Natural Hazards in the Sunshine State

Bianca Hernandez

Meteorologist - National Weather Service Phoenix

The most destructive tornadoes are most frequently reported in Florida

during the spring and summer.

How Do I Keep Myself and My Family Safe During a Flood?

Before the flood reaches your area:

• Know if floodwaters might affect your home and property. Know your elevation above flood stage.

• Develop a flood emergency action plan.• Evacuate immediately, if advised to do so. Bring important documents with you.• Move to a safe area before access is cut off.• Keep abreast of road conditions through the news media.

During the flood:

• Avoid areas subject to flooding.• Never drive through flooded roadways.• Do not drive around barricades, they are there for your protection.• If your vehicle stalls, leave it immediately.• Never try to walk through or allow children to play around flood water.

After the flood:• Throw out food that has come into contact with the floodwater and boil drinking

water before using it.• Stay out of buildings that remain in flood waters.• Do not handle live electrical equipment in wet areas.• If the power is out, use flashlights to examine buildings. Flammables may be inside.

Use ‘The 30-30 RULE’ to determine the threat of lightning in your area:

Count the seconds between seeing lightning and hearing thunder. If this time is less than 30 seconds, lightning is still a potential threat. Seek shelter immediately.

After hearing the last thunder, wait 30 minutes before leaving shelter. Half of all lightning deaths occur after the storm passes. Stay in a safe area until you are sure the threat has passed.

Reported Florida Lightning Fatalities

1959 - 2003

Hurricanes

Hurricane‐force winds, 74 mph or more, can destroy buildings and mobile homes.

Storm Surge is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm's winds. Storm surge can reach heights well over 20 feet and can span hundreds of miles of coastline.

Tropical cyclones often produce widespread, torrential rains in excess of 6 inches, which may result in deadly and destructive floods.

Tornadoes most often occur in thunderstorms embedded in rain bands well away from the center of the hurricane; however, they can also occur near the eyewall.

What Starts a Fire?

Florida Fire Facts…

Florida has the second highest number of wildfires in the nation.

In 2011, Florida saw over 4,800 wildfires burn nearly 300,000 acres of state and federal lands.

Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do.

Fire is FAST!

Heat is more threatening than flames.

Is Cold Weather a Threat in the Sunshine

State?

During the harsh winter of 1989-1990, 26 Floridians died of hypothermia. These severe cold outbreaks occur in Florida at least once a year.

In addition to the actual low temperatures, when strong winds combine with cold temperatures, the heat loss from a person's skin can be accelerated. This is called the wind chill.

Two days of record-breaking cold damaged nine-tenths of Florida's orange and grapefruit crop

Building a Weather-Ready Nation