Hurricane Preparedness Week: Thursday, May 29, 2008

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT THU MAY 29 2008

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

WHEN A HURRICANE FORMS AND IS HEADING IN YOUR GENERAL DIRECTION...A HURRICANE WATCH MAY BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. A WATCH MEANS HURRICANE CONDITIONS... WINDS OF 74 MPH OR GREATER...ARE POSSIBLE IN THE SPECIFIED AREA... USUALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS. BE PREPARED TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION IF A WARNING IS ISSUED.

WHEN IN A WATCH AREA...FREQUENTLY LISTEN TO RADIO... TELEVISION...OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS FOR OFFICIAL BULLETINS ON THE STORM.

MAKE SURE YOUR VEHICLES ARE FILLED WITH GAS AND IN GOOD OPERATING CONDITION. INSPECT AND SECURE MOBILE HOME TIE DOWNS. PREPARE TO COVER ALL WINDOW AND DOOR OPENINGS WITH SHUTTERS OR OTHER SHIELDING MATERIALS.

STOCK UP ON CANNED FOOD...FIRST AID SUPPLIES...BATTERIES... DRINKING WATER... MEDICATIONS AND AN EXTRA SUPPLY OF CASH. PREPARE TO BRING INSIDE LAWN FURNITURE AND OTHER LOOSE...LIGHT WEIGHT OBJECTS...SUCH AS GARBAGE CANS AND GARDEN TOOLS.

PLAN TO EVACUATE IF YOU LIVE IN A MOBILE HOME. THEY ARE UNSAFE IN HIGH WINDS...NO MATTER HOW WELL FASTENED TO THE GROUND. PLAN TO EVACUATE IF YOU LIVE ON THE COASTLINE...A BARRIER ISLAND...OR NEAR A RIVER. ALSO PLAN TO EVACUATE IF YOU LIVE IN A HIGH RISE BUILDING AS HURRICANE WINDS ARE STRONGER AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS.