Hurricane PreparednessHurricane Preparedness

The Osceola County Sheriff’s OfficeThe Osceola County Sheriff’s Office

Bob Hansell, SheriffBob Hansell, Sheriff

You should be able to You should be able to answer the following answer the following questions before a questions before a

hurricane threatens:hurricane threatens:

Hurricane PreparednessHurricane Preparedness

What are the Hurricane Hazards?What are the Hurricane Hazards? What does it mean to you?What does it mean to you? What actions should you take to be What actions should you take to be

prepared? prepared?

Hurricane Hazards Come in Hurricane Hazards Come in Many FormsMany Forms

Storm surgeStorm surge High windsHigh winds TornadoesTornadoes FloodingFlooding

Storm SurgeStorm Surge

Storm surge is simply water that is pushed Storm surge is simply water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around the storm. swirling around the storm.

High WindsHigh Winds

The intensity of a land falling hurricane is The intensity of a land falling hurricane is expressed in terms of categories that expressed in terms of categories that relate wind speeds and potential damage. relate wind speeds and potential damage.

High Winds High Winds (Cont)(Cont)

The strongest winds usually occur in the The strongest winds usually occur in the right side of the eye wall of the hurricane. right side of the eye wall of the hurricane.

Wind speed usually decreases Wind speed usually decreases significantly within 12 hours after landfall. significantly within 12 hours after landfall.

Hurricane ScaleHurricane Scale

Tropical Storm Tropical Storm winds, 39-73 mphwinds, 39-73 mph Category 1 Hurricane,Category 1 Hurricane, winds 74-95 mph winds 74-95 mph Category 2 Hurricane, Category 2 Hurricane, winds 96-110 mph winds 96-110 mph Category 3 Hurricane,Category 3 Hurricane, winds 111-130 winds 111-130

mph mph

Hurricane Scale Hurricane Scale (cont)(cont)

Category 4 Hurricane, Category 4 Hurricane, winds 131-155 winds 131-155 mph mph

Category 5 Hurricane,Category 5 Hurricane, winds 156 mph winds 156 mph and up and up

TornadoesTornadoes

Hurricanes can also produce tornadoes Hurricanes can also produce tornadoes that add to the storm's destructive power. that add to the storm's destructive power. Tornadoes are most likely to occur in the Tornadoes are most likely to occur in the right-front quadrantright-front quadrant of the hurricane.  of the hurricane. 

FloodingFlooding

While storm surge is always a potential While storm surge is always a potential threat, more people have died from inland threat, more people have died from inland flooding from 1970 up to 2000. Intense flooding from 1970 up to 2000. Intense rainfall is not directly related to the wind rainfall is not directly related to the wind speed of tropical cyclones. speed of tropical cyclones.

Have a PlanHave a Plan

Look carefully at the Look carefully at the safety actionssafety actions associated with each type of hurricane associated with each type of hurricane hazard and prepare your family disaster hazard and prepare your family disaster plan accordingly. plan accordingly.

But remember this is only a guide. The But remember this is only a guide. The first and most important thing anyone first and most important thing anyone should do when facing a hurricane threat should do when facing a hurricane threat is to use common sense. is to use common sense.

PlanPlan

Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your community.home but within your community.

Determine escape routes from your home and Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be measured in places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.

PlanPlan

Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a single point of so all your family members have a single point of contact.contact.

Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.you need to evacuate.

Post emergency telephone numbers by your Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children know how phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.and when to call 911.

PlanPlan

Check your insurance coverage - flood damage Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by homeowners is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.insurance.

Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you do replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.with your smoke detectors.

Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.classes.

Emergency SuppliesEmergency Supplies

WaterWater - at least 1 gallon daily per person - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 daysfor 3 to 7 days

FoodFood - at least enough for 3 to 7 days - at least enough for 3 to 7 days— non-perishable packaged or canned — non-perishable packaged or canned food / juicesfood / juices

Emergency SuppliesEmergency Supplies

— — foods for infants or the elderlyfoods for infants or the elderly— snack foods— snack foods— non-electric can opener— non-electric can opener— cooking tools / fuel— cooking tools / fuel— paper plates / plastic utensils — paper plates / plastic utensils

Blankets / Pillows, etc.Blankets / Pillows, etc.

Emergency SuppliesEmergency Supplies Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy

shoesshoes First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription

DrugsDrugs Special Items - for babies and the Special Items - for babies and the

elderlyelderly Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture

wipeswipes Flashlight / BatteriesFlashlight / Batteries

Emergency SuppliesEmergency Supplies

Radio - Battery operated and NOAA Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radioweather radio

Telephones - Fully charged cell phone Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone setcordless) telephone set

Emergency SuppliesEmergency Supplies

Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periodsavailable for extended periods

KeysKeys

Emergency SuppliesEmergency Supplies Toys, Books and GamesToys, Books and Games

Important documents - in a waterproof Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bagcontainer or watertight resealable plastic baginsurance, medical records, bank account insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.numbers, Social Security card, etc.

Tools - keep a set with you during the stormTools - keep a set with you during the storm Vehicle fuel tanks filledVehicle fuel tanks filled

Emergency SuppliesEmergency Supplies Pet care itemsPet care items

proper identification / immunization proper identification / immunization records / medicationsrecords / medications

ample supply of food and waterample supply of food and water

a carrier or cagea carrier or cagemuzzle and leashmuzzle and leash

TAKING ACTIONTAKING ACTION TAKING ACTION  TAKING ACTION  is as easy as 1-2-3is as easy as 1-2-3::

BEFOREBEFORE WATCHWATCH WARNINGWARNING

BEFOREBEFORE Hurricane Season Starts Hurricane Season Starts you you should:should:

Assemble your Disaster Supply Kit.Assemble your Disaster Supply Kit.These items are often scattered around your These items are often scattered around your home and simply need to be brought together home and simply need to be brought together into one location.into one location.

TAKING ACTIONTAKING ACTION

Write out your Family Disaster Plan.Write out your Family Disaster Plan.Discuss the possible hazards with your family. Discuss the possible hazards with your family. Determine if you are in an evacuation area. Determine if you are in an evacuation area. Identify an out-of-town family contact.Identify an out-of-town family contact.

When a Hurricane WATCH is issued When a Hurricane WATCH is issued You You Should:Should:

TAKING ACTIONTAKING ACTION

Check your Disaster Supply KitCheck your Disaster Supply Kit..

Make sure nothing is missing. Determine if there is Make sure nothing is missing. Determine if there is anything you need to supplement your kit. Replenish anything you need to supplement your kit. Replenish your water.your water.

Activate your Family Disaster Plan.Activate your Family Disaster Plan.

Protective measures should be initiated, especially those Protective measures should be initiated, especially those actions that require extra time (for example, securing a actions that require extra time (for example, securing a boat or leaving a barrier island).boat or leaving a barrier island).

TAKING ACTIONTAKING ACTION When a Hurricane When a Hurricane WARNINGWARNING is issued is issued you you

should:should:

Ready your Disaster Supply Kit for useReady your Disaster Supply Kit for use..If you need to evacuate, you should bring your If you need to evacuate, you should bring your Supply Kit with you.Supply Kit with you.

Use your Family Disaster Plan.Use your Family Disaster Plan.Your family should be in the process of Your family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding the completing protective actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.safest location to be during the storm.

Family Disaster PlanFamily Disaster Plan

Discuss the type of hazards that could Discuss the type of hazards that could affect your family. Know your home's affect your family. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind.wind.

Locate a safe room or the safest areas in Locate a safe room or the safest areas in your home for each hurricane hazard. In your home for each hurricane hazard. In certain circumstances the safest areas certain circumstances the safest areas may not be your home but within your may not be your home but within your community.community.

Family Disaster PlanFamily Disaster Plan

Determine escape routes from your home Determine escape routes from your home and places to meet. These should be and places to meet. These should be measured in tens of miles rather than measured in tens of miles rather than hundreds of miles.hundreds of miles.

Have an out-of-state friend as a family Have an out-of-state friend as a family contact, so all your family members have a contact, so all your family members have a single point of contact.single point of contact.

Family Disaster PlanFamily Disaster Plan

Make a plan now for what to do with your Make a plan now for what to do with your pets if you need to evacuate.pets if you need to evacuate.

Post emergency telephone numbers by Post emergency telephone numbers by your phones and make sure your children your phones and make sure your children know how and when to call 911.know how and when to call 911.

Family Disaster PlanFamily Disaster Plan

Check your insurance coverage - flood Check your insurance coverage - flood damage is not usually covered by damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.homeowners insurance.

Stock non-perishable emergency supplies Stock non-perishable emergency supplies and a Disaster Supply Kit. and a Disaster Supply Kit.

Family Disaster PlanFamily Disaster Plan

Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to Use a NOAA weather radio. Remember to replace its battery every 6 months, as you replace its battery every 6 months, as you do with your smoke detectors.do with your smoke detectors.

Take First Aid, CPR and disaster Take First Aid, CPR and disaster preparedness classes.preparedness classes.

Community AwarenessCommunity Awareness

If ordered to evacuate, do not wait or delay If ordered to evacuate, do not wait or delay your departureyour departure..

If you decide to evacuate to another county If you decide to evacuate to another county or region, be prepared to wait in traffic. or region, be prepared to wait in traffic.

If a hotel or motel is your final intended If a hotel or motel is your final intended destination during an evacuation, make destination during an evacuation, make reservations before you leave. reservations before you leave.

Community AwarenessCommunity Awareness

If you are unable to stay with friends or If you are unable to stay with friends or family and no hotels/motels rooms are family and no hotels/motels rooms are available, then as a last resort go to a available, then as a last resort go to a shelter.  shelter.  

Make sure that you fill up your car with Make sure that you fill up your car with gas, before you leave.gas, before you leave.

KitsKits

Have a Plan Which Have a Plan Which Everyone UnderstandsEveryone Understands

This is the most important step.This is the most important step.