damaged due to blown transformers or excessive surge when electric power is restored. 5. Service and test the building's emergency power generator UNDER LOAD. Generators should be test-run each week under load to ensu-re--tfiey are in good operating condition and available for emergency use. 6. Check drains on the roof of the building to ensure that they are clear and able to drain off the heavy rains which usually accompany a hurricane. Clogged roof drains could cause the roof to collapse from weight of accumulated water or cause damage to the interior of the building if water there becomes deep enough to cover vent pipes and run down inside the building. 7. Secure or bring inside any outdoor furniture, potted plants or other decorative objects that could be blown about by the hurricane force winds. Contributed by the Metropolitan Dade County Emergency Operations Center, 5600 S.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33173 C-61 8. Dumpsters (large trash containers) can be secured by lashing two or more together with rope or chains and chocking the wheels. They might also be secured to a tree or telephone pole, if available. 9. One or more persons should be designated to remain in the building throughout the storm to continue preparing the building as required and to be available to make emergency repairs. This person (or persons) should be equipped with a battery-operated radio or TV set to obtain information on the status of the storm and any emergency instructions. 10. To prevent damage, TV antennas on the roof should be lowered and secured. It is important to remember that TV antennas are often electrically charged and should be allowed to "bleed off" by disconnecting TV sets early on in the building preparations and make lowering of TV antennas one of the last things to do. NOTE: (1) It might be advisable to set aside a supply of heavy plastic sheeting, air conditioning duct tape and some sandbags for securing first floor doorways against flood water. (2) It is also suggested that a building security detail be appointed to coordinate hurricane preparedness activities in multiple tenant buildings. C-62 Hurricane Awareness to CO Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce HURRICANE TIPS: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR HCME FREEZER STOPS IF YOUR HCME FREEZER STOPS RUNNING and will be off for some time, you can take several steps to keep fooa-Fr-omspoiling. Keep the freezer closed. Move the food to a locker plant. Add dry ice if you can get it. Can the food. Keep Freezer Closed: Open the freezer only to remove food for moving to a locker plant or to add dry ice. Estimate How Long The Current Will Be Off: Don't worry if you know you can have the freezer running again wiFF-in-a--Tew hours. When the freezer stops running, the power supply may be off or the freezer itself may be out of order. 1. Try to find out how long the power will be off. 2. Consult the instruction book to determine if there is something you can do to put the freezer back into operation. Or, 3. Try to find out how long it will take to get a serviceman to put the freezer back into operation. Estimate How LoN Food Will Keep: Try to estimate about how long the food will stay frozen. Witn the freezer door closed, food will usually stay frozen in a fully loaded cabinet for about two days; in a cabinet with less than half a load, not more than a day. How long the food in your freezer will stay frozen depends on -- 1. The amount of food in the freezer. 2. The kind of food in the freezer. A freezer filled with meat will keep longer than a freezer filled with baked goods. 3. The temperature of the food. The colder the food, the longer it will stay frozen. 4. The freezer itself. A well-insulated freezer will keep food frozen much longer than one with little or no insulation. 5. Size of the freezer. The larger the freezer, the longer food will stay frozen. A @A Contributed by the Metropolitan Dade County Emergency Operations Center, 5600 S.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33173 C-63 Consider the Freezer-Locker Plant: Make arrangements with your local locker plant to take care of food in an emergency. Then, if an emergency does occur: Call the locker plant to see if it is operating, and if so, whether it has room for your food. If space is available: 1. Wrap the food in plenty of newspapers and blankets, or use insulated boxes. 2. Rush the food to the locker plant. Use Dry Ice If You Can Get It: If locker space is not available and it appears as IF your rreeze_r_-w-1=e stopped for longer than a day, use dry ice to keep foods cold. You may be able to get dry ice from a local dairy or a cold-storage warehouse. The more dry ice you use, the longer the food will keep frozen. Twenty-five pounds of dry ice should hold the temperature of a half-full 10-cubic foot cabinet below freezing for two or three days. Food in a fully-loaded cabinet will stay frozen for three to four days if you put in dry ice soon after the freezer goes off. Use 50 pounds of dry ice for a 20-cubic foot freezer. (To prevent burns, wear gloves when handling dry ice.) Move food from the freezing compartment to the storage compartment. Put heavy cardboard directly on the packages of frozen food and then put the dry ice on top of the cardboard. Should You Cover The Freezer With Blankets.? If you have put dry ice into the cabinet, you may cover the rreezer with blankets, quilts, or some other covering. Put crumpled newspaper or excelsior between the cabinet and blankets. If you put blankets or other coverings on the freezer, be sure to pin or fasten them so that they will not cover the air-vent openings. The power may go on unexpectedly and ventilation will be needed. What Should You Do With Food If It Thaws? Occasionally, frozen foods are partially or completely thawed before you discover that the freezer is not operating. Partial thawing and refreezing does reduce the quality of foods, particularly fruits, vegetables and prepared foods. Red meats are affected less than many other foods. You may safely refreeze foods that have thawed if they still contain ice crystals or if they are still cold -- about 40 degrees Fahrenheit -- and have been held at this temperature no longer than one to two days after thawing. Foods warmed to 40 degrees Fahrenheit or higher are not likely to be fit for refreezing. C-64 Hurroicane Awareness wo' Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce You Can Refreeze Thawed Fruits: Fruits usually ferment when they start to spoil. X -little fermenta-t-i-on--w-i-lT not make fruits dangerous to eat, but may spoil their flavor. You can refreeze thawed fruits if they still taste and smell good. Or you can use them in cooking and baking or for making jams, jellies, and preserves. Be Careful When You Refreeze Thawed Meats and Poultry: Meats and poultry becomeUn-safeto eat when they begin to spoii. Examine each package of food before you decide what to do with it. If the color or odor of the thawed food is poor or questionable, get rid of it. It may be dangeroust Tests show you can refreeze beef, veal and lamb that show no sign of spoilage. If a package has been opened, the meat should be rewrapped before refreezing. Be Careful When You Refreeze Vepetables, Shellfish and Cooked Foods: Often, you can't-t-e=Fy- the odor whether vegetables, Shellfish a-nU-c-o--oked foods have spoiled. Bacteria multiply rapidly in these foods. Do not refreeze any of these foods when they have thawed completely. If ice crystals are still in the food, you can refreeze it immediately. Usually it is safe to do so, even though the quality may suffer. If the condition of the food is poor or questionable, dispose of it. It may be dangerous% Do Not Use Melted Ice Cream. Refreeze Foods Quickly: Clean your freezer before refilling. When you refreeze thawed food, freeze it quickly. To quickly refreeze thawed food, take it to a commercial locker plant. Chill to 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below before taking the food back to your home freezer. Wrap the food well with newspapers and blankets before moving it to or from the freezer plant. To refeeze food at home, turn the adjustable temperature control (if your freezer has one) to the coldest position. When the current comes on again, it will run continuously and food will freeze quicker. Place the warmer packages against the refrigerated surface if possible, but pile them so air can ciiculate around them. After the food is well frozen, turn the temperature control to its usual setting. If the freezer is too full, move some of the colder packages to the refrigerator, and return them gradually to the freezer. Foods that have been frozen and thawed require the same care as food that has never been frozen. Use refrozen foods as soon as possible. 00- A# C-65 BE PREPARED: 1. Make arrangements to take your food to a nearby locker plant in an emergency. 2. Try to locate a source of dry ice in your community. 3. Keep canning supplies on hand, and keep canning equipment in good working order. At times, the only practical solution to save thawed food is to can it. 4. During the seasons when power failure is frequent in your community, it's good insurance to run the freezer at a much colder temperature than normal. 5. In choosing a freezer, select one with good insulation. A well- insulated freezer keeps food cold hours longer than a poorly insulated one should the power go off. 6. Use care in preparing, packaging and freezing food. The more sanitary you are in preparing food for the freezer, the better it will be able to withstand stoppage of the freezer, Sanitary preparation means fewer bacteria to cause spoilage. Frozen bacteria are not dead bacteria; when they warm up, they become active. Prepared by Evelyn B. Spindler, nutritionist with the Federal Extension Service, in consultation with the Fluman Nutrution Research Division, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. C-66 Hurrican Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce HURRICANE TIPS: INSURANCE PROTECTION INFORMATION Insurance protection for hurricane damage is more complex than commonly understood. There are so many companies selling so many different coverages that one common rule seldom applies to all. Following are some general guidelines. AUTO: Insurance for autos is written in three basic coverages: liability, c=oision and comprehensive. It is the comprehensive insurance that covers losses caused by wind and flood, including damage from fallen trees or power lines and blowing debris. Your insured auto is normally covered in hurricanes. HOME: There are two basic coverages for a homeowner: homeowner's and flood insurance. A homeowner's policy is the standard coverage most people have. It is written in several formats but only covers water damage if the "wind opens the roof, windows or some other part of the house." This insurance does not cover damage caused by water rising to a point where it seeps in around doors, windows, etc. This is only covered by flood insurance. FLOODING: Damage caused by flood, waves or tidal water is not normally covered by any of the homeowners' forms. In flood hazardous areas, the federal government does make flood insurance available. Insurance agents who sell homeowners' coverage also sell flood insurance on behalf of the federal government. COVERAGES: "Types" of Property. To evaluate the different homeowners coverages, we start by discussing three different "types" of property. Understanding these "types" helps not only to determine what's covered by a policy, but also to know which claims will or will not be paid following a hurricane. Building Exterior: Examples: roof (including tiles, shingles, etc.), walls, (including windows, their frames and screens), siding and fixtures attached to the building (permanently), attached air conditioners, solar water heaters, skylights, etc. Contributed by the Metropolitan Dade County Emergency Operations Center, 5600 S.W. 87th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33173 e C-67 Building Interior: Examples: walls, ceilings,, floors, cabinets attached to tZlidings, etc. Walls and ceilings are often called structures. Personal PropertX: Examples: furniture, clothing, non-attached fixtures (lamps, drapes, etc.) and most personal posessions. The following types are subject to special homeowners' policy limits and are not covered under the flood dinsurance policy: money, securities, deeds, watercraft (inside buildings), trailers or grave markers. These are referred to as contents. WHY ALL THESE VARIATIONS? Frankly, it would be easier for insurers to provide all-inclusive homeowners, tenants and condominium policies to everyone who wanted one. And it also would be much more expensive. Instead, consumers deserve a variety of product and cost options because their needs and exposures vary according to what they own and where they live. This becomes especially clear with the next item. SPECIFIC EXCLUSIONS: The following items, which are highly susceptible to VI-n-d-damage, typically are listed as exclusions (no coverage provided) on homeowners' policies. However, some of these exclusions can be covered for wind damage by the purchase of endorsements to the basic polciy. The exclusions: 1. Screening and supports around pools, patios, etc. 2. Fences, property line walls and seawalls. 3. Greenhouses, trellises, cabanas and outdoor equipment (including TV antennas). 4. Structures and other property located over water. 5. Awnings or canopies, including their supports (but not storm shutters). 6. Certain structures with roof-like coverings of metal, fiberglass, plastic or cloth. 7. Trees, shrubs or plants. C-68 Hurricane Awareness map Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce DEDUCTIBLES: All policyholders should be aware of deductibles and special limitations which apply to the insurance contracts they have purchased. ADDITIONAL COVERAGES: Debris Removal: When covered property is damaged by an insured peril, the policy also pays for property removal as debris. For example: removal of tiles from a roof destroyed by wind would be reimbursed, but not removal of a fallen tree (unless additional coverage was purchased). Removal of flood-caused debris would be reimbursed by the flood policy. Temporary Repairs: When a policyholder makes necessary and reasonable repairs arter a loss to prevent further damage to the property (this is a contractural obligation), the insurance company provides reimbursement. The National Flood Insurance Program may provide limited reimbursement for costs of sandbagging to prevent flood damage. LiviCg Expenses: When a residence becomes uninhabitable because of a covered loss, the insurance company pays for a reasonable increase in living expenses (motel room, meals out, etc.) over and above the normal expenses for housing, food, transportation, etc. Flood insurance does not pay this cost. Rugs installed over finished floor are considered contents. Rugs installed over unfinished floors are part of the structure. AW C-69 I I SLI III I I C(` Texas Subscriber Office 100 N. Interregional liwy., Suite 3200 11 fin-Inat 1011 Austin, Texas 78701 111st 1111te (512) 476-7025 TEXAS INSURANCE S4)ject: TEXAS HURRICANE AWARENESS PROGRAM No. CAT. -3 FACT FILE Date: January 21, 1983 1 . WHEN IS THE "HURRICANE SEASON" The hurricane season in Texas is from June through October. However, this does not mean that they cannot strike the Texas coast during other months, only that historically no hurricane has hit Texas before June or after October. 2. WHAT IS THE TEXAS HURRICANE AWARENESS PROGRAM? The Texas Hurricane Awareness Program is an effort to remind longtime residents and alert newcomers to the Texas coast of the destructive power of hurricanes and to provide them with preparedness information. The program was initiated with the idea that both lives and property can be saved if people will familiarize themselves with hurricanes and some elementary precautionary measures that should be taken in the event of a storm. 3. WHAT IS THE PRINCIPAL FEATURE OF THE HURRICANE AWARENESS PROGRAM? The principal feature of the program is distribution of the brochure "Texas Coastal Hurricane Preparedness Information" prepared by the Texas Catastrophe Property Insurance Association (TCPIA). The brochure provides keys to -hurricane survival, covering all important steps from advance precautions through recovery. Additionally, the brochure includes a storm travel guide, hurricane facts and history relevant to the Texas coast, important terms to know, guidelines relating to insurance and storm recovery, and information and maps on tracking hurricanes. 4. HOW CAN CITIZENS OR GROUPS OBTAIN THE BROCHURE? "Texas Coastal Hurricane Preparedness Information" may be obtained by writing to the Texas Subscriber Office of the Insurance Information Institute, 100 N. Interregional, Suite 3200, Austin, TX 78701. 5. WHAT ROLE DOES THE NEWS MEDIA PLAY IN THE PROGRAM? Newspapers and radio and television stations play a vital role in the program. They print and broadcast awareness and preparedness information that might not otherwise reach the coastal population. They are a very important asset for the success of the program. C-71 BACKGROUND ON THE HURRICANE'AWARtNESS PROGRAM Fact Sheet .... page 2 6. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HURRICANE AWARENESS PROGRAM? The Texas Catastrophe Property. Insurance Association serves as the @ lead organization for the hurricane awareness program. Besides providing for administration and continued financial support, the member insurance companies of TCPIA contributed in excess of $150,000 to fund the program during its first five years. The program has, of course, received important advice and assistance from many agencies and groups throughout its existence, including the Governor's Division of Emergency Management, Texas A&M University, the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, the Texas Coastal and Marine Council, the National Weather Service's Office of Disaster Preparedness and the National Hurricane Center. The Texas Subscriber Office of the Insurance Information Institute, on behalf of the TCPIA, played a major role in establishing the program and continues to prepare and distribute loss prevention materials to the press and public. 7. BESIDES THEIR LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE HURRICANE AWARENESS PROGRAM, WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TCPIA? The Texas Catastrophe Property Insurance Association was established by the Texas Legislature in 1971 to provide a means for individuals in high risk areas in 14 coastal counties to obtain insurance protection against the hazards of windstorm and hail. Virtually every company licensed to write property insurance in Texas participates in the program. C-72 Tc\as Suhscl iber ( Mice 100 N. hot,rwgiojial Soite 3200 Allstill. T'_870 I (.512) 1,0-7,025' rrEXAS INSURANCE NOAA WEATHER RADIO No. CAT.-2 FACT FILE 1)a1c: February 27, 1984 The National Oceanic and Atmospheric A r1minist ration (NOAA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce has set up a network of 372 nationwide special frequency radio stations which provide around -the -clock broadcasts of the latest weather information from National Weather Service offices. Taped weather messages are repeated every three to five minutes and are routinely revised every one to three hours, or more frequently if needed. The broadcasts are tailored to weather information needs of people within the receiving area. Under a January 1975 White House policy statement, NOAA Weather Radio was designated the sole government -operated radio system to provide direct warnings into private homes for both natural disasters and nuclear attack. This capability supplements warnings by sirens, commercial radio and television. Forecasters can activate specially designed warning receivers. The receivers are either (1) automatically turned on so that the warning message is heard, or (2) sound an alarm indicating that an emergency exists, alerting the listener to turn the receiver up to an audible volume. "Warning alarm" receivers are especially valuable for schools, hospitals, public safety agencies, and news media offices. NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts are made on one of seven high band FM frequencies ranging from 162.400 to 162.550 megahertz (Mliz). Although these frequencies are not found on the average home radio now in use, weather radios are available in retail stores. Some new AM/FrV1 radios on the market offer the "weather band" as an added feature. Approximately 90% of the U.S. population is within the listening range of a NOAA Weather Radio broadcast. The broadcasts can usually be heard as far as 40 miles from the National Weather Service antenna site. Listed below are NOAA Weather Radio stations for Texas. Location Frequency Location Frequency Abilene 162.400 MHz Houston 162.400 MHz Amarillo 162.550 rvlHz Laredo 162.475 M11z Austin 162.400 MHz Lubbock 162.400 MHz Beaumont 162.475 MHz Lufkin 162.550 MHz Big Spring 162.475 MHz Midland 162.400 MHz Brownsville 162.550 MHz Paris 162.550 M11z Bryan 162.550 MHz Pharr 162.400 MHz Corpus Christi 162.550 MHz San Angelo 162.550 MHz Dallas 162.400 N!Hz San Antonio 162.550 MHz Del Rio 162.400 MHz Sherman 162.475 MHz El Paso 162.475 MHz Tyler 162.475 MHz Fort Worth 162.550 MHz Victoria 162.400 MHz Galveston 162.550 MHz Waco 162.475 MHz C-73 Wichita Falls 162.475 Mi H z Insin-ance Texas Subscriber Office 100 N. Interregional Hwy., Suite 3200 Austin, Texas 78701 list it ute (512) 476-7025 TEXAS INSURANCE SuliJect: Deaths Due to Major Texas Hurricanes No. CAT. -4 FACT FILE Date: June 29, 1984 The table below lists the hurricanes and major storms on the Texas coast for which the largest number of deaths have been recorded. Fortunately, the number of deaths has generally decreased since the early part of this century due mainly to early warning systems that better prepare people to escape the wrath of violent weather. Texas' most recent hurricane was Alicia which came inland on the west end of Galveston Island in the early morning hours of August 18, 1983. Twenty-one people lost their lives directly or indirectly from Alicia. The causes of death ranged from falling trees and drownings to fires caused by candles and carbon monoxide poisoning from a gas generator used in the storm's aftermath. Despite the variety of tragic mishaps caused by Hurricane Alicia, most hurricane-related deaths are caused by drowning. It is estimated that nine out of 10 deaths occur this way. DATE HURRICANE DEATHS IN TEXAS Sept. 8-10, 1900 Great Galveston Hurricane 6,000-8,000* Sept. 14, 1919 Corpus Christi Hurricane 284 Aug. 16-19, 1915 Galveston Hurricane 275 Sept. 15-18, 1 '875 Indianola Hurricane 176 July 21, 1909 Velasco Hurricane 41 Aug. 13, 1932 Freeport Hurricane 40 Sept. 4-5, 1933 Brownsville Hurricane 40 Sept. 11-14, 1961 Hurricane Carla 34 July 31-Aug. 5, 1978 Tropical Storm Amelia 32 Aug. 18, 1983 Hurricane Alicia 21 Aug. 18, 1916 Padre Island Hurricane 20 July 27, 1943 Port Bolivar Hurricane 19 Sept. 20-23, 1967 Hurricane Beulah 15 July ON, 1934 Rockport Storm 11 Aug. 3-4, 1970 Hurricane Celia 11 June 27, 1957 Hurricane Audrey 9 Aug. 30, 1942 Matagorda Hurricane 8 Sept. 23, 1941 Freeport Hurricane 4 June 28, 1929 Port O'Connor Hurricane 3 Aug. 27, 1945 Matagorda Bay Hurricane 3 Sept. 17, 1963 Hurricane Cindy 3 Oct. 3, 1949 Freeport Hurricane 2 Sept. 10, 1971 Hurricane Fern 2 Aug. 4-11, 1980 Hurricane Allen 2 Aug. 24, 1947 Galveston Hurricane 1 The Great Galveston Hurricane is the greatest natural disaster in U.S. history in terms of loss of life. An unusual aspect of this tropical storm was that the resulting drowning deaths occurred in the Texas Hill Country rather than near the area where the storm struck the coast. C-75 DEATHS DUE TO MAJOR TEXAS HURRICANES Fact Sheet .... page 2 Sources: "Natural Hazards of the Texas Coastal Zone" (published by Bureau of Economic Geology- University of Texas); "Hurricanes on the Texas Coast" (published by Texas A&M University); "Texas Civil Preparedness Digest," Vol. 26, No. 3 (published by Division of Disaster Emergency Services); Texas Weather, by George W. Bomar. C-76 Insurance Texas Subseriber Office 100 N. Interregional Hwv., Suite 3200 111f,willat],011 Austin, Texas 78701 I ns't it tit e (512) 476-7025 TEXAS INSURANCE Sul)iect: SAFFIR-SINIPSON SCALE FOR HURRICANES No. CAT. -9 FACT FILE Date: January 21, 1983 The current prevalent system of strength classification for hurricanes is the Saffir-Simpson scale developed in 1974 by Herb S. Saffir, nationally known consulting engineer for hurricane area building standards, and R. H. Simpson, former director of the National Hurricane Center in Florida. Under this system, there are five categories or grades of hurricanes based on wind velocity and the height of the storm surge. Storm surge is defined as a dome of water 40 to 50 miles across that sweeeps across the coastline near the point where the eye of the hurricane makes landfall. If all wave activity could be smoothed, it would be the height of the level water above mean sea level. Superimposed on the level water is tremendous wave activity. Examples of all five categories of storms which have struck the Gulf Coast are shown below. A "five" is the worst storm possible, and a "one" would be a minimal storm. Category "three" storms and above are considered to be major hurricanes. There have only been two category "five" storms in the U.S. in this century -- Camille which hit Mississippi in 1969 (with a 25-foot surge and winds in excess of 200 mph) and the Labor Day hurricane which struck the Florida keys in 1935. DEFINITION OF THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE Category Winds (mph) Surge ut. Examples: Gulf Coast 1 74-95 4-5 Fern 1971 96-110 6-8 Edith 1971 3 111-130 9-12 Betsy 1965 4 131-155 13-18 Carla 1961 5 over 155 over 18 Camille 1969 C-77 Texas Subscriber Office 100 N. Interregional Hwy., Suite 3200 InfOi-niatiOll Austin, Texas 78701 I 11A I I ute (512) 476-7025 TEXAS INSURANCE SLII)ject: Casualty Losses on Income Tax Forms No. CAT.-28 FACT FILE Date: February 28, 1984 In a flood or other catastrophe such as a hurricane, even in an individual situation, it is not uncommon to find that people either did not have insurance to cover the damage, or those who did were not adequately covered. Those property and casualty losses not covered by insurance may be deducted on your income tax return. It is important to take the correct action to minimize tax liability. Documentation of loss and understanding of basic tax rules is critical to receive full deductions. The following information may be used as a guide to maximize the tax savings. ET Y ACTION TO BE TAKEN WMEDIAT Make a list of all losses by item. Necessary information is as follows: Description Date acquired Cost (or tax basis) Fair market value before al-id after damage Insurance reimbursements received Document damage as to type and dollar amount. Seek independent appraisals Obtain comparable values Photograph damage Retain receipts of all costs incurred. Repairs Loss determination expense (appraisals, photography, tax consultation, etc. TAX CONSIDERATION NON-BUSINESS PROPERTY Casualty losses are claimed on Form 1040, Schedule A. Form 4684 may also be appropriate. Casualty losses must be reduced by $100. After 1982, a taxpayer's total losses (after deducting the $100 for each loss) are deductible only to the extent that they exceed 10 percent of adjusted gross income. Your tax loss is the lower of fair market value decline or your tax basis, either of which is reduced by insurance proceeds. C-79 CASUALTY LOSSES ON INCOME TAX FORMS Fact Sheet .... page 2 Insurance proceeds in excess of your tax loss may result in a gain. However, this gain may be postponed if you purchase similar property within two years. For real estate, the entire parcel including land, structure and improvements is treated as one item for loss purposes. For personal property, losses should be determined on an item by .item basis. Living expenses paid while your home is being repaired are not deductible. however, insurance proceeds for those expenses do not reduce your loss. Consider all losses (books, toys, landscaping, etc.). BUSINESS PROPERTY For total losses, loss is tax basis less salvage value less insurance proceeds. For partial losses, loss is the lesser of decline in value or basis reduced by insurance proceeds. For real estate losses, separate components (land, structure, improvements) are treated as separate items. Inventory losses are deducted as cost of goods sold. Insurance proceeds should be included in income. Losses are not reduced by the $100 amount applicable to non-business property. Losses of potential income are not deductible. TAX RETURN If your return was extended on April 15, remember that it is due on August 15. If you need additional time, request an extension for filing until October 15 by filing Form 2688 by June 15. It is possible to obtain extension of time to file your return by using casualty loss as a reason. If the President declares a disaster area that includes your location, the losses may be deducted on the prior year's return. If no declaration is received, losses are deducted on your current year's return. SOURCES Sources include Internal Revenue Service Publications #547, #551, #584, and the Austin Chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. C-80 urricane wareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce Boating It Boat owners who are on the coast as a hurricane is approaching will receive ample warning through the advisories and bulletins of the National Weather Service. All boats, no matter what their size, should have some sort of radio aboard even if it is only a small transistor set capable of receiving comnercial broadcasting stations. in this way the boat owner can remain aware of general weather conditions. At the first indication of possible danger the boater should return to shore. Next, he should decide what to do with the boat to ensure that it will survive the storm undamaged. There are a number of actions the boater can take. Facilities and time permitting, large boats should be put in dry storage. If the boat is trailerable it should be pulled out of the water at a ramp and moved out of the area at the same time the boater is moving inland to a safer location. Should a boat owner find himself without sufficient time to get his boat out of the water, these suggestions by Talbot F. Hamlin will help. They appeared in an article entitled "When You Get Caught-Things That Will Help in Squall or Hurricane" published in Yachting, October, 1955. 1. Know a good hole and go there in time. 2. Be sure you have on board adequate anchors, enough rode (at least one should be 250 feet or longer), and plenty of docking lines of sufficient length and diameter. 3. Keep your gasoline tanks full and your engine in good running condition at all times. You don't know when a sudden emergency may make it invaluable. 4. If you are at a pier, get on the lee side, be careful of your docking lines, and, in the case of hurricanes, judge if the piles are high enough. If not, leave the pier and anchor in the safest place you can find (or, if you have to, run free). (E-',@cerpted from Storms, People and Property in Coastal North Carolina., developed by Simon Baker, T_JNC Sea Grant College Program and Geography Department, East Carolina University, August 1978) 0.0 A` H C-sl 5. Get your engine running when emergency threatens. Then leave it out of gear or put it in gear, as conditions indicate. 6. Keep your mooring slack, but take care not to override it. If you are using power when at anchor, be careful not to have so much slack in the anchor rode as to create a danger of fouling it in your propeller. 7. Have plenty of chafing gear, and use it. With these precautions a modern vessel can face squalls and gales confidently with a good promise of coming through undamaged, and with crew tired, perhaps, but alive and well. If a boat has been removed from the water on its trailer but will not be hauled away there are some precautions which might be followed. The boat should be covered with a canvas so that it will not fill with rain water. Whether it is covered or not, the plug should be pulled to ensure that any water will drain from the interior. Both boat and trailer may be secured with lines to some substantial object to prevent movement by the wind. In the case of a small boat which must be left out of.doors during a storm it is best to move it to high ground and turn it bottom up. It should be secured to solid objects or, if there are none at hand, metal rods can be driven into the ground and the boat tied to them. If the owner of a larger boat finds himself in a crowded anchorage he may wish to utilize a three anchor mooring system. This consists of three lightweight anchors placed equidistant from each other around a center point and 120 degrees apart. The anchors are bridled to a common center. A chain and pennant from that center provide a point to which the boat with a short rode can be tied up. The boat is free to swing through a small circle and, no matter what the direction of the wind, there will always be one or two anchors to windward holding it. This system has proven to be very effective under severe weather conditions. Above all, once a boat has been moored as securely as possible, the boat owner should leave it and not attempt to return to it until after the wind and waves have subsided. C-82 Hurricane Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce On the Farm The low-lying eastern counties of North Carolina are predominantly rural. Hurricanes coming ashore and moving inland frequently have caused damage to farm property and crops in this part of the state. The damage may be caused by high winds or by flooding. In areas close to the sound shores flooding may be the result of storm surges in the sounds. Elsewhere, flooding may be the result of heavy rainfall associated with the storms. The followina information for farmers is taken froE the Disaster Handbook for Extension Agents published by the Cooperative Extension SerV-1ce of Pennsylvania State University. Protecting Farm Buildings F on Severe Winds High winds can damage farm buildings. The following procedures are recommended to help protect buildings during severe windstorms. --Securely close all doors and windows. Try to determine whether the buffeting and force of the wind will break fasteners or hinges. Nail doors and windows shut, if necessary. If the building is tight, open windows slightly on the side away from the wind to help equalize pressure. --Nail plywood or boards over large windows and windows with weak sashes. --Brace large barn doorp and weak walls. Use interior braces on the windward side, and exterior braces on the side away from the wind. If you are uncertain about the direction of the wind, use both interior and exterior braces. Place braces on the reinforced section of the door or wall to distribute the bracing effect over a larger area. --Check that roof rafters are securely fastened to wall studding. Use 2 inch by 2 inch metal plumber's straps or 2 inch by 6 inch knee braces to secure rafters, if necessary. --Check metal roofing and siding for loose nails. If nails don't tighten when hammered back in, pull them out, use a #12 or #14 metal screw to fill the hole, and renail 3 to 4 inches away; eaves should be nailed every 5 inches. C-83 --Do not use heavy machinery to anchor small buildings. Replacing machinery could be more expensive than replacing a building. Protecting Livestock During a Flood Livestock not in a confined area usually can take care of themselves during floods. Do not let them become trapped in low-lying pens. In broad, level flood plains where flood waters are seldom deeper than 3 or 4 feet, construct mounds of soil on which livestock can stay until flood waters recede. Or carry bales of hay for hogs to climb on. Try to locate these mounds where they will not be washed away by fast- flowing water. --Provide feed and water. Water is essential. Thirsty animals will try to break out to get to flood waters. If water is in short supply, limit feed intake. --If animals are housed with machinery, fasten bales of straw in front of sharp edges and protruding parts such as cutter bars or crank handles. (Do not use hay, because animals will eat it.) Try to cover wooden paddle wheels on combines or choppers, since these parts can be dangerous if partially broken. --Block off narrow passageways where animals would be unable to turn around. A few heavy animals in a narrow dead end can be dangerous both to themselves and the building. --Be absolutely certain that herbicides, pesti- cides, and treated seeds are not even remotely accessible to livestock, and are stored where flood water will not contaiminate livestock feed or water. --Turn off electricity at the main switch. Livestock could damage electric fixtures, causing fires or electrocutions. --If there is a possibility that dairy barns may become inundated, drive cattle out of the barn. During rapid rise of water, cattle often refuse to leave the barn and may drown if the water rises high enough in the barn. C-84 Hurroicane Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce Preparingto Evacuate--What to Do on Your Farm Insure family safety first. Be certain you have enough time to get to higher ground before access is cut off. If you have time before you receive an evacuation order, the following precautions may help protect farm buildings, livestock and equipment from flood damage. --Move machinery, feed, grain, pesticides and herbicides to higher elevations. --Construct mounds of soil for livestock, or open gates so livestock can escape high water. Small numbers of hogs can sometimes be saved by bringing them bales of hay to climb on. --Animals swim well. The greatest problem for grazing animals will be fences and other obstacles. Try to drive stock through water free of obstructions. Long swims through calm water are safer than short swims through a swift current. --Leave building doors and windows open at least 2 inches to equalize water pressure and help prevent buildings from shifting. --If vossible, move motors and portable electric equipment to a dry location. --Disconnect electric power to all buildings which may be flooded. If in doubt about how to disconnect power, call your utility company. Dairymen who anticipate extensive flooding should: --Check with a veterinarian to be sure cattle are properly immunized before being exposed to flood waters; --Check with the Department of Health concerning approval of temporary milking facilities; --Try to obtain standby equipment or services for emergency milk pickup; --When possible, move grain out of reach of flood water. Tie down lumber, logs, irrigation pipes,fuel tanks and other loose equipment or material. Prepare immovable power units and machinery for flooding: --Seal radiator openings (tighten caps and plug overflow); --Remove air cleaners and carburetors; seal openings. Use material strong enough to withstand water pressure; --Fill oil reservoirs. Plug breather pipes and openings; --Fill bearings with fresh lubricant; --Protect open gears, sprockets, pulleys and wearing and cutting edges of machinery with lubricant or rust inhibitor; --Drape polyethelene sheeting over bell ends of motor. Tie securely with cord on cylindrical part of motor housing, or fasten with a strong rubber band. Safety of Flooded Garden Produce If flood waters have covered a garden, some produce will be unsafe to eat. The safety of unharvested fruits and vegetables will depend on: --kind of produce; --maturity of produce at the time of flooding; --time of year flooding occurred; --severity of flooding (depth of water and silt); --duration of flooding; --bacterial content of floodwater; --likelihood of contamination from sewage or other bacterial contaminants. Immature Produce In general, fruits and vegetables which were immature at the time of flooding should be safe to eat by the time they are ready for harvest. For additional safety, disinfect produce (see below) and cook it before eating. Mature Produce Unless flooding was light and there is no danger of bacterial contamination frorr floodwater, avoid using fruits and vegetables that were ready for harvest at the time of flooding, unless they can be disinfected, peeled and thoroughly cooked. Some fruits and vegetables are more susceptible than others to bacterial contamination. --Leafy vegetables such as lettuce, cabbage, mustard, kale, collards, spinach, swiss chard, celery and fleshy vegetables and berry fruits such as tomatoes, summer squash, strawberries and peppers would be highly susceptible to bacterial contamination. Silt and other C-86 Hurricane Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce contaminants might be imbedded in the leaves, petioles, stems or other natural openings of fleshy structures, and could be difficult to remove --Root, Lulb and tuber crops such as beets, carrots, radishes, turnips, onions and potatoes would be less susceptible to bacterial contami- nation. Disinfect these vegetables, peel and cook them thoroughly before eating. --Produce with a protected fruit or impervious outer skin such as peas, melons, eggplant, : weet corn or winter squash should be washed nd disinfected before the outer shell, skin or husk is removed. Then shell, peel or husk the produce, and cook it if possible: Disinfecting Measures Thoroughly wash and disinfect any produce before eating. --Wash in a strong detergent solution with a scrub brush. Remove all silt. --Immerse produce for 15 to 20 minutes in a chlorine solution. Household bleaches contain from 2 percent to 6 percent chlorine. The amount of bleach to add to water depends on the percentage chlorine it contains: Volume of bleach Volume of bleach % chlorine to add to to add to in bleach one quart water one gallon water 2% 3/4 tablespoon 2 tablespoons 4% 1 teaspoon 1 tablespoon 6% 1/2 teaspoon 3/4 tablespoon --Rinse thoroughly with safe drinking water. --Peel, if possible, and cook thoroughly before eating. Refer any specific questions to health authorities or your county extension agent. Disposing of Sewage and Garbage Damaged sewage systems are health hazards. it is important to get damaged septic tanks, cesspools, pits and leaching systems into service as soon as possible. If the area has been flooded, you should wait until the water level recedes before using sewage system. C-8.7 Trained personnel in local and state health departments will help with these problems. They will be able to advise you about cleaning, repairing and relocating installations, if necessary. Problems with water purity, waste disposal, or pest control should also be referred to them. Septic Tanks Most septic tanks will not be dairaged by a flood, since they are below ground and completely covered. However, if the tank has been damaged and is filled with silt and debris, it must be cleaned. Use a shovel or sewage pump to clean the tank. Do not use the sewage system until water in the disposal field is lower than water level around the house. If tile lines in the disposal field are filled with silt from floodwater, install a new set of lateral tile or perforated pipe in new trenches. Dig the new trenches alongside the old tile lines. Install the tile or pipe according to septic tank system installa- tion specifications. The recommended normal grade is from 2 to 4 inches per 100 feet. Do not use the sewage system until new tiles are laid. It may be necessary to wait a few days before returning a septic tank system to normal use. It will take some time for water to evaporate from saturated soil, so that the tile field will be able to function again. Septic tank starter materials such as yeast enzymes or horse manure will not be needed. Temporary Sanitation Until sewage disposal systems are back in normal working order, use any large Container with a tight- fitting lid for a temporary toilet. Line the container with a plastic Lag. After each use, add chlorine bleach or disinfectant to stop odor and kill germs. A chemical camper's toilet will be quite useful in disaster situations. Garbage Try to remove garbage as soon as possible to prevent rat infestations and other health problems. Some garbage can be burned. Bury garbage that will not burn. Dig a hole 4 or 5 feet deep, and cover garbage with at least 18 inches of soil. C-8 8 rricane Awareness Hu Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce Disposing of Animal Carcasses Prompt and sanitary disposal of animal carcasses is necessary to protect the living animals in an area from disease. Search all pastures for dead animals as soon as possible. Carcasses may have some commercial value, so send them to a rendering plant if possible. if rendering is impractical., dispose of the dead animals on the premises. Use the following procedures: --Immediately after finding a carcass, cover it with crude oil or kerosene to keep away dogs, buzzards and vermin. --Fat swine are the only animal carcats that will burn satisfactorily. Used railroad ties can be used as starters. --Bury other carcasses. Use power equipment if it is available. Choose a site where subsurface drainage will not reach water supplies. Bury the carcasses at least 3 to 4 feet deep, so predatory animals won't be able to reach them. If quicklime is available, cover carcasses with it before back filling. Quicklime will hasten decomposition. C-89 M BILE HOME OWNERS TlEmDOWN GUIDE Some important facts about mobile homes and the wind. A @ 1981 FOREMOST INSURANCE COMPANY C-91 Dear Mobile Home Owner: Mobile home manufacturers are now required by Over 10 million Americans live in mobile homes, and there's good reason why Today's mobile Federal law to equip every new mobile home with home is a complete home for year'round living. anchoring straps. Manufacturers build these straps It's compact, fully equipped and convenient to live under the exterior of the home so that they in no in. But the design of the home makes it an object way detract from the appearance of the mobile that can be pushed or rolled off its blocks by the home. Always consult your individual manufac- wind. It doesn't have to happen! Wind damage turer's specific instructions for proper minimum to mobile homes can be minimized and in almost tie-down installation and anchoring of your mobile all cases prevented with a proper tie-down home. system. Foremost Insurance requires tie-downs for insur- Tie-downs are a proven and effective way of pre- ance purposes in some areas of the country To venting or reducing wind damage to mobile help safeguard mobile homes from wind damage, homes. A tie-down system securely anchors your we recommend that they be tied-down to at least mobile home to the ground and increases its sta- the 80 miles per hour specifications outlined in bility Most mobile home owners today realize that this booklet. If you haven't already taken precau- the simple and economical procedure of tying- tions to protect your mobile home from the wind, down may save their homes and their lives. now is the time to act. Gain peace of mind and protect your mobile home before the storm This booklet, Mobile Home Owners Tie-Down strikes. Guide, has been prepared by Foremost Insurance Foremost Insurance Company Company to help you understand the mobile home tie-down concept. The booklet i� also designed to inform you how wind damage can be avoided or reduced with proper use of tie-down sets, and how to select the proper number of tie-downs for 1111 your mobile home. ail RIM11 1111 Wmam- -2 .;.Y Arm J rWAWW 4111W 2 ... C-92 The WIND can be a soft and gentle breeze that rustles through the trees ... OR, it can be a terroriz- ing force that demolishes anything in its path. All 4 areas of the country suffer wind damage. And people in all parts of the country should protect themselves from the strongest sustained winds that have occurred in their particular locality. Hurricane winds are 75 miles per hour or stronger Tornadoes can reach windspeeds of several hundred miles per hour in the center. But winds WINDVELOCITIES that never become hurricanes or tornadoes can 0 70 mph and under G 80-90 mph also be destructive. The winds that accompany N 70-80 mph 0 90 mph and above thunderstorms, and even sudden gusts, cause damage and occur in every state in every month. your home. In addition, there are built-in tensioning Tie-Down Now! The wind doesn't play favorites. devices, eitherconnected tothe home stabilizing Strong winds can occur anywhere, anytime. Even strapsorthe stabilizing anchorswhich producethe hurricanes, whose official season is from April 1 to tension necessary to securely fasten the home November 30 strike in almost every month of the stabilizing systems with the surface of the ground. year. For mobile homes produced before June 15, 1976, Foremost requires that both frame systems and over TIE DOWN SYSTEMS consist of steel straps built the top systems be utilized. The frame system into the home and which are designed to connect the counteracts the sideward force produced when the home to the inground anchors. These are normally wind strikes the side of the house. Over the top sys- placed in pairs, being positioned opposite one tems counteract the I if ting force produced by the another on the sides of the manufactured home. wind passing over the home. If outside, over the top -AIL stabilizing straps are For mobile homes produced on and after June 15, utilized, a buffer of 1976, to meet Federal Housing Standards, Foremost some sort is used at does not require the over the top stabilizing devices, the upper corners at but on ly the f rame, system. Th is the roof I i ne to prevent change in the stabilizing require- the metal straps ments was brought about by the im- from marring the exterior proved quality and durability surface of of manufactured housing. all 7 - f: W, 4 5 C-93 Blocking BEFORE INSTALLING THE TIE-DOWN SYSTEM, I-beam frame be sure that your mobile home is properly placed on a solid and level foundation. Foundations for mobile Wood shims homes can be basically the same as for any site Cap block constructed house or they can be different. How- ever, the basic intent of a foundation is to make Solid or celled certain that the home is properly and evenly sup- Concrete blocks ported over the ground surface and that the home remains level. Once the home has been in place for Footer - about 90 days, it should be checked again to see 16" x 16" x 4" if it is still level. If not, your home should be brought back to a level position. *--Ground level Improper placement on a foundation can result in many serious problems, some of which are the home may sag, it may leak around windows and 3. Another appropriate mobile home foundation doors, water runoff through drain pipes can be ham- system is the utilization of cylinder jack piers pered and doors may stick. Electrical wiring which are bolted to the I beam and then set into a connections may become loose 6r disengaged from reinforced concrete pad (Footer) which is placed transportation of the home and from set up proce- upon the ground. dures. Wiring should be carefully checked out by a qualified electrician before you move in. Important Note: Always keep the number of con- There are three basic kinds of foundations utilized crete blocks to the absolute minimum. Your home with mobile homes. should be as close to the ground as possible, while allowance for proper ventilation is maintained. For 1 .A full basement style foundation can be used, the best results, consult your individual manufac- the same as for any site built house. turer's specific instructions. 2. Concrete blocks, either solid or with open celled TO PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM WINDS TO 80 construction, are also appropriate if placed at the proper positions surrounding the home, as MILES PER HOUR, have at least one set of frame instructed by the manufacturer. If this type of stabilizers for each ten feet of home length. For a foundation system is selected, each pier of homes that were constructed before June 15, 1976, concrete blocks must be placed on a solid con- over the top stabilizing devices should be evenly crete Footer that measures not less than 16 spaced along the length of the home and never over inches by 16 inches by 4 inches thick. This windows or doors. There must be at least two over Footer is placed directly on the ground with the the top stabilizers placed at each end of your home. concrete blocks placed in the center, one on top End sets should be at stud and rafter locations not of the other until meeting the I beam of the home. more than five feet away from the ends of the home. If necessary, to make a proper level for the home, Again, please check your manufacturer's specific wooden shims should be used. If so, these shims instructions for precise detailed information regard- should be coated in preservative so that the ele- ing the most appropriate setup for your house. ments will not cause decomposition. PROTECTION FROM HIGHER WIND VELOCI- TIES can be gained by increasing the number of tie-down sets; both frame and over-the-top, The chart shown here indicates the number of each rec- ommended for expected wind velocities. 6 7 C-94 RECOMMENDED NUMBER OFTIE-DOWNS 10 and 12 tL wide mobile homes 12 and 14 ft. wid mobile homes To 50 tL long 51 to 60 tL long. 61 to 70 M Long No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of Wind Velocity frame ow-the. frame over-ths. frame over-the. mph ties top ties des top ties ties top ties Up to 70 mph 3 2 4 2 4 2 70-00 mph 5 3 3 0 3 8040 mph 4 90 mph and over 76, 7 5 a 6 MINIMUM TIE-DOWN REQUIREMENTS have been established by Foremost Insurance Company 7. for some areas of the country Those requirements are: up to 50 ft. mobile home-3 frame tie-downs per side; 51-70 ft. mobile home-4 frame tie-downs TENSIONING DEVICES are often per side; over 70 ft. mobile home-5 frame tie- provided with commercially pro- downs per side. PLUS at least 1 over-the-top tie- duced anchors. These tensioning down at each end of the home for homes con- devices are made to accept the structed before June 15, 1976. steel straps. Caution: In the STEEL STRAPS that have been treated to make nation's frost zones special precau- them weather resistant should be used for the ties. tions should be taken to prevent These straps are now always provided under the upheaval damage. Usually your exterior surface of new mobile homes when they are tensioning devices should be loos- manufactured. However, additional galvanized ened slightly in the Fall to reduce ed dn.@_.M steel straps measuring 1.25" x.035" may be pur- tension, Tension should be return chased for the mobile home exterior if the home is to a taut position in the Spring. located in a wind area which requires additional ANCHORS can be of several types, anchoring. depending upon your particular situation. But regardless of the type of anchor used, it must have a rod made of steel not less than 5/8" in diameter, and it must have a ten- s ion ing head. In addition, it must be able to withstand a pull of at least 4,725 lbs. without failure. 0 8 "_ 9 ld !'At C-95 1_5 SCREW AUGER ANCHORS, expanding anchors, or concrete anchored with two rows of steel rods at least 5/8" deadmen can be used in sandy or in diameter. One row of rods should be attached loamy soil. These anchors to the outermost edge of the extension, and should be embedded Auger Drive the other row should be at the edge attached at least 4 feet into anchor anchor to the mobile home, or midway between the the ground. home and the outside edge. Spacing between the rods should not exceed 12 feet, and the DRIVE ANCHORS rods should be bolted to the roof of the will probably be needed attachment. Patio anchors can be in rock or coral. used in concrete slabs poured beneath the home. ALL ANCHORS should be installed as nearly THE COST OF TYING- vertical as possible. The DOWN is hot excessive. heads of the anchors I n most areas, eq u i p- should come to rest next ment plus installation to the ground, and shoWd will range from about be directly below or just inside the edge of the $200 to $450 de- mobile home. pending upon soil conditions, the length of the CABANAS, EXPANDO UNITS AND PATIO home, and maxi- AWNINGS need to be secured too. If they are mum expected blocked and constructed like the rest of the wind velocities. home, they too can be anchored with over- the-top tie-downs. Otherwise, they should be Q r EQ !@A 7 10 ale C-96 IN ADDITION TO TYING-DOWN, more protection ENCOURAGE YOUR NEIGHBORS to tie-down can be obtained by locating your mobile home their homes too. Your mobile home could still be with the narrow end facing prevailing winds. severely damaged if your neighbor's mobile This reduces the surface area exposed to the home is blown off its blocks into your well- impact of the wind. secured home. TREES, BUSHES AND SMALL HILLS provide WHEN A STORM WARNING IS SOUNDED, go natural barriers that help protect your home. to the nearest shelter. Damaged structures Two or more rows of trees are more effective and flying debris of any kind can cause injury than single rows. Take maximum precautions for your own safety SKIRTING on mobile homes should be lattice or openwork. They offer less resistance to the wind and help reduce the wind's lifting forces. Lattice or openwork skirting also provides cross ventilation under your mobile home. This allows your furnace to bring in fresh outside air in- stead of stale air from under the home. 7ffl ZL V V V V V V V& _AAAAAAA 12 13 C-97 FOREMOST INSURANCE COMPANY, as the NOTES nation's leading insurer of mobile homes, wants to give you as much factual and up-to-date information as possible to make living in your mobile home safe and pleasurable. Foremost's experience and statistics over the years indicate that tying-down is the simplest and most consistently effective way of minimizing or preventing wind damage to mobile homes. Tie-downs are recognized by federal, state and consumer agencies as a major safety feature for mobile home living. The National Weather Service, the Red Cross and the National Safety Counci I urge all mobile home owners to tie-down without delay. if you haven't already taken precautions to protect your mobile home from the wind, now is the time to act. Protect your mobile home before the storm strikes. For more information regarding Mobile Home Safety or Insurance write: Foremost Insurance Company Public Relations Department PO. Box 2450 5800 Foremost Drive Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501 14 15 C-98 HURRICANE ;O@ I 7_ I@ Z' 2 ik 75 -6 21 0 E " I G , ! ii -, @@ E 7 HURRICANE E i I .-F a. 1; :68 2. 'a 2 z LU at &E 6 112 & z W W 0 0 > e _1 12 t 6 6 , z 1. . 2 6.1 E E. 0 E -5 E S? 7@- ca 00 \cc 0 tact Will 10 *,x. so i 00 al z 1 During a Weather Emergency, stay tuned to a local radio J or TV station for the latest advisories and warnings, and orders to evacuate. M 12 Ir 01 Ui HURRICANES are tropical cyclones in which a 0 winds reach constant speeds of 74 miles per hour :3 z U- HURRICANE CATEGORY BY WIND VELOCITY W or, more, and blow in a large spiral around a WINDS STORM TIDE' reatively calm center-the eye of the hurricane. Every year, these violent storms bring destruction CATEGORY 1 74 - 95 MPH 5 F v, to coastlines and islands in their erratic path, CATEGORY 2 96 - 96 MPH 7 FT C ATEGORY 3 130 - ill MPH 10 FT F- U.1 00 KEEP THIS BROCHURE-It may save your life. CATEGORY 4 131 - 131 MPH 13 FT LL F flow all evacuation orders, even if weather con- CATEGORY 5 AGOVE:5 MPH 15 FT 0 diotions do not appear threatening. 'a e hIgh t1de w 0 Metropolitan Dade County 0 0 Office of Emergency Management L) 5600 S.W. 87 Avenue LL to Miami, FL 33173 FORI"URRICAHE INFORMATION CALL NOWt HURRICANE HOTLINE 596-8735, RED CROSS 576-4600 Cl) PROV DED BY DADE COUNTY IN THE INTEREST OF THE LIFE & SAFETY OF DADE COUNTY CITIZEN C11 S HURRICANE Advance Hurricane Preparations Make A Plan Food, Water, Medicine During the hunricane The hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30 There are several ways to survive when a hurricane strikes 11 Double check to be certain you have adequate supplies Stay Indoors ... Here are some steps you should take, even before a hurri: your area. Your choice of the following plans will depend on of nonperishable foods, baby food if needed, medicines, etc.. A room without windows or the center of a room is usually cane watch or warning is announced: several factors. - PLAN A: STAY HOME. Your home or apartment may pro- to last several days. V@aterproof containers are best. safest. Check to be certain that your emergency equipment is in vide safe refuge if certain criteria are met: 1) if your Ouse C3 Turn your refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings. Open If the cairn hurricane eye passes through,your area, con ood working order, and that you have enough supplies to or apartment building meets current building codes he only when absolutely necessa g no is ftry, and close quickly. If you tinue to stay indoors - unless emergency repairs are ab- ast several days. kept in good condition, 2) if your residence is NOT located take these precautions, a we stocked refrigeratortfreezer solutely necessary. Wind and rain may stop for as little as Ob ain and store materials necessary to properly secure in Zones I through 25 (am map for zone boundaries), 3) if can maintain food-preserving temperatures up to two days a few minutes or as long as a half hour or more. Beware: t' your home. family members are in good health, and 4) if you make the without electricity. A portable ice chest can be used as a the wind will pick up again quite suddenly and at full intensity, Contact the utility company about any tree limbs that could necessary preparations (see HURRICANE PREPARA. Substitute refrigerator to keep food and beverages cool dur- from the opposite direction, possibly with greater force than come in contact with power lines. TIONS). A mobile home Is NOT safe In hurricane condi. Ing a hurricane. before. Keep trees and shrubery properly trimmed during hurin- tions, no matter how securely it is fastened to the ground. U You might have to depend on your own emergency Turn off electricity if flooding begins. cane season. Once a hurricane watch is announced, do not - PLAN B: STAY WITH FRIENDS OR RELATIVES. If you sources of water and cooking heat. Electricity may be shut If the electricity goes off, use flashlights rather than candles trim trees and leave branches to be picked up. Trash col- have friends or relatives willing to provide you with shelter,. off as a Safety measure when winds reach hurricane force, or kerosene lamps, and be careful with cooking flame. A gust lection vehicles will be diverted to other tasks. their home could provide a sate refuge if it meets the criteria or could be interrupted for hours or even days it a hurricane of wind through a door or window could start a fire and the If you plan to stay home, make sure you have these items: in PLAN A. Make advance plarts, and be sure that their home Causes heavy damage, County star supplies may also be fire department may not be readily available during a is adequately Prepared and supplied. Have a back-up plan interrupted by hurricane damage. hurricane. �Can opener ED Battery operated radio in case they are out of town. C1 Prepare your emergency water supply before the hur- Use your telephone tw emergencies only. Jammed phone (Non-electric) D Flashlight - PLAN C: RELOCATE OUTSIDE OF THE AREA. One way ricane strikes. Sterilize the bathtub as well as available jugs, lines may obstruct emergency calls for police, firemen, doc. �Matches 0 Extra batteries to avoid the fury of a hurricane is to relocate to an area away bottles, cooking utensils and other containers. Scrub tors, and disaster units. �Canned foods, milk El Emergency cooking from the hurricane's path. However, be sure to leave early thoroughly - then sponge and swab with bleach - then Continue to conserve refrigeration. Open the and beverages facilities to avoid heavy traffic and roads blocked by early flood waters. rinse. Let the tub and other containers dry. Then fill them refrigerator/freezer door as little as possible. �Extra medicine, D Strong boards to PLAN D: GO TO A RED CROSS REFUGE. If you do not with water. Later, boil the water for five minutes before drink Continue to listen to radio or television for announcements baby food, etc. board up windows use PLANS A, B, or C, Red Cross Hurricane Refuges will Ing it, and use water in tubs and sinks for sanitary purposes from the National Hurricane Center and local officials. �First aid kit El Lantern be available. Refuge openings will be announced on radio only. Remain indoors until the official "all clear" is given. (if El Bleach El Fuel and television. Be sure you go to a refuge as soon as it is you're in a Red Cross refuge, wait for the "all clear" an- ff you expect to exacuale your home in the event of a hur- opened it you intend to seek shelter there. Accommodations nouncement to be made by your refuge coordinator.) are minimal. Bring the supplies listed under HURRICANE ricane, plan in advance: where to stay, him to get there, etc. PREPARATIONS. It you plan to,goi@o a refuge, you should bring: IMPORTANT: Pets, alcoholic beverages, and firearms are Your Property After the hurricane 0Canned food in Ir El Can opener NOT allowed in Red Cross Refuges. Pay attention to instructions from official sources suchas and beverages (non-electric) IMPORTANT: Do not report to a Red Cross Refuge until 0 Any objects that hurricane winds could blow about should police, Emergency Management, and Red Cross. F1 0Water (1-2 quarts 0 Medicine and baby the Metro-Dade Emergency Operations Center ann nces be tied down or brought indoors (garbage cans, patio furni- Avoid electrical shock: 0 per person per day) food refuge openings. (See insert for the Refuge in your area.) ture, garden tools, sign, toys, etc.). Don't touch fallen or low-hanging wires of any kind 0 El Eating utensils 0 Blankets or sleeping Within an evacuation area, it a member of your family is C3 Close shutters, lash down or remove awnings, brace under any circumstances. 0Battery operated bag bedridden and requires Constant medical care, ornegardlew radio Cl Identification and of where you live, if a member has electrical life a Pport sliding glass doors and French doors. Stay away from puddles with fallen wires in them. E:] F ashlight valuable papers equipment within the home, call the Hurricane Hotline ur Red C) Taping windows will reduce shattering, but will not Pre- Don't touch any tree or object that is in contact with 0Slatterres (insurance) Cross NOW for special instructions. Don't wait until ao farm vent windows from breaking, and is necessary only in oc- power lines. s El Cards, games, 0 Portable ice chest approaches. Make advance preparations with your physician cupied rooms. Use your telephone for emergencies only: books for checking into a hospital for advanced life-support. C1 if you board up your house, nail securely. Do call police or utility immediately to report hazards 0 When you're taking down antennas, keep in mind that if such as "live" power lines, broken gas or water mains, Boaters When a hurricane the object you're holding makes even the Slightest contact or overturned gas tanks. wilp a pow r line, it can give you a serious electrical shock. Don't call 911 except for life threatening situations. It is important for all boat owners Whose Craft Cantrot be threatens our area It you 1'a'ke down your television antenna, unplug the set Don't use the phone to report interruptions in electric, trailered, to find safe harbor for their boats during the Hur- El Pay attention to official announcements on radio and first. gas, water, of telephone service. ricane Watch Period and before the Warning is announced. television from the National Hurricane Center and local of- When lowering your citizen's band radio antenna, Utilities have plans to restore complete seivice. Report in- Once a Hurricane Warning is announced, bridges may be ficials. DO NOT pay attention to rumors. telescope it down it possible. It it won't telescope down, - dividual tnouble to them only after service is generally closed at anytime to allow for auto evacuation. Bridges will 0 It you are in an exposed beach area or island, be ready look around in all directions and then lower the antenna restored in your neighborhood. not be raised at a time that would block escape routes during to evacuate early. Pre-storm tides and flooding may cut you away from power lines. Beware of weakened roads, bridges, tree limbs, or por- hurricane evacuation. Stay tuned to television, radio, or off if you don't leave soon enough. El Don't drain your swimming pool: draining just increa as ches which may collapse unexpectedly. NOAA Weather Radio (162.55 MHz) when a Hurricane Watch 0 You may be advised to evacuate hile the weather looks the possibility that the pool will pop out of the ground. Do Do not sightsee. Local newspapers and television stations is issued. nice. Rapidly deteriorating weather conditions will make turn off electricity to pool equipment (pump, motor, lighting, will document and preserve for you the dramatic scenes of evacuation hazardous as the storm approaches, chlorinators). If the filter pump is exposed, wrap it with water- the hurricane destruction. Barrier island communities will 0 When necessary, evacuation orders will be issued by the proof cover and tie securely. Add extra chlorine to the Pool restrict entry until private properly has been secured and Who Should Evacuate? County Manager or his representative. Large scale evacua. to prevent contamination. hazards removed. tion is : countywide problem. Dade County, and municipal F I If you have a small boat (the size that Can fit on a trailer) After power is restored, check your food for spoilage. with few exceptions, everyone living in hurricane zones official will all work together to affect an orderly evacuation. put the boat on the ground, remove the outboard motor, lash When you put up your CB or TV antenna again, check in 1through 7 and ALL mobile home residents in Dade County If you do not live in an area which requires evacuation, make the boat down and half fill it with water. Filling a boat on a all directions and make certain that, if the antenna should should evacuate in ANY hurricane. Hurricane zones 8 ail of your driving trips during the Watch Period. Stay off trailer with water may break your trailer springs and axle. fall, it won't touch a power line! through 17 along the bayfront will experience storm surge evacuation routes after an evacuation order is issued. flooding that may require evacuation in a category 1 or 2 hur- 0 If you are relocating outside the hurricane-threatened area, @:can , and should evacuate in a category 3 or greater hur- cam a current road map and follow a route that stays as came, Zones 18 through 25 should evacuate in a category far as possible from seashore, lakes, canals, etc. As the hur. 4 or 5 hurricane. See map inside this brochure for hurricane ricane comes ashore, roads near major water bodies may zone boundaries. be flooded even though they are many miles inland. CHECKLIST FOR C HURRICANE PRECAUTIONS A HURRICANE WARNING @ kv When a tropical storm Poses a Possible threat to an a good fire extinguisher available to put out oil fires. A Ci Batteries for radio and flashlight. are', a HURRICANE ALERT is announced.This simply bathtub filled with water is helpful in case water mains m Candles and plenty of matches. means "Be on Guard! " Check your storm shutters. It the are brokert. 0 Car tan hurricane hes a position which constitutes an appre- 0Keep your radio on. A battery-powered radio is a must 0 Extra ice in freezer areac, k filled with gasoline. ciable thre I he area is put on a HURRICANE WATCH. This designation does not indicate immediate danger, in case of power failure. Follow the progress of the 0 Sterno fuel and unit. but serves to cauti n residents in the area. Tune to storm on WGBS 710 NEWS, where you'll be the first to 0 Extra drinking water. WGBS 710 NEWSOon your AM dial for further advisories. heat the latest accurate information. 0 Tub filled with water. Safety precautions requiring more than 18 to 24 hours DURING 0 Pets inside or otherwise protected. to fulfill should be started. Ready the storm shutters. 0 Loose outside objects stored or secured. .1ccley A HURRICANE WARNING is issued when it is expected 0The safest procedure is to "stay put." Don't go out at 0 First-aid kit with bandages, adhesive tape, that an area will feel the dangerous effects of the hurricane a)), excepi in emergencies antiseptics, etc. I, e., winds of 74 mph and higher or a combination of 9If you must use your car, be alert for falling trees, 0 Tree branches tied or cut. dangerously high water, very rough seas, and winds in fallen wires, and flash flooding. C3 TV antenna taken down. excess of 60 mph). At this time. all safety precautions 11 is advisable lo keep a window slightly open in your 0 Pantry wett stocked should be taken. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time. house or apartment on the side opposite that from canned goods Put up the storm shutters. which wind is blowing in order to provide ventilation dry milk BEFORE and to prevent certain types of wind damage. It high dry cereals and baby food winds blow out a window, open wide a window on the powdered drinks 0Stay away from low-lying beaches or other locations opposite side of the house to prevent further damage, which may be swept by high tides or storm waves. 0II you have a "hurricane party," don't drink too much, if bread Leave those areas early because roads to sale you must drink at all. You need a clear head in an El Hand can opener locations may become impassable several hours prior emergency. 0 Bleach 1W C) to the arrival of hurricane conditions. 0Use your phone for emergencies only. 0 Strong lumber to board up windows. 0Stay at home it your house is safe from high water and 0In rase the eye or center of the hurricane passes Other flash flooding, directly over yourarea, skies may clear and there may BTmg in everything that could blow away - garbage be a full in the wind lasting anywhere from a few cans, garden tools, furniture and plants, Remove limbs Minutes to a half hour or even longer. Remain in a safe from trees that may damage your house or ulifity place or, if necessary, make emergency repairs. Be wires. Remove ripe coconuts from palm trees. cautious, however, since the wind will return from the 0Secure garage doors. Awnings which can be moved opposite direction suddenly and possibly with even FOR HURRICANE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL- should be raised and tied securely or taken down. greater violence. For up-to-the-minute advisories and Fasten storm shutters or board up windows with good information, keeptuned to WGBS 710 NEWS on your DADE lumber. AM dial. Metro Dade County Emergency Management 0Do not drain your swimming pool. Turn off all electrical AFTER Hurricane Hotline 596-8735 power to the pool and remove all loose items from the Dade County Red Cross 576-4600 area. Add extra chlorine lo prevent contaminat,on. 0Don't hinder first-aid and rescue work. Stay away from INKIWARD 0Boats should be hauled out of the water or strongly disaster areas. Broward County Emergency Preparedness moored. Be sure that there is ample scope in 0Stay away from broken or low hanging power lines, as Division 765-5020 moorings. Avoid trying to secure boats after waters well as metal objects which may be in contact with BrowardGountyRedCross 581-4221 become dangerously rough. damaged power lines. Notify police or utility companies of dangling or broken wires. MONROE 0Make certain your automobile is on high ground, away Otfice of Civil Defense, Monroe County 294-9581 from trees, preferably in a garage or other shelter. Fill 0Do not drive unless absolutely necessary. II you must Monroe County Fled Cross 296-3561 your lank with gasoline because gasoline pumps drive, watch out for debris, fallen wires, washouts and FREE- COMMENTS OF cannot be operated it power fails. swollen streams. When itcornesto reportingfaCtual,highlyaccurate 0VAaye a liashitighl in good wot',ong condiiico. if 11 rs 0Be on the alert for rising water in Streams and ivefs weather conditions, WGBS 710 NEWS leads all necessary lo use candles or other emergency lighting even after the heaviest rain has ended. other radio stations in South Florida with market and cooking facilities, be careful of fire, 0Listen to WGBS 710 NEWS for instructions about exclusive Accu-Weather - the nation's largest 0Ft[[ clean containers with drinking water. Have large the necessity of sterilizing drinking water and other private weather service. Listen to WGBS 710 NEWS containers of water stored in bathroom to flush toilet it pmcauttionarv measuros. as certified meteorologists evaluate the latest your normal supply is interrupted. 0If power has failed, don't open freezer chests unless weather information and keep you informed during 0Be sure you have sufficient food on hand that does necessary until power is restored or you can obtain a hurricane. not need refrigeration or cooking. dry ice. 0 Be especially careful of fires. Have a bucket of sand or 0 Make a list of damage to your property. WOBS718NEWS WGBS71ONEWS CANADA 6i ... .... .... HOW TO USE THIS HURRICANE PLOTTING CHART T-11 WGBSnONEWSf.,[email protected]@....th.r.Wi.%RgI latitu from stomtposftlon,dmftamdti@l,[email protected] strom ng ft r M,po t storm on chan %;.,ding to base W cap, 1. orn left. gi- jelftbals, ft... ':@ "I point am jet., d@= roceedi., lie re n as =istared in storm dabs block. As storm proctiols, tie p0% t r1r" distance, usli graphic scale at be" of chad. ie- 14 T d k: ... ... .... .... .. . .. AL.- T-l -T T, UNITED STATES 4 7- ... . . ... .... ... .. ... .. .... ... .. ... -V7 IT .... .... ... .... --i. lar-- .. ... ... .... ... . . ... ... . . -7TTFTT7F:::: @TFTTI - ... ... ... GI 6 6F. M E@i MEXICO 7 4. ... .... ... C" .. .... .... .... ... RUN . .... .. .. t i . .... .... . .. .... ... ... a .... - ------ -- 7. 4.4 7@ kl. j:: 11.1.1 @:T CT a-- V,V ' I I I I I I Order forms I I I I I I I I I I I I I urricane Awareness Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Commerce FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ORDER FORM The following publications are available in limited quantities and while supplies last from: Federal Emergency Management Agency P.O. Box 8181 Washington, D.C. 20024. See page: Title Quantity C-1 Hurricane Safety Tips L-105 C-3 Survival in a Hurricane (English) wallet card not Survival in a Hurricane (Spanish) shown wallet card C-5 Disaster Driving L-116 C-7 Storm Surge and Hurricane Safety with North Atlantic Tracking Chart C-17 Hurricane-Floods Safety tips for coastal and and inland flooding C-23 Owlie Skywarn's Weather Book C-51 Hurricane Poster safety rules and storm surge *Also available from NOAA FEMA ENCOURAGES YOU TO FIND LOCAL SPONSORS TO PUBLISH THESE MATERIALS. WE WILL PROVIDE CAMERA-READY COPY OF THE PUBLICATIONS LISTED ABOVE ON REQUEST. HURRICANEt Hurricane Alicia hit the coast of Texas in August 1983. FEMA's 28-minute film Hurricanet follows weather service and emergency services personnel through watches, warnings, landfall, and the aftermath of this powerful storm. Contact your local FEMA Regional Office (listed in Resources Section) for information on how to obtain this 3/4-inch videotape. Copies will be duplicated on request if a blank 3/4" videotape cassette is provided. (Hurricanet is also available on loan in 16mm film.) AN H C-105 urricane Aw r ne s Federal Emergency Management Agency / National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - U.S. Department of Co merce NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION See page: PUBLICATIONS: C-3 Survival in a Hurricane (NOAA/PA 70027) C-5 Hurricane Tracking Chart (Atlantic) (NOAA/PA 77020) C-7 Storm Surge and Hurricane Safety with Tracking Chart (NOAA/PA 78019) C-13 Hurricane Tracking Chart (Pacific) (NOAA/PA 77021) not Some Devastating North Atlantic Hurricanes of the shown 20th Century (NOAA/PA 77019) These publications can be ordered from the U.S. Government Printing Office, Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C. 20402. Limited copies are also available from: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, 8060 13th Street, Silver Spring, Maryland' 20910. FILMS/SLIDE SHOWS A Lady Named Camille (14-minute film) Depicts how ign-F-ring hurricane warnings can cost lives. Shows impact of devastation. Details civil defense warning procedures. Hurricane Decision (14 minute film) Life-saving information for persons in hurricane-prone areas. Explains dangers of storm surge, winds, and inland flooding from hurricanes. Hurricanet Follows weather service and emergency services personnel through watches, warnings, and the landfall and aftermath of Hurricane Alicia, which hit the Texas coast in August 1983. Hurricane Eloise (43 slides/commentary) Explains ramifications of hurricane awareness/ preparedness or lack of it. Hurricane Preparedness (49 slides/commentary) ShowZ-Fow hurricanes are tracked. Details importance of community communication during weather threat and aftermath of storm. Films are available on loan from Modern Talking Pictures, Film Scheduling Center, 5000 Park Street, St. Petersburg, Florida 33709 (813) 541-5763. A H FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE. *Also available from FEMA. C-107 EABJ RICANIES CAN HIT U.S. SHORM X 4-1. IRS URRICANES CAN HIT US. SHOR All, the I:ng term age according a No number 6's have made IaLdl!@ FronWune through the a _111th' . Sev r. "..th ranch of the sWo Camille in 1969. That's be F ral lr*u al Oceanic and tmospheric Ad- 15 years aA bon Illation (NOAA). for N n that hu ricane preparedness Y ry from a I of the dice but fff-..Z- hat Oros- dt' important this time of 9 ut the next several ,ugram. yo wsuriw. Weqaafel@ li@. ness j, � There has not been a major h. 1*0d againadarnappaused by hur- To assist you, we will provide a number cane on the East Coast since thb *011X "It V4_1 of helpful brochttres that are free of late '50's. p?%sI "1 0 can be eas* � Once a tropical storm recel veiQ .. .. ... name and hurricane status itis rate(04- rI-, ... .. 1-5 according to relative strength (5 anYr'enters in eligible communities a is the strongest). way to protect their property and con- Too many families rely on their home- tents. There is an important message owner's policylorflood protection. Too you can bring to residents and property many others think that flood insurance � Even the damaging force of Agnes owners along the Gulf and East Coast is available only in low risk areas. Don't in 1972 and Alicia in 1983 did not States: standard homeowner's policies take a chance with your clients. Order rate higher than a 3! don't cover flood damage. today. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- You Can Request These Materials FLOOD Free-of-Charge (a) Flood ... Are You Protected? Request for NFIP Hurricane/Summer Storm Materials: Provides essential information on the NFIR including a chart on INTNEIEVENT name OF A FLOOD the limits of coverage for the agency Emergency and Regular Programs. sueet (b) Hurricanes and Summer citylsia(el'ilp Storms... phone (optim,al) Describes the threat of flooding Please send the following: QUANTITY during this year's hurricane season. (a) Flood ... Are You Protected? N Hurricdnes and Summer Storms (c) in the Event of a Flood (d in the Event of a Flood Offers practical suggestions on Approximately how many NFIP policies do you have in fo(t what can be done before, during and after a flood. e is PF,all I nj Tn Zl@ C-109 -U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1985 0-526-948/30388 11 lllullmfflll@l III I, - 3 6668 14103 06 5 %.- I I r I , I I , I , I I I I I I I I I I 111 1 4 1 1