PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE COLUMBIA, SC
755 AM EDT TUE MAY 31 2011

...HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK...

HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS JUNE 1 AND EXTENDS THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH EACH
YEAR. DURING THAT TIME A HURRICANE WATCH OR WARNING MAY BE ISSUED FOR
THE COASTAL AREA. A HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN HURRICANE 
CONDITIONS POSE A POSSIBLE THREAT TO THE COASTAL AREA. A HURRICANE 
WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN THE 
COASTAL AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS. HURRICANE WATCHES ARE ISSUED OUT TO 48 
HOURS PRIOR TO MAKING LANDFALL.  KNOW WHAT ACTIONS TO TAKE WHEN A 
HURRICANE WATCH OR WARNING IS ISSUED. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.

IF YOU ARE IN A COASTAL AREA...
     1.  KNOW YOUR LOCATIONS ELEVATION ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL.
     2.  HAVE A SAFE EVACUATION ROUTE PLANNED.
     3.  LEARN THE STORM SURGE HISTORY FOR THE AREA.

AS HURRICANE HUGO PROVED...HURRICANES POSE A THREAT TO INLAND AREAS 
AS WELL AS THE COAST. HIGH WINDS...TORNADOES...AND FLOODS AND FLASH 
FLOODS CAN BE RESULTS OF THE HURRICANE IN INLAND AREAS AND ARE 
DANGEROUS KILLERS. HUGOS HIGH WINDS WERE FELT HUNDREDS OF MILES 
INLAND AND A STORM CAN BRING 6 TO 12 INCHES OF RAIN OR MORE TO THE 
AREA IT CROSSES. TREES WERE BLOWN DOWN FROM CHARLESTON TO SUMTER TO 
CHARLOTTE AND MANY HOMES AND BUILDINGS WERE DAMAGED.  WIND SPEEDS TO 
100 MPH WERE REPORTED AS FAR INLAND AS CHARLOTTE.

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004 THE REMNANTS OF 3 HURRICANES, FRANCES, GASTON, 
AND JEANNE MOVED THROUGH THE STATE. THESE HURRICANE REMNANTS 
PRODUCED A TOTAL OF 72 TORNADOES! IN FACT, MUCH OF THE STATE WAS 
UNDER A TORNADO WATCH FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS WHEN FRANCES OCCURRED. 
HURRICANE FRANCES PRODUCED THE MOST TORNADOES FOR ANY SINGLE TORNADO 
OUTBREAK IN SOUTH CAROLINA'S HISTORY, SPAWNING 44 TORNADOES.

PLEASE TAKE TIME THIS WEEK TO DEVELOP YOUR HURRICANE SAFETY PLAN. FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT YOUR NEAREST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE.