This is hurricane awareness week across the US as the National Weather Service (NWS) focuses on educating people about the dangers and procedures to be safe during the upcoming hurricane season which begins June 1. Today’s focus is on taking action for tropical systems.
-Brian-
NOUS44 KBMX 310923 PNSBMX ALZ011>015-017>050-010500- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL 423 AM CDT SAT MAY 31 2014 ...THIS IS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK... TODAY'S TOPIC: TAKE ACTION. THE GOAL OF HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION ABOUT THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH A HURRICANE, WHICH WILL PREPARE YOU TO TAKE ACTION AS A HURRICANE APPROACHES. THIS INFORMATION MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE, AT WORK, HOME, ON THE ROAD, OR ON THE WATER. EACH DAY OF HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK FEATURES A UNIQUE TOPIC RELEVANT TO EDUCATION AND AWARENESS. HURRICANE SEASON OFFICIALLY RUNS FROM JUNE 1ST UNTIL NOVEMBER 30TH FOR THE ATLANTIC, CARIBBEAN AND GULF OF MEXICO. TODAY WE WILL FOCUS ON TAKING ACTION. SURVIVING A HURRICANE ALL COMES DOWN TO PLANNING WELL BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVES. HAVE A HURRICANE FAMILY DISASTER PLAN IN PLACE. KNOW THE TYPES OF HAZARDS THAT COULD AFFECT YOUR FAMILY, AND KNOW YOUR HOME'S VULNERABILITY TO WIND AND FLOODING. IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE ALONG THE COAST, KNOW HOW YOUR VACATION AREA COULD BE AFFECTED BY STORM SURGE BEFORE YOU GO. ALSO, KNOW THE EVACUATION ZONE ALONG WITH A PLANNED ESCAPE ROUTE. ASSEMBLE A DISASTER SUPPLY KIT AND HAVE ENOUGH WATER, NON-PERISHABLE FOOD, AND MEDICATION TO LAST AT LEAST A WEEK IF YOU ARE IN THE THREAT AREA. DURING A WATCH, CHECK YOUR DISASTER SUPPLY KIT TO MAKE SURE NOTHING IS MISSING. ACTIVATE YOUR HURRICANE PLAN. REMEMBER A WATCH MEANS CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN 48 HOURS. A WARNING MEANS CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN 36 HOURS. WHEN THE STORM IS OVER, DON'T BE A SIGHTSEER. IF YOU VENTURE OUTDOORS, WATCH OUT FOR FLOODED ROADS AND DOWNED POWER LINES. WAIT UNTIL AN AREA IS DECLARED SAFE BEFORE ENTERING. BE PREPARED THIS HURRICANE SEASON. FOR ADDITIONAL PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION, YOU CAN VISIT THESE SITES ON THE INTERNET: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/BMX NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER WWW.HURRICANES.GOV HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK SITE WWW.HURRICANES.GOV/PREPARE/ FEMA WWW.READY.GOV AMERICAN RED CROSS WWW.REDCROSS.ORG/WHAT-WE-DO/DISASTER-RELIEF FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT METEOROLOGIST IN CHARGE JIM STEFKOVICH, OR WARNING COORDINATION METEOROLOGIST JOHN DE BLOCK OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM AT 205-664-3010. $$
