May 2009

We are less than one month away...

The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season starts Monday,
June 1. Now is the time to work on completing your hurricane preparations, including assembling your disaster survival kit, finding your evacuation level and building an updated list of important phone numbers.

While the preseason predictions are calling for a less busy year, the 1992 hurricane season proved that it takes only one landfalling storm to make a bad year. That season, there were only six named storms. The first one? Hurricane Andrew...

When you hear about these preseason predictions, do you ever wonder how they are formulated? One of the most respected – and anticipated – predictions is prepared at Colorado State University. Noted hurricane experts Dr. Phillip Klotzbach and Dr. William Gray consider many weather conditions in such places as the tropical Pacific and the North Atlantic at different altitudes. By gathering this data and observing the activity level of past hurricane seasons, the Colorado State forecasters get an idea of just how busy a season might be.

Are they always right? Well, weather is a very complex system, and the team will make adjustments to its forecast throughout the season. Look for updated forecasts from Colorado State on June 2, Aug. 4, Sept. 2 and Oct. 1. For more information on the program, visit hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu.

For the record, here are the names for the 2009 Hurricane Season:

|Back to the top|

Pinellas County’s Hurricane Education Efforts Recognized

It’s a distinct honor to be recognized by the National Hurricane Conference Awards Committee as having the best hurricane education program in the country. It’s another thing to be recognized as the best in the nation for a second consecutive year.

That’s just what happened at the recent National Hurricane Conference held in Austin, Texas. The Awards Committee identified Pinellas County’s comprehensive and forward-thinking education program as a model for other jurisdictions in hurricane-prone areas to follow. Specific items cited as superior included the Surviving the Storm hurricane guide, the re-formatted Emergency Management website, and Project Storm Story, the half-hour video which used survivor’s personal stories to clearly communicate the need to prepare for hurricanes.

The awards committee included such emergency management notables as former National Hurricane Center director Dr. Neil Frank, Alabama’s state emergency management director Brock Long and former Monroe County, Florida, emergency management director Billy Wagner.

|Back to the top|

Is your car ready for hurricane season?

Before a hurricane, you’ll need your car to get supplies and take you to a safe place if you must evacuate. After a storm, you’ll still need it to get supplies, and it might serve as a place to get some relief. That’s why it’s important to get your car ready for hurricane season as well.

Some things you might want to consider:
• Make sure your car is in good running order. Get any basic maintenance (tune ups, repairs) done before a storm threatens. Have your mechanic check belts, hoses and vital fluid levels.

• Keep your gas tank at least half full with gas. When a hurricane watch is issued, that’s an excellent time to fill your tank before there are long lines and some stations run out of fuel.

• Build a survival kit for your car, including

• A first aid kit
• A can of Fix-A-Flat
• Easy-to-eat non-perishable food
• Bottled water
• A basic tool kit
• Jumper cables
• A working jack – and your spare tire
• A flashlight
• A power inverter (converts the current in your cigarette lighter to household current)
• Chargers for cell phones and other electronic devices
• A map, so you know where you’re going

|Back to the top|

Painting your home?

Cooler temperatures and minimal rain chances make spring the ideal time to paint your home. If you plan on picking up the brush and roller, here are some tips that can help you prepare your home to better face hurricane season:

• Root out rot. Look along the roofline of your home at the overhangs. Any rotting wood should be replaced to keep your structure strong.

• Inspect your roof. While you are up on the ladder, check how your roof shingles look. Any missing? Broken? Curled up at the edges? If so, a re-roof might be in your future. New building codes and installation methods will help ensure your new roof can better withstand high winds.

• Bust the rust. Corrosion on fasteners, such as the clips that keep your downspouts anchored to your home, can lead to failure in a hurricane or other high wind. Replace those deteriorated fasteners while you are already working outside.

• Check your caulk. Old, cracked window caulk and door weather stripping can allow wind-driven rain to work its way into your home. Scrape out the old and replace with new silicone caulk rated for use on doors and windows. Most hardware stores and home centers also sell replacement weather stripping to help keep your home weather tight.

For more information on how to protect your home from high winds, visit the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes website at www.flash.org.

|Back to the top|

Tweet Tweet

In an effort to increase the effectiveness of the county’s public hurricane outreach, Emergency Management has launched its own page on the social networking site Twitter. By visiting twitter.com/pinellasem, you can get the latest updates from Pinellas County Emergency Management before, during and after an event.

This is currently considered an evaluation of Twitter’s capabilities for Pinellas County Emergency Management, so be sure to read future editions of the E-Lert newsletter for updates.

|Back to the top|

Storms in History

The High Point Tornado – May 4, 1978

Tornadoes are some of the most surprising, intense and frightening weather phenomena anyone can experience. And when they touch down, there is often little warning of their approach and minimal time to prepare.

Tragically, that’s what happened on an early May morning in 1978 near the High Point Elementary School in eastern Clearwater, not far from St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport. A powerful cold front was poised to pass through the area. Contrast and interaction between cooler, dry air and warm, humid air allows for a tremendous amount of energy to be released, causing severe thunderstorms and the possibility of tornadoes. These were the conditions on May 4, 1978.

For the kindergarten students in school that morning, the dark sky was both threatening and fascinating. Driving rain pelted the windows and, at 8:04 a.m. the Storm Prediction Center in Oklahoma issued a tornado watch for west central Florida. At 11:45, a violent F3 tornado touched down 300 yards from the school and tore a path through one of the school’s classroom wings. The roof was torn off of the building, and nine classrooms were leveled. Three kindergarteners were killed and 94 other children and teachers were injured.

Today, all of Pinellas County’s schools routinely practice tornado drills which give the students, teachers and staff clear instructions on what to do should a tornado threaten.

In 1988, the St. Petersburg Times printed the chilling first-hand accounts from survivors of the High Point Tornado on the event’s tenth anniversary. Read the accounts at www2.sptimes.com/weather/SW.4.1.html

|Back to the top|

We take our show on the road

Hurricane season is coming, and if you’re looking for a presentation for your homeowner’s association, civic group, church, business or other gathering, Pinellas County can help.

Currently, there are six hurricane-related presentations that can be requested:

• Hurricane 101 - What are hurricanes? How do they form? What are their effects? Get the basics on these dangerous tropical storms.
• Preparing your Pets - Remember that Fluffy and Fido need to be planned for as well. Learn some common-sense tips on how to prepare your pet for hurricane season.
• Does it Take a Category 5? - Everyone in Florida worries about the next ‘big one.’ But does a hurricane have to be a monster to do major damage? See what damage storms of all Saffir-Simpson categories are able to do.
• Becoming Storm Savvy - While we are still in the hurricane preseason, now is an excellent time to learn how you can prepare yourself to prevent panic if we are affected by a storm. From learning how to put together a survival kit without busting your budget to planning ahead for evacuations, tips are offered for everyone.
• Busting Hurricane Myths - Learn the dangers of some commonly held beliefs when hurricanes approach. Not only will you find the real story, you may also save your life if the big one comes.
• Hurricanes for Kids - Hurricane season can be a very trying time for younger family members. By using experiments and easy-to-understand language, your youngsters can find some control over these scary situations.

This year, Pinellas County Emergency Management and Pinellas County Communications departments are partnering once again with the Pinellas County Library Cooperative for a series of talks. The schedule for the upcoming hurricane education sessions is:

• May 5, 7 p.m. – Hurricane 101
  Dunedin Public Library, 223 Douglas Ave., Dunedin (727) 298-3080
• May 9, 11 a.m. – Becoming Storm Savvy
  Oldsmar Public Library, 400 St. Petersburg Drive E., Oldsmar (813) 749-1178
• May 9, 2 p.m. – Hurricane 101
  Tarpon Springs Public Library, 138 E. Lemon St., Tarpon Springs (727) 943-4922
• May 11, 7 p.m. – Preparing your Pets
  St. Pete Beach Public Library, 365 73rd Ave., St Pete Beach (727) 363-9238
• May 11, 6:30 p.m. – Preparing your Pets
  Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive, Largo (727) 587-6715
• May 14, 2 p.m. – Preparing your Pets
  Seminole Community Library, 9200 113th Street North, Seminole (727) 394-6905
• May 16, 11 a.m. – Busting Hurricane Myths
  Oldsmar Public Library, 400 St. Petersburg Drive E., Oldsmar (813) 749-1178
• May 19, 2 p.m. – Preparing your Pet
  Clearwater Public Library Countryside branch, 2741 SR 580, Clearwater (727) 562-4970
• May 20, 7 p.m. – Becoming Storm Savvy
  Seminole Community Library, 9200 113th Street North, Seminole (727) 394-6905
• May 23, 11 a.m. – Does it Take a Category 5?
  Oldsmar Public Library, 400 St. Petersburg Drive E., Oldsmar (813) 749-1178
• May 26, 2 p.m. – Busting Hurricane Myths
  Pinellas Park Public Library, 7770 52nd St., Pinellas Park (727) 541-0718
• May 30, 11 a.m. – Preparing your Pets
  Oldsmar Public Library, 400 St. Petersburg Drive E, Oldsmar (813) 749-1178
• June 1, 6:30 p.m. – Hurricanes for Kids
  Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive, Largo (727) 587-6715
• June 2, 6 p.m. – Becoming Storm Savvy
  Safety Harbor Public Library 101 Second St. N, Safety Harbor (727) 724-1525
• June 2, 7 p.m. – Preparing your Pet
  Dunedin Public Library, 223 Douglas Ave., Dunedin (727) 298-3080
• June 8, 6:30 p.m. – Hurricanes for Kids
  Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor (727) 784-3332

To schedule a speaker, call Pinellas County’s Speakers Bureau at (727) 464-3000. Remember, knowledge is power. We can’t do anything about the weather, but by knowing what to do when bad weather threatens, you can gain control over your personal safety.

|Back to the top|

What does THAT mean?

Severe thunderstorms. Tornadoes. Tropical Storms. Hurricanes. When the National Weather Service wants you to know dangerous weather is possible – or even on the way – they’ll issue a watch or a warning. What’s the difference between these two?

Watch: A watch is called when conditions exist that could create specific dangerous weather. This is the time that you should be preparing to take action. For example, when a hurricane watch is issued, you should use this time to get the elements of your survival kit ready, ensure your car is gassed up, collect your important documents and carefully monitor the weather forecasts.

Warning: When a warning is called you will be feeling the effects of these weather phenomena shortly and you should take action. Warning times may range from mere minutes for a tornado to more than 24 hours for an approaching hurricane. DO NOT DELAY! Take the necessary precautions to get yourself and your family to safe shelter before the bad weather is upon you.

Watches and warnings will activate your weather alert radio, giving you advanced warning of the threat. Weather alert radios save lives!

|Back to the top|