PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON NC
MON MAY 21 2007

THIS IS NATIONAL HURRICANE AWARENESS WEEK. IT IS TIME FOR YOU TO 
PREPARE FOR ANOTHER HURRICANE SEASON. HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS EACH 
YEAR ON JUNE 1ST AND ENDS NOVEMBER 30TH. BEING PREPARED CAN MAKE A 
BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR ABILITY TO COPE WITH THESE VIOLENT STORMS.

TODAY'S TOPIC IS STORM SURGE AND MARINE SAFETY.

WELL IN ADVANCE OF LANDFALL...LONG PERIOD SWELL WAVES FROM A DISTANT 
HURRICANE CREATE HIGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE 
COAST...AND FORCE THE WATER LEVEL A LITTLE HIGHER. WHEN THE HURRICANE 
IS ABOUT A DAY AWAY FROM LANDFALL...THE WIND CIRCULATION ARRIVES   
ALONG THE COAST AND CAUSES SERIOUS BEACH EROSION TO BEGIN AS THE 
WATER RISES STILL HIGHER.

THE MOST SERIOUS STORM SURGE IS A RAPID RISE OF WATER OFTEN 50 TO 
100 MILES WIDE THAT SWEEPS ACROSS THE COASTLINE NEAR WHERE A 
HURRICANE MAKES LANDFALL. THE SURGE OF HIGH WATER TOPPED BY WAVES IS 
DEVASTATING. ALONG THE IMMEDIATE COAST...STORM SURGE IS THE GREATEST 
THREAT TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

STORM TIDE IS THE COMBINATION OF THE STORM SURGE AND THE NORMAL 
ASTRONOMICAL TIDE. IF THE STORM SURGE ARRIVES AT THE SAME TIME AS 
THE HIGH TIDE...THE WATER HEIGHT WILL BE EVEN GREATER.

THE STORM TIDE IS HIGHEST ON THE SIDE OF THE STORM CIRCULATION WHERE 
THE WIND IS BLOWING ONTO THE COAST...SINCE IT PILES UP THE WATER AND 
FORCES IT INLAND. ALONG THE ONSHORE WIND SIDE...THE SURGE IS HIGHEST 
CLOSER TO THE EYE...WHERE THE WIND IS STRONGEST.

WHEN A TROPICAL STORM WATCH OR HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED...MARINE 
INTERESTS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY TAKE ALL POSSIBLE PRECAUTIONS TO EITHER 
REMOVE THEIR BOATS TO SAFETY OR TAKE ALL POSSIBLE STEPS TO SECURE 
THEM.