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The goal of hurricane preparedness week is to inform the public about
hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be utilized when
you take action. This information can be used to save lives at work,
home, while on the Road, or on the water. Each day of hurricane
preparedness week features a unique topic relevant to education and
awareness. Hurricane season is generally considered to be from June
1st until November 30th for the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of
Mexico.

Today we will focus on developing a disaster prevention plan.
The most important thing you can do is to be well informed and
prepared. Preparation also includes knowing what to do after the
disaster strikes. The first step in developing a disaster plan is to
recognize the types of hazards that may effect your home or
community.

Here are some questions you need to answer…

Are you near a flood zone?

Do you lose power frequently during wind storms?

Do you have a safe place in your home?

Do you have proper insurance coverage?

Do you have non-perishable supplies?

Do you have a first aid kit?

A safe place is a location within your home that will protect you
from storm damage. Once a hurricane moves onshore, it will
weaken, but still produce wind gusts in excess of 100 mph many
miles inland. The safest place is a basement with no windows. If
you do not have a basement, go to the interior hallway or room
on the lowest floor without windows. Inland tropical storms can also
produce tornadoes. If a Tornado Warning is issued for your area, go
to your safe place immediately.

Unlike tornadoes, hurricanes can produce damage over a large area.
Due to the widespread nature of the damage, it will take longer for
power crews to restore power to everyone, so make sure you have on
hand several days of emergency supplies.

Hurricane preparedness week continues on Saturday with information on
specific actions you can take before and after a storm.

For additional historical or preparedness information, you
can visit these sites on the world wide web:

National Weather Service Birmingham, Alabama
www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/bmx

National Weather Service Mobile, Alabama
www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/mob

National Hurricane Center
www.NHC.NOAA.Gov
www.NHC.NOAA.Gov/haw2/English/intro.Shtml

Fema
www.Fema.Gov/areyouready/hurricanes.Shtm

American Red Cross
www.Redcross.Org/services/disasters

Source: NOAA.gov

The goal of hurricane preparedness week is to inform the public about
hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be utilized when
you take action. This information can be used to save lives at work,
home, while on the Road, or on the water. Each day of hurricane
preparedness week features a unique topic relevant to education and
awareness. Hurricane season is generally considered to be from June
1st until November 30th for the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of
Mexico.

Today we will focus on the forecast process of issuing watches,
warnings, and statements. The first step in the forecast process
is to acquire quality observational data. The National Weather
Service (nws) and NHC (national hurricane center) have many tools
to monitor tropical systems over the vast oceans. Satellites are the
main tool, although buoys and ship reports provide valuable surface
data. Buoys are observational platforms that float on the oceans
surface, and measure wave height, water and air temperatures, and
wind speed and direction. As the storms move closer to land,
observations from reconnaissance aircraft, radiosondes, and automated
surface observing systems (asos) positioned along the coast are also
used.

All the observational data is ingested into supercomputers that
perform millions of calculations to generate predictions of
hurricane movement and intensity. The model output is used as
guidance during the forecast coordination process. The local weather
forecast office (wfo) will have internal coordination calls with the
National Hurricane Center (nhc). Once the wfo’s and the NHC agree on
a course of action, then the NHC will issue the appropriate watches
and warnings for the affected coastal areas.

WFO Birmingham will also issue several different products when
tropical storm or hurricane force winds are expected across central
Alabama. These products include…

Inland tropical storm/hurricane watches (issued 36 hours in advance
of tropical storm/hurricane force winds)….and inland tropical
storm/hurricane warnings (issued 24 hours in advance of tropical
storm/hurricane force winds). Both of these products will be issued
with the bhmnpwbmx.

A hurricane local statement (hls). This product is designed to inform
media, local decision makers, and the public of the storms anticipated
effects on the local area…as well as current watches and warnings in
place.

What can you do…

When you hear of a tropical storm or Hurricane Watch or warning,
pay special attention to its expected arrival time and local
impacts, such as high winds and flooding.

Monitor NOAA Weather Radio and media for the latest storm information.

Hurricane preparedness week continues on Friday with information on
preparedness.

To get specific storm information with maps, visit these web sites.

National Hurricane Center
www.NHC.NOAA.Gov

National Weather Service southern region
www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/srh/tropicalwx/tropical.Php

National Weather Service Birmingham, Alabama
www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/bmx

Source: NOAA.gov

Todays topic: inland flooding

The goal of hurricane preparedness week is to inform the public about
hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be utilized when
you take action. This information can be used to save lives at work,
home, while on the Road, or on the water. Each day of hurricane
preparedness week features a unique topic relevant to education and
awareness. Hurricane season is generally considered to be from June
1st until November 30th for the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of
Mexico.

Today we will focus on inland flooding. When it comes to hurricanes,
wind speeds do not tell the whole story. Hurricanes produce storm
surges, tornadoes, and often the most deadly of all, inland
flooding. In the 1970s through the 1990s, inland flooding
was responsible for more than half of the deaths associated with
tropical systems in the United States.

Inland flooding can be a major threat to communities hundreds of
miles from the coast as intense rain falls from these immense
tropical air masses. Some of the worst inland flooding may not
come from inland moving hurricanes, but from weaker tropical
systems that move slowly across the area.

Inland flooding can include both river and flash flooding. Flash
flooding typically occurs within several hours of heavy rainfall,
and is the most dangerous type of inland flooding. Flash flooding can
be especially dangerous at night, when rising waters can not be
easily seen. Be aware of streams, drainage channels, and areas known
to flood.

What can you do…

When you hear of a tropical storm or hurricane, think inland
flooding.

Determine whether you live in a flood zone.

If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Keep abreast of Road conditions.

Do not attempt to cross a flooded roadway. Remember this simple
slogan…turn around, don’t drown.

Monitor NOAA Weather Radio for flash flood warnings.

Hurricane preparedness week continues on Thursday with information on
the forecast process.

For additional historical or preparedness information, you can visit
these sites on the world wide web:

National Weather Service Birmingham, Alabama
www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/bmx

National Weather Service Mobile, Alabama
www.Srh.NOAA.Gov/mob

National Hurricane Center
www.NHC.NOAA.Gov
www.NHC.NOAA.Gov/haw2/English/intro.Shtml

Fema
www.Fema.Gov/areyouready/hurricanes.Shtm

American Red Cross
www.Redcross.Org/services/disasters

NOAA coastal services center - historical hurricane tracks
http://maps.Csc.NOAA.Gov/hurricanes

Source: NOAA.gov