How do you rate your hurricane preparedness?

3/30/2022 (Permalink)

Be prepared all year long, not just during hurricane season!

Hurricanes are massive storm systems that form over the water and move toward land. Threats from hurricanes include high winds, heavy rainfall, storm surge, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, and tornadoes. These large storms are called typhoons in the North Pacific Ocean and cyclones in other parts of the world.

Basic Preparedness Tips

• Know where to go. If you are ordered to evacuate, know the local hurricane evacuation route(s) to take and have a plan for where you can stay. Contact your local emergency management agency for more information.

• Put together a go-bag: disaster supply kit, including a flashlight, batteries, cash, first aid supplies, medications, and copies of your critical information if you need to evacuate

• If you are not in an area that is advised to evacuate and you decide to stay in your home, plan for adequate supplies in case you lose power and water for several days and you are not able to leave due to flooding or blocked roads.

• Make a family emergency communication plan.

• Many communities have text or email alerting systems for emergency notifications. To find out what alerts are available in your area, search the Internet with your town, city, or county name and the word “alerts.”

After a Hurricane

• Listen to local officials for updates and instructions.

• Check-in with family and friends by texting or using social media.

• Return home only when authorities indicate it is safe.

• Watch out for debris and downed power lines.

• Avoid walking or driving through flood waters. Just 6 inches of moving water can knock you down, and one foot of fast-moving water can sweep your vehicle away.

• Avoid flood water as it may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines and may hide dangerous debris or places where the ground is washed away.

• Photograph the damage to your property in order to assist in filing an insurance claim.

• Do what you can to prevent further damage to your property, (e.g., putting a tarp on a damaged roof), as insurance may not cover additional damage that occurs after the storm.

Tornado watch or warning? Here is what you need to know!

3/28/2022 (Permalink)

Do you know the difference between a tornado watch and a warning?

Tornadoes are violent: they can completely destroy well-made structures, uproot trees and hurl objects through the air like deadly missiles. Although severe tornadoes are most common in the Plains States, they can happen anywhere. Learn what to do to keep your loved ones safe.

Top Tips

• Identify a safe place in your home where household members and pets will gather during a tornado: a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows.
• In a high-rise building, pick a hallway in the center of the building. You may not have enough time to go to the lowest floor. 
• In a mobile home, choose a safe place in a nearby sturdy building. If your mobile home park has a designated shelter, make it your safe place. No mobile home, however it is configured, is safe in a tornado.

Know the difference

1. A tornado WATCH means a tornado is possible.

2. A tornado WARNING means a tornado is already occurring or will occur soon. GO TO YOUR SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY.

   After the storm if you do nothing else:

   1. Let friends and family know you’re safe. - Register yourself as safe on the Safe and Well website

   2. If evacuated, return only when authorities say it is safe to do so.

   3. Continue listening to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for updated information and instructions.
   4.  Check for injuries. If you are trained, provide first aid to persons in need until emergency responders arrive.

Thunderstorm 101

3/27/2022 (Permalink)

If a thunderstorm causes severe damage to your home, call us at 919-751-5353

What is a thunderstorm? A thunderstorm is a rain shower during which you hear thunder. Since thunder comes from lightning, all thunderstorms have lightning.

Why do I sometimes hear meteorologists use the word “convection” when talking about thunderstorms? Usually created by surface heating, convection is upward atmospheric motion that transports whatever is in the air along with it—especially any moisture available in the air. A thunderstorm is the result of convection.

What is a severe thunderstorm? A thunderstorm is classified as “severe” when it contains one or more of the following: hail one inch or greater, winds gusting in excess of 50 knots (57.5 mph), or a tornado.

How many thunderstorms are there? Worldwide, there are an estimated 16 million thunderstorms each year, and at any given moment, there are roughly 2,000 thunderstorms in progress. There are about 100,000 thunderstorms each year in the U.S. alone. About 10% of these reach severe levels.

When are thunderstorms most likely? Thunderstorms are most likely in the spring and summer months and during the afternoon and evening hours, but they can occur year-round and at all hours. 

Thunderstorms frequently occur in the late afternoon and at night in the Plains states. What kinds of damage can thunderstorms cause? Many hazardous weather events are associated with thunderstorms. Under the right conditions, rainfall from thunderstorms causes flash flooding, killing more people each year than hurricanes, tornadoes or lightning. Lightning is responsible for many fires around the world each year, and causes fatalities. Hail up to the size of softballs damages cars and windows, and kills livestock caught out in the open. Strong (up to more than 120 mph) straight-line winds associated with thunderstorms knock down trees, power lines and mobile homes. Tornadoes (with winds up to about 300 mph) can destroy all but the best-built man-made structures.

Where are severe thunderstorms most common? The greatest severe weather threat in the U.S. extends from Texas to southern Minnesota. But, no place in the United States is completely safe from the threat of severe weather.

What is in your storm safety kit?

3/21/2022 (Permalink)

Being prepared for a storm is important in making sure your family has what they need in the event of a disaster

Here is what federal authorities recommend for a basic kit that last three days, but you should tailor yours to your family's needs, especially if you have small children.

• One gallon of water per person per day, for drinking and sanitation;
• Non-perishable food and a manual can opener;
• A battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries;
• Flashlight and extra batteries;>
• First aid kit;
• Whistle to signal for help;
• Filter mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air;
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation;
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities;
• Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place;
• Important family documents in a waterproof container;
• Items for unique family needs, such as daily prescription medications, infant formula or diapers

For more information on emergency readiness kits, visit www.redcross.org 

High waters? Turn around, don't drown

8/24/2020 (Permalink)

Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water.

The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters. People underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small car, while 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.

High Waters? Turn Around-Don't Drown

5/13/2019 (Permalink)

Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that over half of all flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into hazardous flood water.

The next highest percentage of flood-related deaths is due to walking into or near flood waters. People underestimate the force and power of water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles as they are swept downstream. Of these drownings, many are preventable, but too many people continue to drive around the barriers that warn you the road is flooded. A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small car, while 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters.

Winter Storm Readiness

5/9/2018 (Permalink)

During any winter storm it is imperative to know the differences between watches and warnings in order to properly prepare or take the appropriate actions and stay safe.

Before any sort of wintry weather, a winter storm survival kit should be kept in a secure place in case of emergency. These kits should contain everything from blankets to flashlights with extra batteries, non-perishable food, waterproof matches, a shovel and windshield scraper, a tool kit, jumper cables, a water container, road maps and flares.

To stay safe during this winter storm situation it is important that the necessary precautions are taken prior to the storm's arrival. See the lists below to make sure your adequately prepared.

At Home or Work:

In a Vehicle: