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SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017 | PAGE 1B
2017
Disaster Preparedness Guide 2017 tropical storms name list released
The National Hurricane Center has announced the list of names that will be used for the 2017 hurricane season. The names, in order of potential usage, follow:
FILE PHOTO
A flooded North Main Street in the flood-prone Kimberly area is shown the day after Hurricane Matthew passed by Suffolk in October 2016.
Track of the storm not the whole story BY TRACY AGNEW NEWS EDITOR
Many tropical storms and hurricanes have affected Suffolk over the years, but the last five or six years have produced some memorable events. “We have to be prepared every year for storms,” said Jeff Orrock, meteorologistin-charge at the National Weather Service Wakefield. “Threats come from rain, wind and storm surge. Our region is experiencing significant flooding and even winds, even when storms do not strike us directly.” This was a lesson many in Suffolk learned in October of last year, when Hurricane Matthew passed south of Cape Hatteras — well southeast of Suffolk — and still manSee STORM, 2B
Arlene Lee Bret Maria Cindy Nate Don Ophelia Emily Philippe Franklin Rina Gert Sean Harvey Tammy Irma Vince Jose Whitney Katia Since 1953, Atlantic tropical storms had been named from lists originated by the National Hurricane Center. They are now maintained and updated through a strict procedure by an international committee of the World Meteorological Organization. Six lists are used in rotation and recycled every six years. In other words, the 2017 list will be used again in 2023. The only time there is a
change in the list is if a storm is so deadly or costly that the future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for reasons of sensitivity. If that occurs, then at an annual meeting by the WMO committee (called primarily to discuss many other issues) the offending name is stricken from the list, and another name is selected to replace it. Several names have been retired since the lists were created. If a storm forms in the offseason, it will take the next name in the list based on the current calendar date. For example, if a tropical cyclone formed on Dec. 28, it would take the name from the previous season’s list of names. If a storm formed in February, it would be named from the subsequent season’s list of names. In the event that more than 21 named tropical cyclones occur in the Atlantic basin in a season, additional storms will take names from the Greek alphabet.
Historical storm tide events
1900: A Galveston, Texas, hurricane resulted in more than 8,000 deaths, most by storm tide. 1969: Hurricane Camille produced a 24-foot storm tide in Mississippi. 1989: Hurricane Hugo generated a 20-foot storm tide in South Carolina.
1992: Hurricane Iniki produced a 6-foot storm tide on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. 2005: Hurricane Katrina generated a 27-foot storm tide in Mississippi. 2008: Hurricane Ike produced a 20-foot storm tide in Texas.
PAGE 2B | SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017
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Storm: History Continued from page 1B
aged to dump nearly a foot of rain on the city and caused devastating flooding and power outages, as well as one death in Suffolk attributed to the storm. “The track of the storm does not tell the whole story,” Orrock said. In the past six hurricane seasons, Hurricane Irene in August 2011 tracked the closest to Suffolk, Orrock said. It passed over Elizabeth City and Sandbridge. It’s ranked as the seventh-costliest hurricane in United States history. The next year, Hurricane Sandy passed well offshore in October 2012 but still brought plenty of rain and wind to the city on its way to devastating New England and becoming the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of the 2012 Atlantic season and the second-costliest U.S. hurricane ever. 2013 was relatively quiet in Suffolk, but June 2014 brought Hurricane Arthur passing off the Virginia coast. 2015 also was pretty quiet, but then 2016 brought Tropical Storm Hermine in 2016 and Matthew in October. Matthew became the ninth-costliest hurricane in U.S. history and was a devastating event for the entire Atlantic basin, from the Lesser Antilles all the way north to Newfoundland. It caused more than 600 deaths, the majority of which were in Haiti, and broke multiple records. It reached Category 5 intensity on Oct. 1 at the lowest latitude ever recorded for a storm of this intensity in the Atlantic basin. It also was the first hurricane to make landfall north of Florida in October since 1954’s Hurricane Hazel, which also affected Suffolk. For those who have been around long enough, the frame of reference for many in Suffolk is 2003’s Hurricane Isabel, Orrock added. It made landfall in North Carolina and tracked west of Suffolk, bringing widespread flooding, downed trees and a lengthy power outage.
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER
Emergency supplies kit The Federal Emergency Management Agency suggests that each family set up an emergency supplies kit that is easily accessible and ready to go in case of storms or other emergencies. Such a kit should include, at a minimum, the following supplies: 4At least a three-day supply of water (one gallon per person, per day) 4At least a three-day supply of nonperishable food 4At least one change of clothing and shoes per person 4One blanket or sleeping bag per person 4Extra set of car keys 4Credit card and cash 4Special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members 4Prescription and non-prescription medicines 4First-aid kit 4Battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio and a portable radio 4Emergency tools 4Flashlight, extra batteries
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale is a 1 to 5 rating based on a hurricane’s sustained wind speed. This scale estimates potential property damage. Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage. Category 1 and 2 storms are still dangerous, however, and require preventive measures. In the western North Pacific, the term “super typhoon” is used for tropical cyclones with sustained winds exceeding 150 mph.
FILE PHOTO
Severe flooding took place in rural areas of Suffolk after Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, such as this photo taken in the Holland area.
‘Think inland flooding’ Hurricane-force winds can certainly be damaging — even life threatening — but they historically have not been the most deadly facet of those storms. “In the last 30 years, inland flooding has been responsible for more than half the deaths associated with tropical cyclones in the United States,” said Ed Rappaport of the National Hurricane Center. The National Weather Service has released the following statement, warning about the dangers of inland flooding: “When it comes to hurricanes, wind speed does not tell the whole story. Hurricanes produce storm surges, tornadoes, and often the most deadly of all — inland flooding. “While storm surge is always a potential threat, more people have died from inland flooding in the last 30 years. “Intense rainfall is not directly related to the wind speed of tropical cyclones. In fact, some of the greatest rainfall amounts occur from
weaker storms that drift slowly or stall over an area. “Inland flooding can be a major threat to communities hundreds of miles from the coast as intense rain falls from these huge tropical air masses. “The United States has a significant hurricane problem. More than 60 percent of our nation’s population live in coastal states from Maine to Texas, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. “Hurricane Floyd (1999) brought intense rains and record flooding to the eastern U.S. Of the 56 people who perished, 50 drowned due to inland flooding. “Tropical Storm Alberto (1994) drifted over the Southeast United States and produced torrential rainfall. More than 21 inches of rain fell at Americus, Ga. Thirty-three people drowned. Damages exceeded $750 million. “Tropical Storm Claudette (1979) brought 45 inches of rain to an area near Alvin, Texas, contributing to more than $600 million in damages.
“Hurricane Agnes (1972) produced floods in the Northeast United States, which contributed to 122 deaths and $6.4 billion in damages. “Long after the winds from Hurricane Diane (1955) subsided, the storm brought inland flooding to Pennsylvania, New York and New England, contributing to nearly 200 deaths and $4.2 billion in damages.” What can you do? 4When you hear “hurricane,” think “inland flooding.” 4Determine whether you live in a potential flood zone. 4If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. 4Keep abreast of road conditions through the news media. 4Move to a safe area before access is cut off by flood water. 4Do not attempt to cross flowing water. As little as six inches of water can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Two feet of water will carry most cars away.
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Are you ready? The National Hurricane Center has released a handy guide detailing what people in hurricaneprone areas can to do get ready for and to weather the storms that may come this year. Following are some tips from the NHC:
BEFORE THE HURRICANE SEASON
4Determine safe evacuation routes inland. 4Learn locations of official shelters. 4Check emergency equipment, such as flashlights, generators and battery-powered equipment, including cellphones and your NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards receiver. 4Buy food that will keep and store drinking water. 4Buy plywood or other material to protect your home if you don’t already have it. 4Trim trees and shrubbery so branches don’t fly into your home. 4Clear clogged rain gutters and downspouts. 4Decide where to move your boat. 4Review your insurance policy. 4Find pet-friendly hotels on your evacuation route.
DURING THE STORM If you are in a watch area…
4Frequently listen to radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards for official bulletins of the storm’s progress. 4Fuel and service family vehicles. 4Inspect and secure mobile home tie downs. 4Ensure you have extra cash on hand. 4Prepare to cover all windows and doors with shutters or other shielding materials. 4Check batteries and stock up on canned food,
first aid supplies, drinking water and medications. 4Bring in lightweight objects such as garbage cans, garden tools, toys and lawn furniture.
If you are in a warning area…
4Closely monitor radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards for official bulletins. 4Close storm shutters. 4Follow instructions issued by local officials. Leave immediately if ordered! 4Stay with friends or relatives at a low-rise inland hotel or at a designated public shelter outside the flood zone. 4DO NOT stay in a mobile or manufactured home. 4Notify neighbors and a family member outside of the warned area of your evacuation plans. 4Take pets with you if possible, but remember, most public shelters do not allow pets other than those used by people with disabilities. 4Identify pet-friendly hotels along your evacuation route.
Plan to leave if you...
4Live in a mobile home. They are unsafe in high winds, no matter how well fastened to the ground. 4Live on the coastline, an offshore island or near a river or a flood plain. 4Live in a high-rise building. Hurricane winds are stronger at higher elevations.
If you are staying in a home...
4Turn refrigerator to maximum cold and keep it closed. 4Turn off utilities if told to do so by authorities. 4Turn off propane tanks. 4Unplug small appli-
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ances. 4Fill bathtub and large containers with water in case clean tap water is unavailable. 4Use water in bathtubs for cleaning and flushing only. Do not drink it.
If winds become strong...
4Stay away from windows and doors, even if they are covered. Take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway. 4Close all interior doors. Secure and brace external doors. 4If you are in a twostory house, go to an interior, first-floor room.
4If you are in a multistory building and away from water, go to the first or second floor and stay in the halls or other interior rooms, away from windows. 4Lie on the floor under a table or other sturdy object.
Be alert for...
4Tornadoes — they are often spawned by hurricanes. 4The calm “eye” of the storm — it may seem like the storm is over, but after the eye passes, the winds will change direction and quickly return to hurricane force.
AFTER THE STORM
4 Keep listening to radio, TV or NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards. 4Wait until an area is declared safe before entering. 4Watch for closed roads. If you come upon a barricade or a flooded road — Turn Around, Don’t Drown! 4Stay on firm, dry ground. Moving water only six inches deep can sweep you off your feet. Standing water may be electrically charged from power lines. 4Never use a generator indoors. 4Avoid weakened
bridges and washed out roads. 4Once home, check gas, water and electrical and appliances for damage. 4Use a flashlight to inspect damage. Never use candles and other open flames indoors. 4Wear proper shoes to prevent cutting feet on sharp debris. 4Do not drink or prepare food with tap water until officials say it is safe. 4Avoid electrocution by not walking in areas with downed power lines.
Your 21st-century survival kit Of the 1,272 federal disaster declarations issued in the last decade, more than half were classified as major disasters. These include calamities such as floods, hurricanes and tropical storms, winter storms, and others. In the last 10 years, every state has had a least two events designated as a major federal disaster. “Most major disasters displaced hundreds or thousands of people from home and work, and nearly all involved a temporary or prolonged loss of major services and necessities, including power, communications and running water,” said Jonathan Bacon, director of marketing at Wilson Electronics, a maker of communications equipment in St. George, Utah. “We began thinking about what has changed in technology and society, and how that would affect what we would want to have in
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an emergency ‘go-pack,’” Bacon said. “A lot of what we would take with us hasn’t changed, but some of what we’d desire today had not been invented 10 years ago. We came up with six items that were either invented or radically improved in the last 10 years. We call it the 21st Century Survival Kit.” 4Cell phone signal booster: Wilson and other companies market devices designed to help transmit and receive calls and data via cell towers unaffected by a disaster. “In a severe situation like Hurricane Sandy, where all communications were compromised for several days, having a cell booster could save precious hours of driving time to find a strong cell signal,” Bacon said. 4Batteries: Two portable lithium-ion batteries, each with a minimum capacity of 10,000mAh, which is enough for one battery
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to fully charge at least three smartphones or to power a tablet, netbook or cell booster for several hours. 4Portable solar panel: “These solar panels weigh only about a pound and are very practical for charging portable batteries and devices,” said Bacon. He recommended a panel capable of producing at least 10 watts of power and one amp of current. 4LED headlamp: Also powered by rechargeable batteries, the latest generation of these types of lamps
have adjustable brightness to maximize battery life and can be made bright enough to cast light more than 100 feet. 4Two-way FRS/GMRS radios: “These radios provide a communications range up to 30 miles,” said Bacon. 4Microbial filter straw: This is used for drinking water that may be contaminated with bacteria, organic and waterborne chemicals, and other harmful elements. One filter straw can filter 30 gallons of water.
“A lot has happened just in the last 10 years to make keeping in contact and avoiding health risks easier under adverse conditions,” said Bacon. All of
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Putting hurricane lessons to work
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How to disinfect your water When a weather emergency occurs, the effects can prove devastating. Natural disasters like hurricanes have turned cities upside down, floods have caused the deaths of thousands and snowstorms have shut communities down for days. A weather emergency, be it a natural disaster or a heavy storm, can contaminate the local supply of drinking water and disrupt the wastewater disposal system. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, such a disruption or contamination can directly threaten a person’s health. As a result, it’s important to know how to disinfect your drinking water should an emergency occur and the supply be at risk. The easiest way to avoid health issues that arise from a contaminated water supply is to keep plenty of bottled water on hand to use as drinking water and when cooking. As long as the bottled water has not been exposed to flood waters, it will be safe to drink. If an emergency strikes, and you don’t have any bottled water at home, don’t panic. Boiling water can help make the water safe, killing most types of disease-causing organisms that might be present. Boil water for one minute before allowing it cool and then store in containers for later use. In an emergency situation, the water could be cloudy. This is also not a cause for panic. Instead, filter the water through clean cloths or just allow it to settle. When allowed to settle, chances are the cloudy water will clear up within minutes. Once it does, use the clear water when boiling. If there’s no means to boil the water, you can use household bleach as a disinfectant. Bleach is effective at killing some, but not all, disease-causing organisms that might be in the water. If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloths or allow it to settle before attempting to disinfect it. Once the water is clear, use this clear water for disinfection. The EPA recommends adding 1/8 tea-
The Pew Charitable Trusts’ flood-prepared communities initiative is working to reduce the human impact and high cost of flooding and rebuilding that typically follows natural disasters in ways that help ensure communities don’t just build back, but build smarter. To kick off National Hurricane Preparedness Week, Pew, a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador, joined forces with former Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley to show how the city has addressed increasing storms and sea level rise since it was hit by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Hurricane Hugo claimed a dozen lives and caused more than $10 billion in recovery costs. At the time, it was the most expensive hurricane on record. The documentary, “After the Storm: Charleston’s Blueprint for Disaster Recovery After Hurricane Hugo,” features city planners, elected officials and neighborhood activists telling their story from Hurricane Hugo to present day. The city was devastated, but then-Mayor Riley vowed not just to rebuild, but to rebuild better. His strategy included a storm water management plan using underground pipes as well as nature-based solutions to prevent erosion and storm damage along the coast. With the number of natural disasters on the rise, the discussion of ways to invest in the nation’s infrastructure and solutions to safeguard communities against flooding from hurricanes and stronger storms is growing louder. Charleston’s story serves as an example of how one community is tackling these challenges and how preparedness efforts have paid off.
Get a sump pump, backup battery
FILE PHOTO
A disruption or contamination of the water supply can threaten a person’s health.
spoon (or roughly eight drops) of regular, unscented liquid household bleach for each gallon of water. Do not use non-chlorine bleach to disinfect water. Stir the bleach-and-water mixture well, then let it stand for 30 minutes before use. Once disinfected, store the water in clean containers with covers. The treated water should have a slight odor of chlorine. If it does not, repeat the process and allow the water to stand for an additional 15 minutes. After this step, if the treated water exhibits a strong odor of chlorine or tastes strongly of chlorine, allow the water to stand exposed to the air for a few hours or pour the water from one clean container to another several times. For those who rely on well water, in the case of a flood have the water tested and disinfected once the flood waters have receded. Should a weather emergency occur and the water supply be disrupted or contaminated, heed the advice of local health departments or public water systems. More information about disinfecting water and surviving a weather emergency is available at www.epa. gov. — Metro Creative Solutions
In 2012, hundreds of miles of coastline along the northeastern United States were battered and decimated due to Hurricane Sandy. More than a year later, many homeowners were still dealing with the consequences of the devastating storm. Hurricane Sandy illustrated just how destructive water can be. Each year, storms across North America have the potential to flood homes or cause water to enter the basement or first floor. According to the National Flood Insurance Program, a mere six inches of water in a 2,000-square-foot home can cause around $40,000 in damage. Homeowners looking to avoid such damages can rely on sump pumps and backup emergency systems to keep sublevels dry and safe. Sump pumps are frequently used in homes at risk of flooding or in homes where the water table is above the foundation of the home. Sump pumps remove water that has accumulated in a watercollecting sump basin built into the foundation of the home. Water may enter through perimeter drains (French drains) built into the basement or directly through the sump basin itself. The pump will send the water away from the house through a series of pipes that could drain into a dry well, into a municipal storm drain or at the curb. Many sump pumps are hard-wired into a home’s electrical system and will automatically turn on when the water level in the sump basin has risen enough to trigger the pump. A flotation device built into the pump will rise enough to turn on the pump, which will then expel the water until the device returns to its regular level. When operating correctly, sump pumps are effective at removing water and keeping basements and crawl spaces dry. However, in the event of a power outage, which is common when strong winds accompany flooding rains, a sump pump is rendered useless unless there is a backup battery attached to the sump pump. Having a battery hooked up to a sump pump, or a backup sump pump that is
FILE PHOTO
Homeowners who live in areas prone to flooding can protect their homes with sump pumps.
battery-powered, can give homeowners peace of mind in any storm. A backup plan ensures the pump will still be able to remove water for a certain period of time until electricity is restored to the home. Another option is to make sure the sump pump is connected to a power generator should the main power supply go out. As long as the generator is running, the sump pump will expel the water. Water damage to a home can cost thousands of dollars in repairs, particularly when it is not covered by standard home insurance policies. Sump pumps can help keep homes dry and safe. — Metro Creative Solutions
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