Becoming Storm Becoming Storm SavvySavvy

Busting Hurricane Busting Hurricane MythsMyths

Basic Hurricane Basic Hurricane Information.Information.

• Pinellas CountyPinellas County’’s Hurricane Guides Hurricane Guide

•www.pinellascounty.org/emergency

• Emergency Management: (727) 464-Emergency Management: (727) 464-38003800

• Front of your telephone white pagesFront of your telephone white pages

•www.fema.gov

•www.floridadisaster.org

•www.flash.org

What is a myth?What is a myth?

• myth–noun Origin: Gk myth–noun Origin: Gk mŷthosmŷthos story story – a traditional or legendary story, a traditional or legendary story,

usually concerning some hero or usually concerning some hero or event, and explains some practice, event, and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature. rite, or phenomenon of nature.

– Any fictitious story or unscientific Any fictitious story or unscientific account, theory, belief, etc.account, theory, belief, etc.

Why are myths dangerous?Why are myths dangerous?

• They waste your timeThey waste your time

• They cost you moneyThey cost you money

• They make you believe you are saferThey make you believe you are safer

The dirty dozen.The dirty dozen.

• Window tapingWindow taping

• It costs too muchIt costs too much

• Pressure differencesPressure differences

• Total destructionTotal destruction

• Vertical evacuationVertical evacuation

• High windsHigh winds

• Mobile home safetyMobile home safety

• Countywide Countywide evacuationevacuation

• Public sheltersPublic shelters

• Evacuation order Evacuation order timingtiming

• Government will Government will provide everythingprovide everything

• It canIt can’’t happen heret happen here

Myth: My windows are Myth: My windows are protected. I have them protected. I have them taped.taped.• ““Taping my windows is cheap and Taping my windows is cheap and

easy. Besides, everyone I see on TV easy. Besides, everyone I see on TV is taping their windows. It must be a is taping their windows. It must be a good idea.good idea.””

Fact: Shuttering your Fact: Shuttering your windows is the safe thing windows is the safe thing to do.to do.• Tape does nothing to protect windows.Tape does nothing to protect windows.

• Shutter options:Shutter options:– Plywood (min. 7/16Plywood (min. 7/16”” required – FL required – FL

Code)Code)– Commercial systemsCommercial systems

• Large missile impact rated windows.Large missile impact rated windows.

Myth: Hurricane Myth: Hurricane preparation costs too preparation costs too much.much.• ““News stories claim assembling a News stories claim assembling a

supply kit for a family of four costs supply kit for a family of four costs more than $500. Who can afford more than $500. Who can afford that?that?””

Fact: Build your kit without Fact: Build your kit without busting your budget.busting your budget.

• Inventory supplies already in your Inventory supplies already in your home.home.

• Buy a little bit each week.Buy a little bit each week.

• Buy only what you will use.Buy only what you will use.

Myth: IMyth: I’’ll open my window ll open my window to equalize pressure.to equalize pressure.

• ““If I donIf I don’’t open the windows on the t open the windows on the opposite side of my home during a opposite side of my home during a hurricane, the air pressure difference hurricane, the air pressure difference can cause all of the glass in my can cause all of the glass in my windows to break.windows to break.””

Fact: Keeping wind out of Fact: Keeping wind out of your home is top priority.your home is top priority.

• ItIt’’s not a difference atmospheric s not a difference atmospheric pressure that causes failure – itpressure that causes failure – it ’’s s debris impact.debris impact.

• Wind entering through an opening Wind entering through an opening can pressurize air in the home, can pressurize air in the home, exiting through the weakest point.exiting through the weakest point.

Myth: Everything will be Myth: Everything will be destroyed after the destroyed after the ‘‘Big Big OneOne’’..• ““No doubt, a hurricaneNo doubt, a hurricane’’s massive s massive

winds will tear everything apart. winds will tear everything apart. Protection is pointless. Besides, IProtection is pointless. Besides, I’’ll ll build a new house when I get my build a new house when I get my insurance check.insurance check.””

Fact: Hardening your home Fact: Hardening your home can help save it.can help save it.

• Repairs are much easier than total Repairs are much easier than total rebuilds.rebuilds.

• You may be able to live in your home You may be able to live in your home if repairs are minor.if repairs are minor.

Myth: When the storm Myth: When the storm comes, Icomes, I’’m evacuating up.m evacuating up.

• ““My unit is on the sixth floor of the My unit is on the sixth floor of the building and it has shutters. Therebuilding and it has shutters. There ’’s s no way storm surge or wind can get no way storm surge or wind can get me. Ime. I’’ll be safe.ll be safe.””

Fact: Vertical evacuation Fact: Vertical evacuation leaves you stranded.leaves you stranded.

• Wind speed increases the higher you Wind speed increases the higher you go.go.

• Storm surge can wash out lower Storm surge can wash out lower levels of your building, preventing levels of your building, preventing access after the storm passes.access after the storm passes.

Myth: Hurricane winds canMyth: Hurricane winds can’’t t be worse than be worse than thunderstorms.thunderstorms.• ““We have bad thunderstorms here. We have bad thunderstorms here.

Hurricanes arenHurricanes aren’’t much worse. And, t much worse. And, my house was built in 1960, so it my house was built in 1960, so it must have survived lots of big must have survived lots of big storms.storms.””

Fact: Hurricane winds are Fact: Hurricane winds are more powerful than you more powerful than you expect.expect.• F = m x vF = m x v22

– Example: 120 mph wind is nine times Example: 120 mph wind is nine times stronger than a 40 mph wind (3 x 3).stronger than a 40 mph wind (3 x 3).

• High winds can do serious damage, High winds can do serious damage, throwing large missiles.throwing large missiles.

• Last hurricane to Last hurricane to hit Pinellas County hit Pinellas County was in 1921.was in 1921.

Myth: My mobile home is a Myth: My mobile home is a safe place to ride out a safe place to ride out a storm.storm.• ““I have new tie-downs on my mobile I have new tie-downs on my mobile

home. It was also built after 1994 to home. It was also built after 1994 to tougher standards.tougher standards.””

Fact: NEVER ride out a Fact: NEVER ride out a storm in a mobile home.storm in a mobile home.

• Older homes not built to withstand Older homes not built to withstand high winds.high winds.

• Newer homes rely on tie-downs to Newer homes rely on tie-downs to resist forces – they can fail.resist forces – they can fail.

• Evacuate when ordered to!Evacuate when ordered to!

Myth: ThereMyth: There’’s no safe place s no safe place when the when the ‘‘Big OneBig One’’ comes. comes.

• ““Surely, there is a plan to evacuate Surely, there is a plan to evacuate everyone from Pinellas County when everyone from Pinellas County when a Category 5 storm is coming.a Category 5 storm is coming.””

Fact: There are many safe Fact: There are many safe places to shelter from a places to shelter from a storm.storm.• ““Run from water, hide from winRun from water, hide from win

d.d.””• Seek shelter in a well-built Seek shelter in a well-built structure out of the structure out of the evacuation zones.evacuation zones.

• Some areas are less than Some areas are less than one mile from the beach one mile from the beach to a non-evacuation zone.to a non-evacuation zone.

Myth: Why have an Myth: Why have an evacuation plan? Ievacuation plan? I’’m going m going to a shelter.to a shelter.• ““II ’’ve been told that public shelters ve been told that public shelters

provide cots, food and generators. provide cots, food and generators. Why not use them? I can also bring Why not use them? I can also bring my pet with me to a shelter, right?my pet with me to a shelter, right?””

Fact: Public shelters are Fact: Public shelters are safer, but they are a last safer, but they are a last resort.resort.• Shelters do not provide bedding, Shelters do not provide bedding,

can be crowded and dark.can be crowded and dark.

• Pets are only allowed Pets are only allowed at certain shelters.at certain shelters.

• Stay with a friend or Stay with a friend or relative instead.relative instead.

Myth: IMyth: I’’ll evacuate when ll evacuate when the weather starts to get the weather starts to get bad.bad.• ““The sun is shining. ItThe sun is shining. It’’s a beautiful s a beautiful

beach day. Why evacuate now? beach day. Why evacuate now? Besides, I have weather radar on my Besides, I have weather radar on my computer – Icomputer – I’’ll evacuate when Ill evacuate when I’’m m sure wesure we’’ll get hit.ll get hit.””

Fact: Evacuate when Fact: Evacuate when ordered. ordered.

• Evacuation orders are issued to Evacuation orders are issued to protect you when the threat of storm protect you when the threat of storm surge exists.surge exists.

• Enough time must be provided to Enough time must be provided to clear residents from affected areas.clear residents from affected areas.

• Move quickly but safely.Move quickly but safely.

Myth: The government will Myth: The government will provide everything I need.provide everything I need.

• ““I donI don’’t need all those things in my t need all those things in my survival kit. When the survival kit. When the ‘‘Big OneBig One’’ hits, hits, the government will set up relief the government will set up relief stations and give me exactly what I stations and give me exactly what I need.need.””

Fact: Get supplies to last Fact: Get supplies to last AT LEAST 72 HOURS.AT LEAST 72 HOURS.

• First priorities are search and rescue, opening First priorities are search and rescue, opening hospitals and restarting basic infrastructure.hospitals and restarting basic infrastructure.

• Field aid stations will Field aid stations will open, but it will take open, but it will take time to get supplies time to get supplies here on damaged here on damaged roadways and roadways and bridges.bridges.

Myth: It canMyth: It can’’t happen here.t happen here.

• ““In Pinellas, weIn Pinellas, we’’re protected by an re protected by an ancient Indian blessing/our ancient Indian blessing/our geography/weather patterns. The geography/weather patterns. The storms will never come here.storms will never come here.””

Fact: ItFact: It’’s only a matter of s only a matter of time.time.

• Major storms form in the GulfMajor storms form in the Gulf– Wilma (882 mb), Camille (902 mb)Wilma (882 mb), Camille (902 mb)

• Tampa Bay area is not immuneTampa Bay area is not immune– 1835, 1848, 1852, 1872, 1873, 1887, 1892, 1835, 1848, 1852, 1872, 1873, 1887, 1892,

1894, 1899, 19211894, 1899, 1921

• Close brushes since 1950Close brushes since 1950– Easy (1950), Donna (1960), Gladys (1968), Easy (1950), Donna (1960), Gladys (1968),

Elena (1985), Georges (1998), Charley (2004), Elena (1985), Georges (1998), Charley (2004), Wilma (2005)Wilma (2005)

Be prepared!Be prepared!

• Know your evacuation level and Know your evacuation level and evacuate when orderedevacuate when ordered

• Build your hurricane survival kitBuild your hurricane survival kit

• Prepare your home to withstand high Prepare your home to withstand high windswinds

• Monitor the weather daily during the Monitor the weather daily during the hurricane seasonhurricane season

Stay in the knowStay in the know

• Weather Alert RadiosWeather Alert Radios– Fast warning from the local weather officeFast warning from the local weather office

• Local Media (Radio, TV, Newspaper)Local Media (Radio, TV, Newspaper)

• Community Notification SystemCommunity Notification System– (888) 689-8905 from a cell phone(888) 689-8905 from a cell phone

• Citizen Information Center (727) 464-4333Citizen Information Center (727) 464-4333

• www.pinellascounty.org/emergency

• E-Lert - Sign up todayE-Lert - Sign up today

Surviving the Storm:Surviving the Storm:

ItIt’’s Everyones Everyone’’s s ResponsibilityResponsibility

www.pinellascounty.org (727) 464- (727) 464-38003800