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Hurricane Preparedness Week For South Carolina

 May 29th - June 4th, 2022

 

Hurricane Florence Makes Landfall In 2018

Florence Landfall


 

South Carolina Hurricane Preparedness Week is May 29 - June 4, 2022.  The National Weather Service and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division are teaming up to bring this hurricane safety campaign to all of South Carolina’s residents.  With warmer weather quickly approaching, now is the time to prepare for hurricane season.  If each South Carolina resident would take a few moments this week to learn about hurricane safety and implement a hurricane safety plan, then we would all be better off when hurricanes threaten our area.  Remember you should prepare EACH and EVERY YEAR, as it only takes ONE Storm!

Please join us in promoting hurricane preparedness during this year's "Hurricane Preparedness Week". The National Weather Service asks emergency management, public safety officials, local media and Weather-Ready Nation Ambassadors to help join forces in improving the nation's readiness, responsiveness, and overall resilience against hurricanes during the upcoming season. 

Visit https://www.weather.gov/wrn/hurricane-preparedness for additional National Weather Service Hurricane Preparedness information and material.

 

 

Hurricane Preparedness Week Schedule

 

Day of The Week Topics
Sunday Determine Your Risk
Monday Develop an Evacuation Plan/Know Your Zone/Storm Surge
Tuesday Assemble Disaster Supplies/High Winds
Wednesday Get an Insurance Checkup/Inland Flooding
Thursday Strengthen Your Home/Tornadoes
Friday Help Your Neighbor/Rip Currents
Saturday Complete a Written Plan

 

Click on the tabs below for more hurricane preparedness information.

 

 

 

Sunday

Determine Your Risk

Determine Your Risk

 

 

Determine Your Risk Where You Live

What Are The Impacts From Any Tropical System?

 

Did you know that hurricanes or any tropical system can have FIVE major impacts?  These include storm surge, flooding, strong wind, tornadoes and rip currents. Today's topic is determining your risk.  The entire state of South Carolina, from the mountains to the coast, is susceptible to hurricane and tropical storm impacts. The coastal areas of the state can be susceptible to storm surge, high winds, flooding and tornadoes.  The central portion of the state can be susceptible to inland freshwater flooding, high winds and tornadoes; and the western portion of the state can be susceptible to tornadoes, flash flooding, and resulting landslides from heavy rains. Even when hurricanes stay out to sea, the South Carolina coast can still be impacted by large swells and deadly rip currents!   

 

Why Should I Not Focus On The Category Alone?

The Saffir-Simpson Scale is a wind scale that uses WIND only to estimate potential damage.  Unfortunately this scale does not tell you about ALL of the impacts that a hurricane can produce.  It does not tell you how much rain will fall or how high the storm surge may be.  It does not tell you anything about potential impacts from tornadoes or rip currents.  It also does not give you information on how large the storm may be, or anything about the storm's movement.  In fact, water accounts for 90% of direct deaths from tropical systems, both from storm surge and flooding rain. Please keep this in mind this upcoming season.  Pay attention TO ALL of the impacts from a storm and not just the category.  Remember that Hurricane Florence was "just" a category 1 when it made landfall along our coast. 

 

When Is Hurricane Season?

The most active months for tropical systems in South Carolina are August, September and October.  However, hurricanes have impacted our state as early as May and as late as November!  The peak tropical activity usually occurs in a six week period from mid-August to late September, during which time our state can experience multiple hurricanes or tropical storms within weeks of each other. 

 

Historical Hurricane Tracks

Hurricane Return Periods

 

 

Hurricane Terminology

 

  • Hurricane Warning:  An announcement that sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are expected somewhere within the specified area in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the warning is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds. The warning can remain in effect when dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and waves continue, even though winds may be less than hurricane force.
  • Hurricane Watch:  An announcement that sustained winds of 74 mph or higher are possible somewhere within the specified area in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone. Because hurricane preparedness activities become difficult once winds reach tropical storm force, the watch is issued 48 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds.
  • Tropical Storm Warning:  An announcement that sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph are expected somewhere within the specified area within 36 hours in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone.
  • Tropical Storm Watch:  An announcement that sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph are possible somewhere within the specified area within 48 hours in association with a tropical, subtropical, or post-tropical cyclone.

 

Hurricane Information Infographics

 

 

 

View Video For More

 

 

 

 


 

Monday

Develop an Evacuation Plan/Storm Surge/Know Your Zone

 

 

Evacuation Plan

 

Storm Surge

One of the greatest potentials for loss of life related to a hurricane is from the storm surge. Storm surge is simply water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of winds swirling around the storm.  This advancing surge combines with the normal tides to create the hurricane storm tide, which can increase the mean water level to heights impacting roads, homes and other critical infrastructure.  The shape and orientation of our coastline put's us at risk for storm surge.  Most recently we saw devastating storm surge from both hurricanes Florence and Dorian. 

Develop An Evacuation Plan

The first thing you need to do is find out if you live in a storm surge hurricane evacuation zone or if you're in a home that would be unsafe during a hurricane.  If you are, figure out where you'd go and how you'd get there if told to evacuate. You do not need to travel hundreds of miles.  Identify someone, perhaps a friend or relative who doesn't live in a zone or unsafe home, and work it out with them to use their home as your evacuation destination.  If possible, have multiple options and be sure to account for your pets and put the plan in writing.

 

Know Your Zone

The Know Your Zone campaign was developed by the Horry County Emergency Management Department as a result of the information contained in the South Carolina Hurricane Evacuation Study (HES) that was released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 2012. Since it's creation, all coastal counties in South Carolina have adopted the Know Your Zone campaign as a way to let citizens know the best ways to prepare for the landfall of a major hurricane.

Evacuation zones highlight areas most at risk to storm surge and flooding. Local officials will determine which areas should be evacuated. Areas in Zone A will typically be evacuated first, followed by areas in Zone B, etc. While all zones won’t be evacuated in every event, emergency managers will work with local media and use other outreach tools to notify residents and visitors of impacted zones and evacuation instructions.

Please take some time this week to read more about Know Your Zone in preparation for this launch and coming hurricane season. To access the lookup tool and other resources, please visit the website by clicking on the image below.

 

 

 

 

Storm Surge Infographics

 

 

View Video For More

 

 

 

 

Tuesday

Assemble Disaster Supplies/High Winds

 

 

Assemble Disaster Supplies

 

 

Assemble Disaster Supplies

You’re going to need supplies not just to get through the storm but for the potentially lengthy and unpleasant aftermath. Have enough non-perishable food, water and medicine to last each person in your family a minimum of one week. Electricity and water could be out for at least that long. You’ll need extra cash, a 30-day supply of medicines, a battery-powered radio and flashlights. Many of us have cell phones, and they all run on batteries. You’re going to need a portable, crank or solar powered USB charger. Before the storm, be sure to fill up your car or a gas can.  If the power goes out, you will be unable to pump gas.  To learn more about what to include in your disaster supply kit, please visit http://flash.org.

High Winds

Keep in mind that even tropical storm force winds (39 to 73 mph) are capable of tossing around debris and causing damage. For this reason, you should seek shelter from the wind in a sturdy building as the hurricane moves inland and before the onset of tropical storm force winds. Tropical storm force winds usually strike hours ahead of the actual hurricane’s eye. For this reason many emergency officials typically have evacuations completed and personnel sheltered before the onset of tropical storm force winds.

Hurricane force winds can easily destroy poorly constructed buildings and mobile homes. Debris such as signs, roofing material, and items left outside become flying missiles in high wind. Falling trees cause extensive damage to power lines, towers and underground water lines. This can cause extended disruptions of utility services. Damaging hurricane force winds can be just as devastating as tornadoes.

 

High Wind Infographics

 

 

View Video For More

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find us on social media:

You can also contact:

Steve Pfaff (Steven.Pfaff@noaa.gov) for additional information about Hurricane Preparedness.

 

 

 

 Satellite image taken on September 21, 1989 showing Hurricane Hugo approaching the South Carolina coast as a Category 4 hurricane.