PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT FRI MAY 30 2008

...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY...

A HURRICANE WARNING WILL BE ISSUED FOR A SPECIFIC COASTAL AREA 
WHEN HURRICANE FORCE WINDS...74 MPH OR GREATER...ARE EXPECTED...
USUALLY IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. WHEN YOUR AREA IS UNDER A HURRICANE 
WARNING...CLOSELY MONITOR RADIO...TELEVISION...OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO
ALL HAZARDS FOR OFFICIAL BULLETINS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
YOU SHOULD COMPLETE PREPARATION ACTIVITIES...SUCH AS PUTTING UP
STORM SHUTTERS AND STORING LOOSE OBJECTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY LOCAL OFFICIALS. LEAVE IMMEDIATELY IF
TOLD TO DO SO. WHEN EVACUATING...LEAVE EARLY...PREFERABLY IN DAYLIGHT.
NOTIFY NEIGHBORS AS WELL AS A FAMILY MEMBER OUTSIDE OF THE WARNED AREA
OF YOUR EVACUATION PLANS. STAY AT A LOW RISE INLAND HOTEL OR 
PRE-DESIGNATED PUBLIC SHELTER OUTSIDE OF A FLOOD ZONE IF POSSIBLE. 
IF YOU PLAN TO STAY AT HOME...MAKE SURE IT IS A WELL CONSTRUCTED 
BUILDING. EXAMINE THE BUILDING AND PLAN IN ADVANCE WHAT YOU WILL DO IF 
WINDS BECOME STRONG. STRONG WINDS CAN PRODUCE DEADLY MISSILES AND 
STRUCTURAL FAILURE.

TURN OFF UTILITIES IF TOLD TO DO SO BY AUTHORITIES AND UNPLUG SMALL 
APPLIANCES. FILL THE BATH TUB AND LARGE CONTAINERS WITH WATER FOR 
SANITARY PURPOSES. ONE GALLON OF WATER PER PERSON PER DAY FOR 3 TO 7 
DAYS IS RECOMMENDED. ALSO...TURN REFRIGERATORS TO MAXIMUM COLD AND 
OPEN THEM ONLY WHEN NECESSARY.

IF WINDS BECOME STRONG...CLOSE ALL INTERIOR DOORS AND SECURE EXTERNAL
DOORS. STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS AND DOORS...EVEN IF THEY ARE COVERED. 
TAKE REFUGE IN A SMALL INTERIOR ROOM...CLOSET...OR HALLWAY...PREFERABLY
ON THE FIRST FLOOR. HOWEVER...IF YOU ARE ALONG THE COAST OR NEAR A BODY
OF WATER...TAKE REFUGE ON THE SECOND FLOOR DUE TO THE POTENTIAL OF 
FLOODING. 

BE ALERT FOR TORNADOES WHICH OFTEN ARE SPAWNED BY HURRICANES.

DO NOT VENTURE OUTSIDE IN THE CALM EYE OF THE STORM. AFTER THE EYE 
PASSES...THE WINDS WILL CHANGE DIRECTION AND QUICKLY RETURN TO 
HURRICANE FORCE.

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