You can make an informed decision about when to stay or leave during a storm by knowing the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning.
A hurricane warningHurricane conditions are expected to be severe, with sustained winds at least 74 mph. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, hurricane warnings are issued 36 hours before the onset tropical storm-force winds. This allows for preparations.
A hurricane watchHurricane conditions are possible. Watches can be issued 48 hours before the arrival of tropical storm winds.
NOAA advises you to make storm preparations during a hurricane warning. If local officials direct you, you should also be ready to evacuate. You should also review your evacuation plans in the event of a hurricane warning, according to NOAA.
The United States’ local emergency management takes evacuation decisions during tropical cyclones based only on the water and not wind, according to Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist who is also a spokesperson for the National Hurricane Center.
Dr. Jennifer Collins is a professor at The School of Geosciences at The University of South Florida. She said that evacuation orders must be followed. If you don’t leave when ordered, “it may be too late later,” she said, and you could put your life “at more risk.”
Dr. Collins recommends additional preparations, such as preparing food, water, and a first aid kit. He also suggests having backup batteries for cellphones, and cash in case A.T.M.s become unavailable. You should also have an additional folder that contains passports, birth certificates, insurance information, and your policy number.
It is equally important to plan where you will go during an evacuation. If staying with friends and family isn’t an option, call on the “strength of weak ties,” or people with whom you don’t often connect, Dr. Collins said, such as “a friend of a friend, a sister church or social group,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”
The National Weather Service provides a list of actions you can take to prepare yourself for a tropical storm. However, not all situations require evacuation.
If you are not ordered to evacuate during a storm the Weather Service advises that you take shelter in an interior room, closet, or hallway on the lowest floor of your home and stay out of windows until the storm passes.
Source: NY Times
