If you find yourself having to evacuate ahead of a hurricane this summer there are four key things that you need to keep in mind:

• Pre-planning;


• Patience;


• Patience;


• More Patience

A major hurricane is bearing down on the East Coast of the US and millions will be evacuating ahead of the storm. Anyone who has tried to evacuate ahead of a hurricane can tell you that traffic conditions will be nightmarish. During hurricane Rita which hit the coast of Texas less than a month after Katrina struck New Orleans, state authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation for 1.2 million people who lived along the coastline but they didn't count on an additional 1.5 million evacuating as well. As a result, 2.7 million people clogged the interstates leading inland from the Houston-Galveston area. The resulting clogged roads took days to clear up and hampered the ability of rescue workers to provide needed services.

The storms can affect not only those who live along the coastlines. Some storms, long after being downgraded to tropical storm status, caused more death and destruction from flooding in the Appalachian mountains than they did on the coast.

Coastal Zones - For those of you who live in the path of these storms, the decision on whether or not to evacuate is something that needs to be planned well out in advance of the actual event. Many states provide hurricane preparedness plans on their state Emergency Management websites. Among the coastal states, the Florida Division of Emergency Management probably has the best hurricane preparedness plan. The Florida website allows users to plug in data about their families and specific needs and then provides them with a detailed plan showing evacuation routes out of their particular county and links to local emergency contacts, pet shelters etc. The plan also includes information on how to handle pets, water and food needs, and emergency preparedness kits. If your state doesn't have such a plan, visit the Florida website and use Dade county as your residence county to pull up a lot of valuable information.

Before evacuating, you should decide what you want to take with you and keep those items in a central, easily accessible spot. The Emergency Management websites contain lists of what should be included in your emergency evacuation kit.

You should carry enough cash to last for several days; ATMs may be overwhelmed or inoperative.

If you live in a mandatory evacuation zone, you should not hesitate to leave as quickly as possible. If you hesitate, bridges and causeways over intercoastal waterways and rivers may close early due to high winds and you could be stuck. Heavy traffic leading out of the evacuation area may back up preventing you from escaping in time. Those who wait too long may also find the roads flooded or blocked by downed trees and power lines.

Most states will close Interstate and major highways to traffic driving toward the coastal areas and open all lanes in both directions to outbound traffic only. Even with all lanes going in one direction, traffic will be very slow and tempers will be high. This is where your patience will be required.

Before you evacuate you should ensure that your car is serviced and has a full tank. Gas stations in the storm zone may close early and gas stations inland may quickly run out of gas. During your evacuation, you should never let your tank go below half full if you can avoid it. You never know when a collision or a tie up will keep you tied up on the road between exits for hours.

With the electricity out, traffic signals may not work. If you are on a secondary road and there is no power to the traffic signals, you should remember to treat an inoperative traffic light at an intersection as a four-way stop sign.
Police, National Guard and emergency personnel may be directing traffic. If that is the case, follow their directions over the directions of any traffic signals and do not argue with them. They have the full authority of law and they may know of traffic and road conditions ahead that you aren't aware of. You should also keep your radio tuned to those stations that are members of the Emergency Broadcast Network for updates on storm and traffic conditions.

Restaurants and gas stations in the evacuation path will be overwhelmed and may quickly run out of supplies. Also, you may not be able to easily exit an interstate highway once you are on it so you should take enough snack food and water to last for 12 hours or more.

Inland Areas – after the storm passes over the coastline it is still capable of producing torrential rains, tornadoes, and flooding. If you encounter flooded roads, do not try to proceed. Turn around and try to find an alternate route. When encountering flooded roadways remember:

• It is difficult to tell just how deep the water is on a flooded road and the flood waters may hide the fact that the roadway is washed out underneath.


• Even if it appears intact, the roadway could collapse under the weight of your vehicle.


• Less than an inch of water can cause a driver to lose control.


• As little as six inches of rushing water has enough force to push your car off the road.


• Your car can float in as little as two feet of water and you could be washed away into a flooded stream or river.


• In hilly or mountainous areas, flash floods can occur long after the rain has stopped and far away from the site of a rain storm.

Let's hope you don't have to evacuate but, if you do, a little pre-planning goes a long way.

Labels: flood roads, flooded roads, hurricane preparedness, hurricane safety, hurricane season

We are well into the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season and have already experienced one hurricane in the western Gulf of Mexico. Based on predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), this season has a high probability of above normal activity and NOAA is predicting:

• 14-23 Named Storms,


• 8-14 Hurricanes


• 3-7 Major Hurricanes

The late summer months traditionally see the greatest amount of hurricane activity so it's a good idea for residents of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts to prepare now and consider what needs to be done, especially in regard to remaining safe on the road in the event of an evacuation.

Plan ahead - Fortunately, unlike other natural disasters, hurricanes give us plenty of advanced warning. When planning for an evacuation you should:

• Gather important papers such as homeowner's insurance policies and other documents that you can’t afford to lose.


• Make sure the vehicle you plan to take is in good mechanical condition. Keep oil changes up to date and make sure the fluid levels are topped off.


• Make sure your tires are in good condition. You will be driving on rain soaked roads and excessively worn tires could make driving conditions treacherous.


• Ensure you have a full tank of gas and, as the hurricane approaches, top it off. Gas stations may quickly run out of gas as the hurricane nears.


• Make sure you have some cash available. Power may be knocked out to your bank and debit cards may be difficult to use.


• Plan your evacuation destination. Inland hotels will fill up quickly and you may not be able to get a room without a prior reservation. Many hotels may not allow pets.

Evacuate Sooner rather than later – Driving conditions will be dangerous and the roads will be packed. In 2004, Hurricane Jeanne, a storm that only reached category 2 status, made landfall in south Florida but downed trees and caused flooding and massive power outages in NE Florida almost 200 miles away.

• As the high winds approach, bridges and causeways leading inland may be closed.


• Major interstates and highways will be closed to incoming traffic and all lanes will be open to outgoing traffic only.


• Power outages will effect traffic lights causing further delays.


• Obey the orders of law enforcement and National Guard personnel. Their directions carry the force of law.


• Tune your radio to those stations that carry the Emergency Broadcast System and listen for reports.

Exercise patience and caution while driving – Be especially watchful of other drivers and road conditions.

• Understand that the roadways will be packed with evacuees and driving conditions will be very slow. Don’t allow your temper to get in the way of safe driving behaviors.


• Hurricanes spawn tornadoes. If a tornado approaches, get out of your car and seek shelter in a substantial building or in a low-lying area such as a ditch or culvert.


• Watch out for flooded roads. If the road ahead is flooded, turn around and find an alternate route.


• Flooded roads may hide the fact that the roadway is washed out underneath.
  
• The roadway could collapse under the weight of your vehicle.


• As little as six inches of rushing water can force your car off the road.

If you can, avoid coming back home until the roadways have been cleared and power is restored. For more information on hurricane preparedness visit:


Additional Safety Tips for: Hurricane Seasons and Flooded Roads

Labels: driver safety, hurricane preparedness, hurricane safety, hurricane season

The start of June may mean many things to many people, like prom and graduation for teens, or the start of vacation, but it is also known as the start of hurricane season. Hurricanes, as we all know, cause strong winds and heavy rains, which may lead to flooding. In case of floods and hurricanes, preparedness and patience go hand-in-hand for survival.

Here are a set of guidelines when facing a hurricane/flood:

Stay tuned – Natural disasters like these are usually the time to fire up the radio. If it hasn't rained yet, or there are no warnings in your area, stay updated by listening to the radio.

Specifically, a radio that is battery operated and doesn't need to be plugged in. During heavy rain and strong winds, it is a good idea to turn off the power in your home, so a battery/crank-operated radio will be your lifeline to the situation.

Stock up – If you're one of those families who stock up groceries every week, find out what other supplies are needed. These might include: clean water, medicine, candles and batteries. Make sure the food supply will last for the family for a couple of days, supposing you'd be staying at home.

Check your house – Make sure that there are no damages to the house that might compromise its structural integrity during heavy winds. A cracked window may make for a potential accident waiting to happen. Keep away from windows during a hurricane. Turn off the power if there's a potential for flooding in the home. If you'll be staying in the house, it's a good idea to keep away from electrical equipment, as they pose threats for lightning.

If you need to drive – If there is an absolute need to drive, consider first the importance of driving. If it's to survey the surroundings, then don't. Next, consider the weight of the car. The lightest of cars are usually the first ones to lose control on the road. Make sure the gas tank is full, the engine is well-maintained and that the tires still have enough traction to keep on the road. As little as an inch of water is capable of making a vehicle lose control, so if you have to drive, slow down. If you have to drive for supplies, there's no need to bring the whole family along. If the family needs to evacuate, know the exact roads you'll be traveling in, bring cash that will last for several days and bring cell phones. Keep the phones in a higher part of the car, so as to avoid flood damage.

After the storm – There are typically more casualties after a hurricane than during one. Stay indoors until the news updates say that it is all clear. Do not attempt to use electrical equipment. Do not wander around. Keep away from fallen wires and puddles near them. Survey the damage in the house (if any) and find out what needs to be fixed/done to make sure that you and your family is a little safer.

To help you prepare for this season read more about how to deal with flooded roads.

Labels: driver safety, driving safety, flood waters, flooded roads, hurricane preparedness, hurricane safety