HURRICANES

WHAT IS A HURRICANE?

Through the summer, typically in late summer and early fall, swirling winds are spawned by the heat of the Atlantic Ocean. These storms start as a tropical disturbance and, as winds intensify, become a tropical depression, then a tropical storm, and finally - when winds reach 74 miles an hour -- a hurricane.

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS
Category 1 - Winds 74-95 mph
Category 2 - Winds 96-110 mph
Category 3 - Winds 111-130 mph
Category 4 - Winds 131-151 mph
Category 5 - Winds 155+ mph

WHAT IS A HURRICANE WATCH?

Hurricanes may threaten within 36 hours. Be prepared to take action if a warning is issued by the National Weather Service. Keep informed of the storm's progress.
ARE YOU READY?
  • Plan an escape route, in case of evacuation
  • Keep a survival kit on hand
  • Have plenty of non-perishable food, First-aid kit, container of fresh drinking water, a radio and flashlight with plenty of fresh batteries
  • Stock plywood and other materials you may need to board up windows in advance or temporarily repair any damages

WHEN YOU GET A HURRICANE WARNING?
  • 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
  • if you're asked to evacuate, do so
  • Stay tuned to the radio for hurricane advisories and safety information

WHEN A WARNING IS ISSUED:
  • Check to see that refrigerated food hasn't spoiled if there has been a power outage
  • Make sure your car's tank is full
  • Listen for weather information
  • Check survival kit
  • Make sure medical prescriptions are filled and medicines are packed to go
  • Gather up important papers, including idenitification
  • Make sure pets also have plenty of food and water
  • Make any arrangements if you can't take them with you to an emergency shelter
  • Move garbage cans, deck furniture and other large objects into your house or garage or anchor them securely
  • Board up windows or cover them with protective shutters or tape them for reinforcement
  • Store any vehicles you leave behind
  • Moor boats securely
  • Shut off water, electricty and gas
  • If you have a swimming pool, cover the pump filter
  • If you live in a mobile home, check tie-downs and always get out immediately and go to a safe place
  • IF AN EVACUATION ORDER IS ISSUED, LEAVE IMMEDIATELY (Unless you've determined it's safe to stay

WHEN YOU RETURN HOME:
  • Use emergency water rationing or boil water out of tap until you're notified water supply is safe to drink
  • Check electrical, water and gas lines as soon as possible. Report any damage immediately
  • Make emergency repairs to prevent further damage

Tips for Preserving Life and Property in a Flood or Dangerous Coastal Storm


It has been many years since a storm wrought catastrophic damage on the Jersey coast. Even though numerous hurricanes and Nor'easters have passed by since the Storm of 1962 swept tons of sand and gallons of saltwater onto the streets of our resort towns, hurricanes in Florida and the Carolinas should serve as fair warning to homeowners on the Jersey coast. History does repeat itself!

Following is a look at some things you can do to prepare for a major storm and its aftermath.
Preparing for a Major Coastal Storm

You can take some immediate, precautionary measures, such as those listed below, to prepare for a flood or major coastal storm

Make an itemized list of personal property, such as furnishings, clothing and valuables

Take photos of your house inside and out to assist in settling insurance claims and to prove uninsured losses for tax deductions

Keep your insurance policies in a safe place, such as a safe deposit box

Know the safest route from your home or business to the nearest shelter, nearest friend or relative living in a fairly safe area, or other high, safe ground

Because electricity will likely be knocked out, keep a portable radio, emergency cooking equipment, working flashlights and extra batteries

If your area floods frequently, always have a good stock of sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting and lumber to protect your property

Surviving a Major Coastal Storm

Do not take predictions of a major coastal storm lightly. Since floodwaters can rise quickly, be ready to evacuate before the water reaches your home. Then, take the following steps, if necessary, to protect you and your family. Listen to your battery powered radio for updates and instructions for your area

When you are outside of your house, avoid flooded roads and do not try to walk through floodwaters

Turn off all utilities at the main power switch and close the main gas valve if you are likely to evacuate. Only touch electrical equipment in dry areas and only if you are standing on a dry piece of wood and wearing rubber gloves and rubber-soled boots or shoes

Move all valuables, including valuable papers, to higher floors or elevations that won't be reached by water

Fill your bathtubs, sinks and jugs with clean water in the event the regular water supply is contaminated. Rinse with bleach to sanitize these items first

Either board up windows or protect them with storm shutters

Bring outdoor furniture, garbage cans, and other moveable objects into the house or tie them down very securely

Stock your car with nonperishable foods such as canned goods, a plastic container of water, blankets, first aid kit, flashlights with extra batteries, dry clothes, and any special medication required by family members

Make sure your car's gas tank is at least half full as a major storm approaches because gas pumps probably won't be working

Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads since parts of the road may already be washed out

If your car should stall in a flooded area, abandon it as quickly as possible since floodwaters can rise very quickly and sweep a car and its occupants away. Do not try to move the vehicle -- many deaths have resulted from trying to move stalled vehicles

If you're caught in your home and can't escape, move to the second floor or, if necessary, to the roof. Take warm clothes, a flashlight with extra batteries, and a portable radio and wait for help. Do not try to swim to safety. Rescue workers will be looking for you

Aftermath of a Major Coastal Storm

Besides immediately calling your insurance agent to file a claim for any flood damages to your property, there are some basic safety precautions you should take before re-entering your home

Check for structural damage before entering the house and be sure it isn't in danger of collapsing. Turn off outside gas lines at the meter or tank and if you smell gas, call your gas company

When you enter your home, do not use an open flame such as a match, candle or lighter for light. Gas may still be trapped inside the house. Instead, use a battery-powered flashlight

Be sure the electricity is turned off at the main power switch and watch for downed electrical wires. Don't turn any electrical utilities or appliances on until an electrician has checked the system for short circuits

Cover broken windows and holes in the roof or walls

Begin cleanup. There will be many potential health hazards in a flooded home. Perishable items, for instance, pose a health problem and should be photographed and listed before tossing out. You should also throw out all fresh food and medicines that have been contacted by flood water

Do not use the home's water supply until it has been declared safe. Until it has, drain your hot water tank or melt ice cubes if you're facing an emergency that requires water

Photograph the damage to your home and its contents prior to the adjustor's inspection. Your refrigerator, sofas and other hard goods should be hosed off, as well. For items you will keep, use a household cleaner. Partially damaged items should be aired and dried

Wooden furniture should be taken outdoors to dry but should be kept out of direct sunlight to prevent warping. Use a garage or carport if you have one. Remove drawers and other moving parts from wooden furniture but do not try to pry open a swollen drawer. Instead, take the back off the piece and push the drawers out from the rear

Shovel out the mud while it's moist to give your home's walls and floors a chance to dry. When plastered walls have dried, brush off the loose dirt. Then wash the walls with a household cleaner and rinse with clean water. You should always start at the bottom of the wall and work your way up. You must also clean out your heating ducts and plumbing system

To remove mildew from dry wood, use a solution of 1 cup liquid chlorine bleach in 1 gallon of water

Clean metal items immediately with a cloth soaked in kerosene. You can prevent rusting by wiping the item down with a light coat of oil. Scour all of your utensils and if necessary, use a fine steel wool pad on unpolished surfaces. Scrubbing with a solution of vinegar, cream of tartar and hot water will brighten aluminum items

Immediately separate all laundry to avoid running colors. Clothing or household fabrics should be allowed to dry before removing dirt. You can rinse the items in lukewarm water to remove stubborn soil. Then wash with a mild detergent, rinse, and dry in sunlight

Flooded basements pose special problems. Drain and clean them carefully because structural damage will occur if you pump the water out too quickly. After the flood waters in the basement have subsided, drain the basement in stages, by about one-third each day



Hurricane Information - http://www.beach-net.com
Some really great sites to get more information. I especially like the kids one at the top of the list!

FEMA FOR KIDS: HURRICANES - ... Ocean. Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters. Evaporation from the seawater increases their power. ...

National Hurricane Center Tropical Prediction Center - maintains a continuous watch on tropical cyclones over the Atlantic, Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Eastern Pacific from May 15 through November 30, and issues watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous weather conditions in the tropics

Hurricanes: Nature's Greatest Storms - includes background information, a list of retired hurricane names, satellite imagery, tracking models, and more. From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

American Red Cross: Hurricane - provides information for preparing a personal evacuation plan, assembling a disaster supply kit, and other safety tips. Also in Spanish

USA Today Hurricane Information - features up-to-the-minute tropical weather news, outlooks, and forecasts. Also includes background and safety information, and storm history

Howstuffworks "How Hurricanes Work" - These huge storms can wreak havoc when that happens. Learn how hurricanes work, how they are categorized and even how they get their names! ... How Hurricanes Work. ...