Hurricane Preparedness Week 2008: Tuesday May 27, 2008

From the NWS Charleston Website:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT TUE MAY 27 2008

...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK CONTINUES THROUGH SATURDAY...

PREPAREDNESS IS ESSENTIAL FOR MINIMIZING PROPERTY DAMAGE AND LOSS OF LIFE ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANES AND OTHER TROPICAL SYSTEMS. EVERYONE IS URGED TO DEVELOP A HURRICANE SAFETY PLAN AND REVIEW IT BEFORE EACH HURRICANE SEASON. SOME OF THE COMPONENTS THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR PLAN WILL BE ADDRESSED TODAY.

BE FAMILIAR WITH THE TROPICAL WATCH/WARNING TERMINOLOGY USED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. SPECIFICALLY...A WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN SPECIFIC CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED IN ABOUT 36 HOURS WHILE A WARNING IS THEN ISSUED WHEN THOSE SAME CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN ABOUT 24 HOURS.

LEARN THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS FROM TROPICAL SYSTEMS IN YOUR AREA. DETERMINE YOUR ELEVATION ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL AND WHETHER YOU ARE AT RISK FOR STORM SURGE.

LEARN EVACUATION ROUTES AND THE LOCATIONS OF OFFICIAL SHELTERS. IF YOU HAVE PETS... FIND OUT WHICH SHELTERS AND HOTELS WILL ACCEPT THEM.

REVIEW THE WORKING CONDITION OF EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT...SUCH AS FLASHLIGHTS...BATTERY-POWERED RADIOS AND GENERATORS. ENSURE THAT ENOUGH NON-PERISHABLE FOOD AND WATER SUPPLIES ARE ON HAND. OBTAIN AND STORE MATERIALS NECESSARY TO PROPERLY SECURE YOUR HOME SUCH AS PLYWOOD. CLEAR CLOGGED RAIN GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS. KEEP TREES AND SHRUBS TRIMMED.

REVIEW YOUR INSURANCE POLICY. MOST HAZARD INSURANCE POLICIES DO NOT INCLUDE FLOODING. FLOOD INSURANCE POLICIES CAN BE OBTAINED BUT DO NOT TAKE EFFECT FOR 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. IN ADDITION...DETERMINE WHERE YOU CAN STORE YOUR BOAT.

CITIZENS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OR OTHERS REQUIRING MORE INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE IN CHARLESTON... LOCAL COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS...LOCAL AMERICAN RED CROSS CHAPTER OR PROJECT IMPACT PERSONNEL.