Becoming Storm Savvy: Busting Hurricane Myths

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Becoming Storm Savvy
Busting Hurricane Myths
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Basic Hurricane Information.

• Pinellas Countys Hurricane Guide
• www.pinellascounty.org/emergency
• Emergency Management [phone]
• Front of your telephone white pages
• www.fema.gov
• www.floridadisaster.org
• www.flash.org

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What is a myth?

• mythnoun Origin Gk mythos story
• a traditional or legendary story, usually
  concerning some hero or event, and explains some
  practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.
• Any fictitious story or unscientific account,
  theory, belief, etc.

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Why are myths dangerous?

• They waste your time
• They cost you money
• They make you believe you are safer

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The dirty dozen.

• Window taping
• It costs too much
• Pressure differences
• Total destruction
• Vertical evacuation
• High winds
• Mobile home safety
• Countywide evacuation

• Public shelters
• Evacuation order timing
• Government will provide everything
• It cant happen here

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Myth My windows are protected. I have them
taped.

• Taping my windows is cheap and easy. Besides,
  everyone I see on TV is taping their windows. It
  must be a good idea.

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Fact Shuttering your windows is the safe thing
to do.

• Tape does nothing to protect windows.
• Shutter options
• Plywood (min. 7/16 required FL Code)
• Commercial systems
• Large missile impact rated windows.

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Myth Hurricane preparation costs too much.

• News stories claim assembling a supply kit for a
  family of four costs more than 500. Who can
  afford that?

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Fact Build your kit without busting your budget.

• Inventory supplies already in your home.
• Buy a little bit each week.
• Buy only what you will use.

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Myth Ill open my window to equalize pressure.

• If I dont open the windows on the opposite side
  of my home during a hurricane, the air pressure
  difference can cause all of the glass in my
  windows to break.

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Fact Keeping wind out of your home is top
priority.

• Its not a difference atmospheric pressure that
  causes failure its debris impact.
• Wind entering through an opening can pressurize
  air in the home, exiting through the weakest
  point.

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Myth Everything will be destroyed after the Big
One.

• No doubt, a hurricanes massive winds will tear
  everything apart. Protection is pointless.
  Besides, Ill build a new house when I get my
  insurance check.

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Fact Hardening your home can help save it.

• Repairs are much easier than total rebuilds.
• You may be able to live in your home if repairs
  are minor.

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Myth When the storm comes, Im evacuating up.

• My unit is on the sixth floor of the building
  and it has shutters. Theres no way storm surge
  or wind can get me. Ill be safe.

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Fact Vertical evacuation leaves you stranded.

• Wind speed increases the higher you go.
• Storm surge can wash out lower levels of your
  building, preventing access after the storm
  passes.

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Myth Hurricane winds cant be worse than
thunderstorms.

• We have bad thunderstorms here. Hurricanes
  arent much worse. And, my house was built in
  1960, so it must have survived lots of big
  storms.

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Fact Hurricane winds are more powerful than you
expect.

• F m x v2
• Example 120 mph wind is nine times stronger than
  a 40 mph wind (3 x 3).
• High winds can do serious damage, throwing large
  missiles.

• Last hurricane to hit Pinellas County was in
  1921.

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Myth My mobile home is a safe place to ride out
a storm.

• I have new tie-downs on my mobile home. It was
  also built after 1994 to tougher standards.

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Fact NEVER ride out a storm in a mobile home.

• Older homes not built to withstand high winds.
• Newer homes rely on tie-downs to resist forces
  they can fail.
• Evacuate when ordered to!

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Myth Theres no safe place when the Big One
comes.

• Surely, there is a plan to evacuate everyone
  from Pinellas County when a Category 5 storm is
  coming.

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Fact There are many safe places to shelter from
a storm.

• Run from water, hide from wind.

• Seek shelter in a well-built structure out of the
  evacuation zones.
• Some areas are less than one mile from the beach
  to a non-evacuation zone.

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Myth Why have an evacuation plan? Im going to a
shelter.

• Ive been told that public shelters provide
  cots, food and generators. Why not use them? I
  can also bring my pet with me to a shelter,
  right?

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Fact Public shelters are safer, but they are a
last resort.

• Shelters do not provide bedding, can be crowded
  and dark.

• Pets are only allowed at certain shelters.
• Stay with a friend or relative instead.

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Myth Ill evacuate when the weather starts to
get bad.

• The sun is shining. Its a beautiful beach day.
  Why evacuate now? Besides, I have weather radar
  on my computer Ill evacuate when Im sure
  well get hit.

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Fact Evacuate when ordered.

• Evacuation orders are issued to protect you when
  the threat of storm surge exists.
• Enough time must be provided to clear residents
  from affected areas.
• Move quickly but safely.

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Myth The government will provide everything I
need.

• I dont need all those things in my survival
  kit. When the Big One hits, the government
  will set up relief stations and give me exactly
  what I need.

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Fact Get supplies to last AT LEAST 72 HOURS.

• First priorities are search and rescue, opening
  hospitals and restarting basic infrastructure.

• Field aid stations will open, but it will take
  time to get supplies here on damaged roadways and
  bridges.

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Myth It cant happen here.

• In Pinellas, were protected by an ancient
  Indian blessing/our geography/weather patterns.
  The storms will never come here.

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Fact Its only a matter of time.

• Major storms form in the Gulf
• Wilma (882 mb), Camille (902 mb)
• Tampa Bay area is not immune
• 1835, 1848, 1852, 1872, 1873, 1887, 1892, 1894,
  1899, 1921
• Close brushes since 1950
• Easy (1950), Donna (1960), Gladys (1968),
  Elena (1985), Georges (1998), Charley (2004),
  Wilma (2005)

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Be prepared!

• Know your evacuation level and evacuate when
  ordered
• Build your hurricane survival kit
• Prepare your home to withstand high winds
• Monitor the weather daily during the hurricane
  season

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Stay in the know

• Weather Alert Radios
• Fast warning from the local weather office
• Local Media (Radio, TV, Newspaper)
• Community Notification System
• [phone] from a cell phone
• Citizen Information Center [phone]
• www.pinellascounty.org/emergency
• E-Lert - Sign up today

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Surviving the Storm Its Everyones
Responsibility www.pinellascounty.org (727)
464-3800