PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 800 AM CDT FRI MAY 21 2010 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK MAY 23RD THROUGH THE 29TH... SUNDAY MARKS THE BEGINNING OF HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK FOR 2010. EACH DAY NEXT WEEK...STATEMENTS WILL BE RELEASED TO HEIGHTEN HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS. THE GOAL OF HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE HAZARDS OF HURRICANES AND PROVIDE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HURRICANE THREAT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. THE FOLLOWING IS A SCHEDULE OF THE TOPICS THAT WILL BE COVERED DURING THIS YEAR`S HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK: SUNDAY MAY 23...HURRICANE HISTORY MONDAY MAY 24...STORM SURGE AND MARINE SAFETY TUESDAY MAY 25...HIGH WINDS AND TORNADOES WEDNESDAY MAY 26...INLAND FLOODING THURSDAY MAY 27...FORECAST PROCESS FRIDAY MAY 28...BE PREPARED SATURDAY MAY 29...TAKE ACTION FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING HURRICANES AND HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS...PLEASE CHECK OUT THE LAKE CHARLES WEBPAGE AT (USE LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LAKECHARLES $$ PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 800 AM CDT SUN MAY 23 2010 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS ONE...HURRICANE HISTORY OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS... THE LAKE CHARLES WEATHER FORECAST OFFICE SERVES THE COASTAL AREAS FROM HIGH ISLAND TEXAS TO MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA. IN 2008...HURRICANE IKE BROUGHT YET ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT STORM SURGE EVENT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. THE COMBINATION OF IKE`S LARGE WIND SWATH, AND THE FACT THAT THAT THIS WIND SWATH PILED WATER OVER THE SHALLOWEST PORTION OF THE GULF OF MEXICO, LED TO VERY HIGH STORM VALUES ACROSS REGION. THE STORM SURGE ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS WAS THE HIGHEST MEASURED SINCE RELIABLE RECORDS BEGAN IN THE MID 1800S...WITH READINGS RANGING FROM OVER 14 FEET AT SABINE PASS TO OVER 18 FEET FROM NEAR SEA RIM STATE PARK WESTWARD TO THE BOLIVAR PENINSULA. FURTHER EAST ACROSS THE LOUISIANA COAST, STORM SURGE VALUES OF 12 TO 16 FEET ACROSS WESTERN CAMERON PARISH WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THAT OF RITA THREE YEARS EARLIER. ACROSS EASTERN CAMERON, VERMILION, IBERIA, AND ST. MARY PARISHES, STORM SURGE VALUES RANGED BETWEEN 8 AND 12 FEET. ANY STRUCTURE NOT ELEVATED WAS DESTROYED. IKE`S STORM SURGE DEVASTATED MANY COMMUNITIES ALONG THE LOUISIANA COAST, WHICH WAS STILL TRYING TO REBUILD AFTER HURRICANE RITA. CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WERE MEASURED ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY...WITH CATEGORY ONE CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED FOR THE REMAINDER OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND EXTREME SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA. HURRICANE RITA AFFECTED SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS SEPTEMBER 23-24, 2005. EVEN THOUGH RITA WEAKENED TO A 115 MPH HURRICANE AT LANDFALL...THE SIZE OF THE STORM INCREASED...WHICH SPREAD HURRICANE FORCE WINDS FROM INTRACOASTAL CITY LOUISIANA TO THE BOLIVAR PENINSULA TEXAS...AND INLAND TO TOLEDO BEND AND SAM RAYBURN RESERVOIRS. STORM SURGE EFFECTS WERE CATASTROPHIC ACROSS CAMERON AND VERMILION PARISHES. WITH A STORM OF THIS SIZE...AND THE FACT THAT RITA WAS A VERY STRONG CATEGORY FIVE STORM TWO DAYS EARLIER...A LARGER THAN NORMAL STORM SURGE WAS GENERATED ALONG THE EXTREME SOUTHEAST TEXAS AND LOUISIANA COASTLINES. STORM SURGE VALUES RANGED FROM 15 TO 17 FEET FROM HOLLY BEACH TO CAMERON...12 TO 15 FEET ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF CAMERON PARISH...AND 9 TO 12 FEET ACROSS VERMILION AND IBERIA PARISHES...AS WELL AS EASTERN JEFFERSON COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THE DEADLIEST STORM TO AFFECT OUR REGION IS HURRICANE AUDREY, WHICH MADE LANDFALL NEAR SABINE PASS ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 27, 1957. AUDREY WAS ALSO A LARGE STORM THAT INCREASED IN FORWARD SPEED BEFORE LANDFALL. THE STORM SURGE WAS THE BIGGEST KILLER IN THIS STORM...TO THIS DATE THE EXACT NUMBER THAT PERISHED IS STILL IN QUESTION, BUT ESTIMATES ARE OVER 500. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING HURRICANE HISTORY OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS...PLEASE CHECK OUT THE NWS LAKE CHARLES WEB PAGE AT (USE LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LAKECHARLES $$ PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 800 AM CDT MON MAY 24 2010 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TWO...STORM SURGE AND MARINE SAFETY... HURRICANES ARE SOMETIMES CALLED THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. STRONG WINDS...HIGH WATER AND WAVES ARE PERHAPS THE MOST VISUAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS SHOW. THE STORM SURGE AND HIGH WAVES ARE MOST DESTRUCTIVE TO COASTAL FACILITIES AND CAN CAUSE TREMENDOUS COASTAL EROSION. BECAUSE OF THE SHALLOW COASTAL WATERS OFF THE UPPER TEXAS AND LOUISIANA COASTLINES...STORM SURGES WILL BE HIGHER FOR A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE MAKING LANDFALL VERSES THE SAME STORM HITTING OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. AS PROVEN DURING HURRICANES AUDREY... RITA AND IKE...THE STORM SURGE CAN REACH OVER 15 FEET ABOVE NORMAL TIDE LEVELS. WIND WAVES WILL MAKE THE EFFECTIVE WATER LEVEL EVEN HIGHER. HISTORICALLY...THE STORM SURGE WAS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF DEATH FROM HURRICANES. HOWEVER...IN THE UNITED STATES...IMPROVED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT EVACUATIONS HAVE REDUCED THESE NUMBERS. WITH INCREASING POPULATION ALONG OUR COASTLINE...THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY DUE TO STORM SURGE STILL REMAINS GREAT...AS WAS THE CASE DURING KATRINA. THIS POTENTIAL IS INCREASED WHEN WARNINGS AND EVACUATION ORDERS ARE NOT HEEDED. INCREASING MARINE ACTIVITIES SUCH AS OIL AND GAS PLATFORMS AND MARINERS ARE AT AN EVEN GREATER RISK DURING HURRICANES. EVERY GULF FACILITY AND MARINER SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE OFFICIAL TROPICAL CYCLONE FORECAST AND ADVISORY MESSAGES WHEN STORMS ARE ACTIVE. THESE PRODUCTS SHOULD BE USED IN EVALUATING AND MAKING SOUND NAVIGATION AND PLATFORM EVACUATION DECISIONS. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING HURRICANE HISTORY OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS...PLEASE CHECK OUT THE NWS LAKE CHARLES WEB PAGE AT (USE LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LAKECHARLES $$ PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 800 AM CDT TUE MAY 25 2010 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS THREE...HIGH WINDS AND TORNADOES... THE HURRICANE DANGER DOES NOT STOP AT THE WATER`S EDGE AS DESTRUCTION CAN BE FELT WELL INLAND. THERE ARE UNIQUE PROBLEMS FACED BY THOSE LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE GULF OF MEXICO. ONE PROBLEM IS TRANSPORTATION. IN ADDITION TO A LACK OF HIGH CAPACITY HIGHWAYS RUNNING NORTH, THE ABILITY TO EVACUATE WILL BE HAMPERED BY EXPOSURE OF HIGH BRIDGES TO STRONG WINDS AHEAD OF THE STORM. EXPECT HIGH AND EXPOSED BRIDGES TO BE CLOSED BY THE TIME GALE FORCE WINDS ARE FORECAST. SUCH BRIDGES INCLUDE THE RAINBOW BRIDGE AT BRIDGE CITY, THE I-10 AND I-210 BRIDGES OVER THE CALCASIEU RIVER AT LAKE CHARLES, AND THE I-10 BRIDGE AT THE SABINE RIVER ON THE TEXAS- LOUISIANA LINE. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE ABUNDANCE OF LARGE TREES WITH SHALLOW ROOT SYSTEMS. IN ADDITION TO ROAD CLOSURES AND POWER OUTAGES, THESE TREES POSE A THREAT TO CRASH DOWN ON YOUR DWELLING. THIS CAUSED A LOT OF DAMAGE TO OUR AREA DURING RITA. TALL BUILDINGS ARE SUBJECT TO MORE DAMAGE THAN STRUCTURES CLOSER TO THE GROUND. IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT THE WINDS CAN INCREASE BY A CATEGORY NUMBER FOR BUILDINGS OF MORE THAN TEN STORIES. AS SHOWN IN HOUSTON DURING HURRICANE ALICIA IN AUGUST OF 1983...BROKEN GLASS CAN BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. DEBRIS SUCH AS SIGNS, ROOFING MATERIAL, AND SMALL ITEMS LEFT OUTSIDE BECOME FLYING MISSILES IN HURRICANES. GRAVEL USED FOR LANDSCAPING CAN BE DANGEROUS. A BROKEN WINDOW CAN COMPROMISE THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF YOUR HOME. THIS IS WHY WINDOW SHUTTERS SHOULD BE PART OF YOUR PREPAREDNESS KIT. NO MANUFACTURED HOME IS SAFE IN HURRICANE FORCE WINDS. THOSE RESIDENTS SHOULD EVACUATE TO A SAFER STRUCTURE ONCE LOCAL OFFICIALS ISSUE A HURRICANE EVACUATION ORDER OR RECOMMENDATION FOR THEIR COMMUNITY. FINALLY, AS A HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM MAKES LANDFALL, TORNADOES TYPICALLY DEVELOP OVER INLAND AREAS. THESE TORNADOES ARE USUALLY EMBEDDED WITHIN RAINBANDS WELL AWAY FROM THE STORM CENTER...BUT NOT ALWAYS. THESE TORNADOES ARE DIFFICULT TO DETECT BECAUSE THEY ARE SO SHALLOW...AND THERE MAY BE LITTLE OR NO WARNING. TREAT RAIN SQUALLS AS POTENTIAL TORNADO PRODUCERS AND GO TO AN INNER ROOM OR A BASEMENT WITH EACH APPROACH. BESIDES TORNADOES...SQUALLS FROM RAINBANDS CAN PRODUCE GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING HURRICANE HISTORY OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS...PLEASE CHECK OUT THE NWS LAKE CHARLES WEB PAGE AT (USE LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LAKECHARLES $$ PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 800 AM CDT WED MAY 26 2010 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS FOUR...INLAND FLOODING... WHEN IT COMES TO HURRICANES...WIND SPEEDS DO NOT TELL THE WHOLE STORY. HURRICANES PRODUCE STORM SURGES...TORNADOES...AND THE MOST DEADLY OF ALL...INLAND FLOODING. IN THE LAST 30 YEARS...INLAND FLOODING HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MORE THAN HALF THE DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL CYCLONES IN THE UNITED STATES. IN JUNE OF 2001...TROPICAL STORM ALLISON CLAIMED 41 DEATHS AND CAUSED OVER FIVE BILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE...DIRECTLY FROM FRESHWATER FLOODING. INTENSE RAINFALL IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE WIND SPEED OF TROPICAL CYCLONES. IN FACT...SOME OF THE GREATEST RAINFALL AMOUNTS OCCUR FROM WEAKER STORMS THAT DRIFT SLOWLY OR STALL OVER THE AREA. TROPICAL STORM ALLISON WAS A DISORGANIZED SYSTEM WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 50 MPH AT LANDFALL. HOWEVER...IT PRODUCED WIDESPREAD RAINFALL WITH SEVERAL ISOLATED LOCATIONS FROM HOUSTON TO NEW ORLEANS RECEIVING MORE THAN 24 INCHES. COASTAL AREAS ARE NOT THE ONLY LOCATIONS SUSCEPTIBLE TO INLAND FLOODING. IN JULY 1994...TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO CAUSED DEVASTATING FLOODING ACROSS CENTRAL GEORGIA...WITH HARDEST HIT AREAS FROM COLUMBUS TO MACON...SOME 200 MILES INLAND. WHAT CAN YOU DO? ...DETERMINE WHETHER YOU LIVE IN A POTENTIAL FLOOD ZONE. ...IF ADVISED TO EVACUATE...DO SO IMMEDIATELY. ...KEEP ABREAST OF ROAD CONDITIONS. ...MOVE TO A SAFE AREA BEFORE ACCESS IS CUT OFF. ...DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS FLOWING WATER. AS LITTLE AS SIX INCHES OF WATER MAY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE...TWO FEET OF WATER WILL CARRY MOST CARS AWAY. ...DEVELOP A FLOOD EMERGENCY PLAN. HURRICANE SEASON WILL ARRIVE SHORTLY...OFFICIALLY BEGINNING JUNE 1ST AND CONTINUING THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH. NOW IS THE TIME TO PREPARE FOR THESE DEADLY STORMS AND REMEMBER...WHEN YOU HEAR HURRICANE...THINK INLAND FLOODING. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING HURRICANE HISTORY OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS...PLEASE CHECK OUT THE NWS LAKE CHARLES WEB PAGE AT (USE LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LAKECHARLES $$ PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 800 AM CDT THU MAY 27 2010 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS FIVE...THE HURRICANE FORECASTING PROCESS... FORECASTING THE MOVEMENT AND WIND SPEED OF A HURRICANE IS DIFFICULT. A TROPICAL CYCLONE`S MOVEMENT DEPENDS ON MANY FACTORS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE RELATIONSHIP THE STORM HAS WITH OTHER NEARBY WEATHER SYSTEMS. THE STRENGTH OF THE INFLUENCING WEATHER SYSTEMS CAN DETERMINE WHETHER THE STORM STALLS AND TAKES UNEXPECTED TURNS. THE FORECAST PROCESS BEGINS AT THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IN MIAMI FLORIDA. THROUGH THE USE OF RADAR, SATELLITE, AND OBSERVATIONS TAKEN WITHIN THE STORM BY RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT, FORECASTERS CAN DETERMINE THE PRESENT STRENGTH AND POSITION OF A TROPICAL CYCLONE. THE FORECASTER USES COMPLEX COMPUTER MODELS AND THE FORECASTERS` OWN EXPERIENCE TO GENERATE THE BEST FORECAST THE SCIENCE ALLOWS TODAY. THE HURRICANE CENTER ISSUES THESE FORECASTS OUT 5 DAYS, OR 120 HOURS, WHICH REPRESENTS THE FORECAST TRACK OF HIGHEST CONFIDENCE. SINCE HURRICANE FORECASTING HAS NEVER BEEN AND WILL LIKELY NEVER BE AN EXACT SCIENCE, THE AVERAGE TRACK ERROR WILL INCREASE THE FURTHER OUT THE FORECAST GOES. THIS IS WHY ONE MUST NOT JUST FOCUS ON THE "SKINNY BLACK LINE," BUT RATHER FOCUS ON THE POTENTIAL AREA THE HURRICANE COULD AFFECT. THIS IS KNOWN AS THE "CONE OF UNCERTAINTY," AND IS BASED ON THE AVERAGE TRACK ERRORS FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. ONCE A TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMS, A TROPICAL ADVISORY IS ISSUED EVERY 6 HOURS, AND AS OFTEN AS EVERY TWO TO THREE HOURS IF THE STORM IS THREATENING LAND. THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ALSO WORKS WITH THE LOCAL WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES. WHEN A TROPICAL CYCLONE IS FORECAST TO MAKE LANDFALL, WATCH AND WARNING INFORMATION IS COORDINATED WITH THESE LOCAL OFFICES. YOUR LOCAL OFFICE, SUCH AS THE FORECAST OFFICE HERE IN LAKE CHARLES, TAILOR THE INFORMATION TO FIT THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL AREA THROUGH HURRICANE LOCAL STATEMENTS. LOCAL OFFICES ALSO KEEP EMERGENCY MANAGERS INFORMED OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE STORM. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING HURRICANE HISTORY OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS...PLEASE CHECK OUT THE NWS LAKE CHARLES WEB PAGE AT (USE LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LAKECHARLES $$ PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 800 AM CDT FRI MAY 28 2010 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS SIX...BE PREPARED... THINGS TO DO BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON: 1. CREATE A FAMILY DISASTER PLAN. TALK ABOUT HURRICANES WITH YOUR FAMILY...ESPECIALLY ANY YOUNG CHILDREN. KNOW THE VULNERABILITY OF YOUR HOME TO STORM SURGE...FLOODING AND WIND. DECIDE WHICH PART OF YOUR HOUSE IS SAFEST...SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO STAY. 2. REVIEW ALL INSURANCE POLICIES...KEEPING IN MIND WHAT TYPES OF DAMAGE (WIND, WATER, ETC) ARE COVERED. 3. HAVE A PLACE WHERE VALUABLE PAPERS...PHOTOGRAPHS...ETC...CAN BE KEPT...READY TO BE GRABBED ON SHORT NOTICE. THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT WATER DAMAGE IS TO STORE THE VALUABLES IN PLASTIC GARBAGE BAGS. 4. PREPARE WINDOW SHUTTERS OR PLYWOOD TO COVER DOORS AND WINDOWS. HAVE ATTACHMENT SUPPLIES ARRANGED FOR QUICK INSTALLATION. 5. GET A NOAA WEATHER RADIO WITH BATTERY BACKUP. IT`S YOUR FASTEST AND MOST ACCURATE SOURCE FOR WEATHER WARNINGS AND INFORMATION. PREPARATION BEFORE THE STORM. 1. CHECK STOCK OF CANNED FOODS...FIRST AID SUPPLIES...DRINKING WATER AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. PLAN FOR ONE TO TWO WEEKS WITHOUT BASIC UTILITIES. 2. GAS UP YOUR VEHICLE AS WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES WILL SHUT DOWN SERVICE STATIONS. GET EXTRA CASH AS ATM MACHINES WILL BE INOPERATIVE AS WELL. 3. PLAN TO EVACUATE EARLY IF YOU LIVE ON THE COASTLINE...IN A MOBILE HOME...OR IN A FLOOD PLAIN. KNOW EVACUATION ROUTES. CONTACT FRIENDS OR RELATIVES WHO LIVE INLAND AND TELL THEM YOU PLAN TO VISIT - HURRICANES MAKE GREAT EXCUSES FOR VISITING OUT-OF-TOWN PEOPLE! 4. KEEP YOUR PETS IN MIND IF YOU PLAN TO EVACUATE, SINCE ALL SHELTERS AND MANY HOTELS WILL NOT ACCEPT THEM. WHAT TO DO AFTER THE STORM: 1. LISTEN TO COMMERCIAL MEDIA OR NOAA WEATHER RADIO FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM LOCAL EMERGENCY OFFICIALS. WAIT UNTIL AN AREA IS DECLARED SAFE BEFORE ENTERING. 2. ROADS MAY BE CLOSED FOR YOUR PROTECTION...SO DO NOT TRAVEL ACROSS A FLOODED OR BARRICADED ROAD. 3. CHECK GAS...WATER AND ELECTRICAL LINES...AS WELL AS APPLIANCES FOR DAMAGE. 4. DO NOT DRINK OR PREPARE FOOD WITH TAP WATER UNTIL YOU ARE CERTAIN WATER IS NOT CONTAMINATED. 5. AVOID USING CANDLES AND OTHER OPEN FLAMES INDOORS. USE FLASHLIGHTS INSTEAD. 6. USE THE TELEPHONE TO REPORT LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES ONLY. 7. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL IF USING A CHAIN SAW OR OTHER MECHANICAL DEVICES TO CUT FALLEN TREES. MANY POST-STORM INJURIES ARE THE RESULT OF CHAIN SAW ACCIDENTS. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING HURRICANE HISTORY OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS...PLEASE CHECK OUT THE NWS LAKE CHARLES WEB PAGE AT (USE LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LAKECHARLES $$ PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAKE CHARLES LA 800 AM CDT SAT MAY 29 2010 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS SEVEN...TAKE ACTION... THIS PAST WEEK...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS BEEN PROVIDING YOU WITH INFORMATIVE STATEMENTS ON TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE PREPARATION. NOW IS THE TIME TO ASSEMBLE YOUR DISASTER SUPPLY KIT BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON STARTS. THIS INCLUDES ASSEMBLING YOUR DISASTER SUPPLY KIT AND WRITING OUT YOUR FAMILY DISASTER PLAN. ONCE A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED...CHECK YOUR DISASTER SUPPLY KIT AND ACTIVATE YOUR FAMILY DISASTER PLAN. ONCE A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE WARNING IS ISSUED...READY YOUR DISASTER SUPPLY KIT FOR USE AND USE YOUR FAMILY DISASTER PLAN. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING HURRICANE HISTORY OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHEAST TEXAS...PLEASE CHECK OUT THE NWS LAKE CHARLES WEB PAGE AT (USE LOWER CASE): HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/LAKECHARLES $$