The Realities of Hurricanes The Realities of Hurricanes

Robert D MacedoRobert D MacedoDirector of Operations of the VoIP Hurricane NetDirector of Operations of the VoIP Hurricane Net

ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS TauntonARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS TauntonEastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency

CoordinatorCoordinator

Web: www.voipwx.netWeb: www.voipwx.netEmail: kd1cy@voipwx.netEmail: kd1cy@voipwx.net

Slides provided and heavily leveraged from NWS Taunton Slides provided and heavily leveraged from NWS Taunton Massachusetts Realities of New England Hurricanes Power Massachusetts Realities of New England Hurricanes Power Point Presentation. Special thanks to KB1GHX-Glenn Field, Point Presentation. Special thanks to KB1GHX-Glenn Field, NWS Taunton Warning Coordination Meteorologist for NWS Taunton Warning Coordination Meteorologist for providing this presentation.providing this presentation.

Hurricane Isabel – September 2003

ObjectivesObjectives

• What makes an active hurricane What makes an active hurricane season?season?

• What are the primary weather What are the primary weather hazards we need to be prepared for?hazards we need to be prepared for?

So what makes an active So what makes an active season?season?

Critical component: Sea Critical component: Sea Temps!Temps!

Warm sea temps = greater Warm sea temps = greater potentialpotential

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESSHURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

•Before a storm threatensBefore a storm threatens

•When a storm threatensWhen a storm threatens

•Weather information sourcesWeather information sources

•Clues to an increasing threatClues to an increasing threat

•Concluding thoughtsConcluding thoughts

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESSHURRICANE PREPAREDNESSBEFORE A HURRICANE THREATENSBEFORE A HURRICANE THREATENS

•Have a storm preparedness plan (boat owners and home owners)•Means to know if a storm threatens•Know policies/procedures of where boat is moored•Know options:

•Haul boat out of water?•Secure in place?•Move to safer anchorage and secure?

•Do you need to evacuate home?•Where would you go?•How much time to get there?•If going to a shelter, pet arrangements?

•Ready access to insurance policies for boat and home

•Know coverage limits and have pictures of boat•Know how to reach claim agents

PRE SEASON BOATER CHECKLISTPRE SEASON BOATER CHECKLIST

• Check key phone numbers Check key phone numbers (marina, insurance agent, etc.)(marina, insurance agent, etc.)

• Coordinated your storm Coordinated your storm preparedness plan with preparedness plan with caretaker/marinacaretaker/marina

• Batteries fully chargedBatteries fully charged• Cleats checkedCleats checked• Chafe gear stored/labeledChafe gear stored/labeled• Sufficient lineSufficient line• Suitable anchorsSuitable anchors• Bilge pumps, if applicableBilge pumps, if applicable• Hatches water tightHatches water tight• Moorings Moorings

– InspectedInspected– Adequate for potential Adequate for potential

storm surge, wind and wavesstorm surge, wind and waves

Hurricane Bob (August 19, 1991)

PREPAREDNESS FOR THE COASTAL PREPAREDNESS FOR THE COASTAL HOMEOWNERHOMEOWNER

•Find out if you are in a potential evacuation zone or not•If might have to evacuate, know where to go and how to get there•Have shutters or plywood on hand, if may need to protect windows•Know electrical, water, gas shut off valves

•Review working condition of emergency equipment – including flashlights and battery powered radios•Have cache of non-perishable food and water

COASTAL HOME COASTAL HOME PREPAREDNESSPREPAREDNESS

• Use storm shutters or Use storm shutters or plywoodplywood

• Install correctly to avoid Install correctly to avoid these items becoming these items becoming missilesmissiles

• Do not tape windowsDo not tape windows

Board up windows if sustained wind speeds may reach 60 mph or greater

WHEN CONSTRUCTING ON THE WHEN CONSTRUCTING ON THE COASTCOAST

Hurricane clips Hurricane straps

IMPLICATIONS FOR IMPLICATIONS FOR SKYSCRAPERSSKYSCRAPERS

WHEN A HURRICANE WHEN A HURRICANE THREATENSTHREATENS• Monitor weather developmentsMonitor weather developments

• Put your plan into actionPut your plan into action

• Allow time buffer – remember major New Allow time buffer – remember major New England hurricanes accelerate and may arrive England hurricanes accelerate and may arrive hours sooner than forecastedhours sooner than forecasted

Boat may not be only item you need to Boat may not be only item you need to move!move!

When hurricane threatens, remember also to:•Secure potentially dangerous items such as propane tanks•Collect/store loose objects such as lawn furniture, trash cans, etc.•Board up windows and doors if exposed to high winds (5/8” thick plywood)

OTHER PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS OTHER PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS WHEN HURRICANE THREATENSWHEN HURRICANE THREATENS

• Check supply of batteriesCheck supply of batteries– Never use candlesNever use candles

• Check supply of nonperishable food and Check supply of nonperishable food and waterwater

• Fill-up with gas and moneyFill-up with gas and money– Gas pumps and ATMs rely on powerGas pumps and ATMs rely on power– Check medical prescriptionsCheck medical prescriptions

• Make sure you don’t need to evacuateMake sure you don’t need to evacuate• Turn refrigerator to coldest settingTurn refrigerator to coldest setting• Help your neighbors Help your neighbors

– Including owners of boats surrounding yoursIncluding owners of boats surrounding yours– One bad mooring can mean disaster for manyOne bad mooring can mean disaster for many

AND HELP YOUR NEIGHBORSAND HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS

• On land and seaOn land and sea

• For boat owners, one bad mooring can For boat owners, one bad mooring can mean disaster for manymean disaster for many

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INFORMATIONINFORMATION

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICENATIONAL WEATHER SERVICEWORKING AS A TEAMWORKING AS A TEAM

• Tropical Prediction Center Tropical Prediction Center – Coordinates with local Weather Forecast OfficesCoordinates with local Weather Forecast Offices– Coordinates with emergency managers and Coordinates with emergency managers and

media on national levelmedia on national level– Issues official forecast trackIssues official forecast track

• Local Weather Forecast Offices Across the Local Weather Forecast Offices Across the USUS– Coordinates with emergency managers and Coordinates with emergency managers and

media in their County Warning Area.media in their County Warning Area.– Focuses on threats at the local/regional level.Focuses on threats at the local/regional level.

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICENATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

Tropical Prediction Center meteorologists are the “specialists”Tropical Prediction Center meteorologists are the “specialists”

Weather Forecast Office meteorologists are the “general Weather Forecast Office meteorologists are the “general practitioners”practitioners”

WEATHER INFORMATION SOURCESWEATHER INFORMATION SOURCES

•Internet

• www.weather.gov

• Click on area on map that you live in for information from your local office.

•NOAA Weather Radio

•Coast Guard transmissions

•Commercial sources

TROPICAL CYCLONE TROPICAL CYCLONE DEFINITIONSDEFINITIONS

• TROPICAL DEPRESSION – Organized TROPICAL DEPRESSION – Organized system with maximum sustained winds system with maximum sustained winds less than 34 knots (39 mph)less than 34 knots (39 mph)

• TROPICAL STORM – Well defined TROPICAL STORM – Well defined circulation with maximum sustained circulation with maximum sustained winds 34 – 63 knots (39 to 73 mph)winds 34 – 63 knots (39 to 73 mph)

• HURRICANE – Sustained winds of 64 HURRICANE – Sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or higherknots (74 mph) or higher

HURRICANE CATEGORIESHURRICANE CATEGORIESSaffir-Simpson ScaleSaffir-Simpson Scale

• Category 1 – sustained winds 74 to 95 mphCategory 1 – sustained winds 74 to 95 mph– Edouard in 1996 (Labor Day Weekend)Edouard in 1996 (Labor Day Weekend)– Gloria in 1985Gloria in 1985

• Category 2 – sustained winds 96 to 110 mphCategory 2 – sustained winds 96 to 110 mph– Bob in August 1991Bob in August 1991

• Category 3 – sustained winds 111 to 130 mphCategory 3 – sustained winds 111 to 130 mph– 1938 Hurricane, 1944 Hurricane, Carol (1954), Edna 1938 Hurricane, 1944 Hurricane, Carol (1954), Edna

(1954)(1954)

• Category 4 – sustained winds 131 to 155 mphCategory 4 – sustained winds 131 to 155 mph– Hugo (1989)Hugo (1989)

• Category 5 – sustained winds > 155 mphCategory 5 – sustained winds > 155 mph– 1935 Keys Hurricane, Camille (1969), Andrew (1992)1935 Keys Hurricane, Camille (1969), Andrew (1992)

Key on approach of first tropical Key on approach of first tropical storm force squalls – not the eye!storm force squalls – not the eye!

ALLOW FOR FORECAST ERROR!ALLOW FOR FORECAST ERROR!

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS?SITUATIONAL AWARENESS?

Do not even think about staying with Do not even think about staying with your boat during a tropical storm or your boat during a tropical storm or hurricanehurricane

…unless you own a very large vessel and plan to put out to sea

CONCLUDING THOUGHTSCONCLUDING THOUGHTS

•History gives us a clue to what can happen, but our experience can be misleading

While we should enjoy the While we should enjoy the tremendous beauty of our tremendous beauty of our

coastline…coastline…

Natural Calamity Strikes Natural Calamity Strikes At About The Time When At About The Time When One Forgets Its Terror!One Forgets Its Terror!

...Japanese Proverb...Japanese Proverb

Future PresentationsFuture Presentations• For the March VoIP Hurricane Net For the March VoIP Hurricane Net

Presentation, we will focus on reporting Presentation, we will focus on reporting criteria and information that we’d like criteria and information that we’d like to pass on the net and the net’s role in to pass on the net and the net’s role in supporting the National Hurricane supporting the National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Station Center Amateur Radio Station WX4NHC.WX4NHC.

• For the April VoIP Hurricane Net, we will For the April VoIP Hurricane Net, we will review the National Hurricane review the National Hurricane Conference and the net’s involvement Conference and the net’s involvement in that conference.in that conference.

Hurricane Isabel – September 2003

Rob Macedo (KD1CY)Rob Macedo (KD1CY)

Web: www.voipwx.netWeb: www.voipwx.netEmail: Email: kd1cy@voipwx.netkd1cy@voipwx.net

Director of Operations of the VoIP Hurricane Director of Operations of the VoIP Hurricane NetNet

ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS TauntonARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton

Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency CoordinatorEmergency Coordinator