Local forecast by
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Hurricane Awareness
& Safety Information |
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Hurricane Preparedness
| Develop a Family Disaster Plan |
| Create a Disaster Supply Kit |
| Secure Your Home |
| During a Hurricane |
| Student Lesson Plan |
| Hurricane Preparedness Week |
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Flood Awareness
| Turn Around Don't Drown |
| Flood Safety |
| Flooding Don'ts |
| High Water Marks |
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Hurricane Preparedness
Develop a Family Disaster Plan
- Know what type of hazards could affect your area (flood, hurricane, snow, etc.).
- Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.
- Make sure your home is as prepared for each hazard as possible.
- Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit. Make sure you prepare enough supplies for the number and ages of the people with you.
- In certain circumstances your home may not be safe. In that event have a backup shelter in mind, either in the community or in some cases out of state.
- Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.
- If you have to leave home:
- Plan for longer than normal travel times, so don’t wait too long to leave.
- Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.
- Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.
- Have a copy (or original) of all important documents including insurance papers during any evacuation.
- Make sure to shut-off any gas appliances or other sources of natural gas. Other utilities such as water and electricity should be turned off before evacuating.
Create a Disaster Supply Kit
- When preparing for a possible emergency situation, it's best to think first about the basics of survival: fresh water, food, clean air and warmth.
- Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
- Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
- Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Whistle to signal for help
- oist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
- Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
- Local maps
This list was compiled from the Ready.gov website. For more information visit Ready.gov.
The American Red Cross has put together a brochure detailing steps on creating a Disaster Supply Kit.
Secure Your Home
- Check items in your yard such as sheds, swing sets, boats and trailers to see if they are secure.
- Trim back any branches that are either touching your house or fence. Also trim any branches that could touch during heavy rains or wind. Remove dead branches.
- Inspect gutters and repair any damaged sections and make sure the downspout opening and surrounding area is clear.
The above examples are just a few of the things you can do to your home to protect against hurricane damage. The National Hurricane Center also has a wealth of information on securing your home in preperation for a hurricane. For more information visit The National Hurricane Center's website.
During a Hurricane
- Ensure a supply of water for sanitary purposes such as cleaning and flushing toilets. Fill the bathtub and other large containers with water.
- Stay indoors during the hurricane and away from windows and glass doors.
- Take refuge in a small interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest level.
- Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
The above examples are just a few of the things you can do to your home to protect against hurricane damage. The National Hurricane Center also has a wealth of information on securing your home in preperation for a hurricane. For more information visit The National Hurricane Center's Preparedness website.
Student Lesson Plans for Teachers
The National Weather Service office in Newport/Morehead City, NC has put together lesson plan information for school teachers. The lesson plan includes such information as hurricane and flood preparedness, history, terminology, and classroom activities. Download the Lesson Plan. Teachers are also encouraged to engage their students using CoCoRaHS. CoCoRaHS is an acronym for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network. CoCoRaHS is a unique, non-profit, community-based network of volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to measure and map precipitation (rain, hail and snow) in local communities. View our CoCoRaHS School Release for more information.
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Hurricane Preparedness Week: May 24-30, 2009
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2009 Hurricane Awareness Tour
Featuring the P3 Hurricane Hunter Aircraft
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Location |
| May 4th |
Portsmouth, NH Aprt (PSM) |
| May 5th |
Republic Aprt, NY (FRG) |
| May 6th |
Raleigh/Durham, NC Aprt (RDU) |
| May 7th |
Wilmington, NC Aprt (ILM) |
| May 8th |
Key West, FL NAS (NQX) |
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NOAA uses the hurricane awareness tour to get the message out to the communities that NOW is the time to prepare for a hurricane.
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NOAA hurricane experts will travel aboard a NOAA WP-3 Orion turboprop Hurricane Hunter aircraft to raise awareness of the hurricanes that can and have threatened the region. With the 20 and 10 year anniversaries (respectively) of such major storms as Hurricanes Hugo and Floyd, NOAA hopes to educate the public on the dangers such storms can bring. A team of NOAA experts will be joined by emergency management officials, non-profit organizations such as the American Red Cross, and various local National Weather Service forecast offices.
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The hurricane awareness tour has been conducted for more than 25 years, alternating between the Gulf and Atlantic coasts, and is followed by NOAA's hurricane hazard education campaign during national Hurricane Preparedness Week, May 24 to 30. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1.
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Flood Awareness
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Floods are the most common and widespread of all weather-related natural disasters. And flash floods are the most dangerous kind of floods, because they combine the destructive power of a flood with incredible speed and unpredictability.
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Did you know that as little as six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet or cause you to lose control of your car. And just two feet of water can cause a car even a big SUV to be swept off a road or bridge.
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Safety
- Obtain a NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio and pay attention to the latest information when unusually heavy rains occur or are forecast to occur.
- Pay attention to flash flood and river flood watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service.
- Inspect gutters and repair any damaged sections and make sure the downspout opening and surrounding area is clear.
Don't...
- take a chance and cross a flooded road or bridge because you can’t determine the depth of water or the condition of the road or bridge.
- camp or park your vehicle along rivers, streams or washes, particularly during threatening conditions.
- enter areas subject to flooding like low spots, valleys, canyons or washes when flooding occurring or immanent.
- try to cross flowing streams.
- let your children play near flooded streams, storm drains, bayous, roads, rivers or creeks.
- drive through flooded roadways. Road beds or bridges may be washed out under flood waters.
- drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded.
Please visit the National Weather Service Flood Safety Page for more information.
Hector Guerrero, from National Weather Service San Angelo, TX, has prepared a powerpoint presentation on Inland Flooding.
For information about current flooding go NOAA's Flood Page or your local National Weather Service webpage.
To know your homes flood risk, visit the National Flood Insurance Program website.
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Hurricane Floyd High Water Marks
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Several National Weather Service Forecast Offices, with help from the Southeast River Forecast Center (SERFC), have placed high water mark signs across their area to represent the record floods of Hurricane Floyd. The signs are installed in well-trafficked areas that were affected by the flood of record. The signs are positioned in areas that better demonstrate the severity of the flood, promoting heightened visibility of the hydrologic program.
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The first sign was unveiled in Kinston on October 24, 2008, recognizing the flood levels reached during Hurricanes Fran and Floyd separately. Kinston’s all time record flood occurred on September 23, 1999 during Hurricane Floyd, only 3 years after a record flood from Hurricane Fran. Signs were unveiled in Greenville, Snow Hill, and Pollocksville.
Several other signs are also slated to debut late 2009: the communities of Goldsboro, Rocky Mount, Chinquapin, Burgaw, and Trenton. The signs commemorated severe flooding in the wake of Hurricane Floyd.
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For information on current Floyd High Water Mark locations, naviagte to Hurricane Floyd Flooding.
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