1. The Realities of Hurricanes Robert D Macedo Director of Operations of the VoIP Hurricane Net ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator Web: www.voipwx.net Email: kd1cy@voipwx.net Slides provided and heavily leveraged from NWS Taunton Massachusetts Realities of New England Hurricanes Power Point Presentation. Special thanks to KB1GHX-Glenn Field, NWS Taunton Warning Coordination Meteorologist for providing this presentation.

2. Hurricane Isabel – September 2003

3. Objectives What makes an active hurricane season? What makes an active hurricane season? What are the primary weather hazards we need to be prepared for? What are the primary weather hazards we need to be prepared for?

4. So what makes an active season?

5. Critical component: Sea Temps!

6. Warm sea temps = greater potential

7. HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS Before a storm threatens Before a storm threatens When a storm threatens When a storm threatens Weather information sources Weather information sources Clues to an increasing threat Clues to an increasing threat Concluding thoughts Concluding thoughts

8. HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS BEFORE 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

9. PRE SEASON BOATER CHECKLIST Check key phone numbers (marina, insurance agent, etc.) Check key phone numbers (marina, insurance agent, etc.) Coordinated your storm preparedness plan with caretaker/marina Coordinated your storm preparedness plan with caretaker/marina Batteries fully charged Batteries fully charged Cleats checked Cleats checked Chafe gear stored/labeled Chafe gear stored/labeled Sufficient line Sufficient line Suitable anchors Suitable anchors Bilge pumps, if applicable Bilge pumps, if applicable Hatches water tight Hatches water tight Moorings Moorings –Inspected –Adequate for potential storm surge, wind and waves Hurricane Bob (August 19, 1991)

10. PREPAREDNESS FOR THE COASTAL HOMEOWNER 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

11. COASTAL HOME PREPAREDNESS Use storm shutters or plywood Use storm shutters or plywood Install correctly to avoid these items becoming missiles Install correctly to avoid these items becoming missiles Do not tape windows Do not tape windows Board up windows if sustained wind speeds may reach 60 mph or greater

12. WHEN CONSTRUCTING ON THE COAST Hurricane clips Hurricane straps

15. IMPLICATIONS FOR SKYSCRAPERS

16. WHEN A HURRICANE THREATENS Monitor weather developments Monitor weather developments Put your plan into action Put your plan into action Allow time buffer – remember major New England hurricanes accelerate and may arrive hours sooner than forecasted Allow time buffer – remember major New England hurricanes accelerate and may arrive hours sooner than forecasted

17. Boat may not be only item you need to 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)

18. OTHER PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS WHEN HURRICANE THREATENS Check supply of batteries Check supply of batteries –Never use candles Check supply of nonperishable food and water Check supply of nonperishable food and water Fill-up with gas and money Fill-up with gas and money –Gas pumps and ATMs rely on power –Check medical prescriptions Make sure you don’t need to evacuate Make sure you don’t need to evacuate Turn refrigerator to coldest setting Turn refrigerator to coldest setting Help your neighbors Help your neighbors –Including owners of boats surrounding yours –One bad mooring can mean disaster for many

19. AND HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS On land and sea On land and sea For boat owners, one bad mooring can mean disaster for many For boat owners, one bad mooring can mean disaster for many

20. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE INFORMATION

23. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WORKING AS A TEAM Tropical Prediction Center Tropical Prediction Center –Coordinates with local Weather Forecast Offices –Coordinates with emergency managers and media on national level –Issues official forecast track Local Weather Forecast Offices Across the US Local Weather Forecast Offices Across the US –Coordinates with emergency managers and media in their County Warning Area. –Focuses on threats at the local/regional level.

24. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE Tropical Prediction Center meteorologists are the “specialists” Weather Forecast Office meteorologists are the “general practitioners”

25. WEATHER 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

26. TROPICAL CYCLONE DEFINITIONS TROPICAL DEPRESSION – Organized system with maximum sustained winds less than 34 knots (39 mph) TROPICAL DEPRESSION – Organized system with maximum sustained winds less than 34 knots (39 mph) TROPICAL STORM – Well defined circulation with maximum sustained winds 34 – 63 knots (39 to 73 mph) TROPICAL STORM – Well defined circulation with maximum sustained winds 34 – 63 knots (39 to 73 mph) HURRICANE – Sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or higher HURRICANE – Sustained winds of 64 knots (74 mph) or higher

27. HURRICANE CATEGORIES Saffir-Simpson Scale Category 1 – sustained winds 74 to 95 mph Category 1 – sustained winds 74 to 95 mph –Edouard in 1996 (Labor Day Weekend) –Gloria in 1985 Category 2 – sustained winds 96 to 110 mph Category 2 – sustained winds 96 to 110 mph –Bob in August 1991 Category 3 – sustained winds 111 to 130 mph Category 3 – sustained winds 111 to 130 mph –1938 Hurricane, 1944 Hurricane, Carol (1954), Edna (1954) Category 4 – sustained winds 131 to 155 mph Category 4 – sustained winds 131 to 155 mph –Hugo (1989) Category 5 – sustained winds > 155 mph Category 5 – sustained winds > 155 mph –1935 Keys Hurricane, Camille (1969), Andrew (1992)

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

29. ALLOW FOR FORECAST ERROR!

30. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS?

31. Do not even think about staying with your boat during a tropical storm or hurricane …unless you own a very large vessel and plan to put out to sea

32. CONCLUDING THOUGHTS History gives us a clue to what can happen, but our experience can be misleading

33. While we should enjoy the tremendous beauty of our coastline…

34. Natural Calamity Strikes At About The Time When One Forgets Its Terror!...Japanese Proverb

35. Future Presentations For the March VoIP Hurricane Net Presentation, we will focus on reporting criteria and information that we’d like to pass on the net and the net’s role in supporting the National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Station WX4NHC. For the March VoIP Hurricane Net Presentation, we will focus on reporting criteria and information that we’d like to pass on the net and the net’s role in supporting the National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Station WX4NHC. For the April VoIP Hurricane Net, we will review the National Hurricane Conference and the net’s involvement in that conference. For the April VoIP Hurricane Net, we will review the National Hurricane Conference and the net’s involvement in that conference.

36. Hurricane Isabel – September 2003 Rob Macedo (KD1CY) Web: www.voipwx.net Email: kd1cy@voipwx.net kd1cy@voipwx.net Director of Operations of the VoIP Hurricane Net ARES SKYWARN Coordinator for NWS Taunton Eastern Massachusetts ARES Section Emergency Coordinator