Texas Hurricane Information

Michael R. White, Coordinator

This information is intended for use in an emergency evacuation caused by a major storm. Remain calm - move quickly - follow instructions from your local Emergency Management Office.

Important information and official Emergency Management Bulletins will be made available to the local radio and television stations. Respond to the "official" bulletins.

Evacuees from south Jefferson County should plan to use Cardinal Drive to move North. If an alternate route is not designated in Evacuation Bulletin, use route most familiar to you to reach Cardinal Drive. Leave as early as possible to avoid the heavy traffic on highways.

Do not return until official bulletins declare it advisable to do so.

Jefferson County Emergency Management Organization

Recommended Actions

PRIOR TO A HURRICANE SEASON OR BEFORE A WATCH

1. Know the elevation above mean sea level of your home or place of
   business.
2. Familiarize yourself with past Flooding in your area.
3. If you live in a mobile home, pre-arrange for shelter.
4. See that mobile homes are tied down according to regulations; but do not
   plan to stay in a mobile home.
5. Check your insurance coverage including flood insurance.
6. Trim trees endangering homes and power lines.
7. Discuss and prepare a family plan for your family.

HURRICANE WATCH

This does not mean that hurricane conditions are imminent, but there is a real possibility that a hurricane will threaten the area within 24 hours. Recommended action and supplies you should have on hand are:

1. Transistor radio and flashlights with spare batteries.
2. Candles, lamps and matches.
3. Non-perishable foods, canned goods and water containers.
4. Materials such as boards, lumber and tape for boarding up windows and
   other glass openings.
5. Gas up your automobile.
6. Prepare to moor your boat or move it to a safer shelter.
7. Move or tie down movable objects, garbage cans, boards, signs, etc..
8. Have a supply of special items such as medicines, baby food, diapers, etc..
9. Arrange for keeping of pets.
10. Have an axe or wrecking bar in your house.
11. Plan for safe storage or safe transportation of valuables such as jewelry,
    legal papers, prized photos, etc..
12. Monitor progress of storm by radio or television.

HURRICANE WARNING

A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours. Take the following action immediately:

1. Board up large windows. Tape may help against shattering.
2. Move all loose objects from house.

EVACUATION

Persons in mobile homes and in homes in areas likely to be flooded should move to a safe location. Instructions will be given by Emergency Management Bulletins.

1. Move in plenty of time while all routes are accessible.
2. Take clothing, special medicines and foods.
3. Turn off electricity, gas and water in your home.
4. Move furniture away from doors and windows.
5. Evacuation routes are indicated on the map.
6. Shelter assembly points will be announced.

IF YOU STAY AT HOME

1. Fill containers, bathtubs, etc. with water.
2. Stay indoors on downwind side of house away from windows
   and glass doors. Strongest winds will come from somewhere
   between north and southeast directions.
3. Beware of the eye of the hurricane. Do no be fooled by a
   lull in the wind since high winds may return from the
   opposite direction.

AFTER THE STORM

Frequently persons who have weathered or survived a storm, venture outside and are electrocuted by downed power lines.

1. Do not touch or go near fallen utility lines.
2. Make sure to see where you are walking. If it's dark stay
   inside; or if water remains, take no chances wading unless
   absolutely necessary.
3. Drive with extreme caution especially where roads are still
   under water.
4. Poisonous snakes or insects are always a threat in this area
   during the post-storm clean-up.
5. Guard against spoiled food, contaminated water, and fires.

STORM EFECTS

Hurricanes have four damaging effects: tides, heavy rains, high winds, and tornadoes. Approximately 90% of the damage and injury results from flooding. Persons in homes in locations subject to flooding should seek shelter elsewhere before the storm. There should be no travel during the storm due to the danger of flying debris, falling trees, and power lines.

EMERGENCY PLANNING IS SOUND INSURANCE

You wouldn't think of going without fire insurance on your home. There is a higher probability that your home will be struck by a 100 year storm any year than that your home will have a fire. IT'S NOT IF A HURRICANE WILL HIT, BUT WHEN!

STORM SURGE

In most hurricanes, "storm surge" caused most loss of life and property damage. Storm surge is different than regular tides. Together, regular tides and storm surge form the "hurricane tide".

Storm surge development takes place over deep water, where the drop in barometric pressures in the storm center causes the sea to bulge. A second action develops as hurricane winds sweep across the sea surface. This causes a swirling movement of the surface water which gradually goes down about 300 feet.

The maximum swirl moves to the right of the hurricane's eye (track) where wind speeds are highest. There is no change in sea level due to the swirling motion so long as the water remains deeper than 300 feet.

As the hurricane approaches land, the swirling water mass scrapes bottom, tries to spread in all directions, and begins to pile up. Peak surge heights are seen at the shoreline about the time the hurricane center reaches land.

The maximum water swirl occurs 10-20 miles to the right of the storm track, near the point of maximum wind speeds. Thus, the greatest danger from both winds and surge usually is about 15 miles right of that track.

The surge may lift the ocean 15 feet or more at the coastline. Carla, in 1961, produced a 21 foot surge at Matagorda bay. Camille, which hit Mississippi in 1969, caused a 25 foot surge, the highest ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere.

TORNADOES

Among the storms' worst killers and destroyers of property, tornadoes always pose a threat in the hurricane area. The greatest outbreak of tornadoes on record was associated with Hurricane Beulah when 115 tornadoes were spawned during a five-day period. Sixty-seven of these occurred on one day, setting a national record.

SOURCES FOR THE PUBLIC TO OBTAIN THE LATEST HURRICANE INFORMATION

1. Virtually all commercial radio and TV stations carry latest weather
   information continuously. Emergency data will be transmitted on the
   Emergency Alert System (EAS).
2. The NOAA National Weather Service Radio Stations (162.475MHz)
   broadcast the latest information on a continuous basis (24 hours).
3. Law Enforcement Agencies, Emergency management, Red Cross and
   other local Community Officials are kept abreast of the storms
   progress and are continually disseminating storm related information.

E-Mail Questions, Comments and Suggestions to Jefferson County Emergency Management

Please realize we may not be able to respond to an email question after a Hurricane Warning has been issued.