000 NOUS41 KBOX 161631 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-171400- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1231 PM EDT MON JUL 16 2012 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND... ...RULES OF THUMB FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES - PART 1... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED THIS WEEK AS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. WE WILL BE ISSUING A SERIES OF FIVE STATEMENTS...THE FIRST THREE WITH RULES OF THUMB FOR NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES AND THE LAST TWO WITH PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS. THE FIRST RULE OF THUMB IS THIS...ANY TROPICAL SYSTEM WITH A NAME IN THE BAHAMAS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO QUICKLY BECOME OUR BUSINESS. THERE ARE TWO MAIN SOURCE REGIONS FOR NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES... THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS OFF THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA AND THE BAHAMAS. THE CAPE VERDE STORMS CAN BECOME HUGE BECAUSE THEY HAVE A WEEK OR MORE TO TRAVEL ACROSS THE ATLANTIC...AND WE KNOW THEY ARE COMING WELL IN ADVANCE. BAHAMAS STORMS TEND TO BE SOMEWHAT SMALLER...BUT THEY CAN DEVELOP RAPIDLY AND IMPACT NEW ENGLAND VERY QUICKLY. IN MID-AUGUST 1991...A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS FORMED NEAR THE BAHAMAS ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON WHEN MOST EMERGENCY MANAGERS WENT HOME FOR THE WEEKEND. IT WAS NOT EVEN A TROPICAL DEPRESSION YET...BUT IT QUICKLY DEVELOPED INTO MAJOR HURRICANE BOB THAT SATURDAY. BY MONDAY... BOB HAD WEAKENED TO A CATEGORY 2...BUT HAD ACCELERATED AND WAS IN FOR BREAKFAST AND OUT FOR DINNER...LIKE MANY NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES. SPEAKING OF ACCELERATION...THAT LEADS TO RULE OF THUMB NUMBER 2. DO NOT CONCENTRATE ON WHEN THE EYE IS GOING TO MAKE LANDFALL. IF YOU DO...YOU WILL BE TOO LATE WITH YOUR PREPARATIONS. OUR STORMS OFTEN ACCELERATE UP THE COAST AND WHEN THEY DO...BECOME VERY ASYMMETRIC. THE IMPORTANT EFFECTS OF THE STORM ARE SHUNTED WAY OUT AHEAD OF THE EYE. FOR EXAMPLE...EVEN THOUGH THE CENTER OF HURRICANE BOB WAS STILL OFF THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST...COASTAL ROADWAYS IN RHODE ISLAND WERE CLOSED 12 TO 14 HOURS IN ADVANCE DUE TO COASTAL FLOODING. THIS WAS ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS IN THE OUTER RAIN BAND SQUALLS. AS ANOTHER EXAMPLE...THE EYE OF THE 1938 HURRICANE MOVED FROM CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA TO NEW HAVEN CONNECTICUT IN 8 HOURS...AT TIMES RACING NORTH AROUND 60 MPH! UNLIKE MOST STORMS... THE 1938 HURRICANE DID NOT WEAKEN ON ITS WAY TOWARD SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND DUE TO ITS RAPID FORWARD SPEED AND TRACK. SO...REMEMBER A NAMED TROPICAL CYCLONE IN THE BAHAMAS SHOULD BE MONITORED. YOUR SAFETY PREPARATIONS SHOULD BE COMPLETED...NOT STARTED...BY THE TIME THE STORM IS AT THE LATITUDE OF NORTH CAROLINA. DO NOT FOCUS ON WHEN THE EYE IS COMING ASHORE...BECAUSE NASTY WEATHER WILL BE OCCURRING 12 OR MORE HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE EYE. STAY TUNED TOMORROW FOR MORE RULES OF THUMB FOR NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES. $$ 000 NOUS41 KBOX 171326 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-181400- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 926 AM EDT TUE JUL 17 2012 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND... ...RULES OF THUMB FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES - PART 2... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED THIS WEEK AS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THE FOLLOWING IS THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF FIVE STATEMENTS...THE FIRST THREE WITH RULES OF THUMB FOR NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES AND THE LAST TWO WITH PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS. YESTERDAY WE DISCUSSED THE FACT THAT YOU SHOULD NOT CONCENTRATE ON WHEN THE EYE IS FORECAST TO MAKE LANDFALL...SINCE THE IMPORTANT IMPACTS OF THE STORM OCCUR WAY OUT IN ADVANCE OF THE EYE. ALSO ANY NAMED TROPICAL CYCLONE IN THE BAHAMAS SHOULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION. THE THIRD RULE OF THUMB IS THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE WITH RESPECT TO THE EXPECTED TRACK OF THE EYE IN ORDER TO DETERMINE YOUR MOST LIKELY HAZARDS. GENERALLY EXPECT FLOODING RAINFALL TO THE LEFT OF THE TRACK. TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRACK...DAMAGING WINDS AND STORM SURGE INUNDATION ARE THE MOST LIKELY THREATS. THIS IS NOT TO SAY NO OTHER HAZARDS WILL EXIST...MERELY THESE ARE THE MOST LIKELY THREATS. IT IS IMPERATIVE YOU DO NOT FOCUS ON THE EXACT TRACK AS THE IMPACTS WILL BE FELT MANY MILES AWAY FROM THE TRACK OF THE EYE. IN THE TEXTBOOKS...HURRICANES ARE PERFECTLY SYMMETRIC. AS THE TROPICAL CYCLONE APPROACHES...THE RAIN AND WIND POUND FROM ONE DIRECTION...THEN THE EYE MOVES OVERHEAD AND IT IS CALM...THEN THE RAIN AND WIND POUND EQUALLY AS HARD BUT FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THIS SCENARIO IS TRUE OF STORMS AT LOWER LATITUDES. HOWEVER...HURRICANES THAT AFFECT SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND ARE TYPICALLY ACCELERATING UP THE COAST AND BECOMING ASSYMETRIC. THIS IS BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSITIONING FROM A PURELY TROPICAL SYSTEM TO THE STRUCTURE ALMOST LIKE THAT OF A WINTER STORM. AS A RESULT...FLOODING RAINS TEND TO OCCUR TO THE NORTH AND WEST OF THE TRACK OF THE EYE. PARTIAL SUNSHINE OCCURS WITH ONLY SCATTERED SHOWERS TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OF THE EYE. BUT THAT IS WHERE THE POWERFUL WINDS ARE...AND WHERE THE STORM SURGE IS MAXIMIZED. AFTER THE EYE MOVES THROUGH...MOST OF THE RAIN IS OVER. IN TERMS OF RAIN THERE IS NO SECOND HALF. THE WINDS DO SHIFT DIRECTIONS AND CAN BE BRIEFLY STRONG ON THE BACK SIDE. TO ILLUSTRATE THIS RULE...TAKE HURRICANE BOB FROM AUGUST OF 1991. IT TRACKED NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. LESS THAN ONE-HALF INCH OF RAIN OCCURRED DURING THE ENTIRE HURRICANE ACROSS CAPE COD...TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRACK. SIX TO SEVEN INCHES OF FLOODING RAINFALL OCCURRED OVER FOSTER/GLOCESTER RHODE ISLAND... TO THE IMMEDIATE LEFT OF THE TRACK. THE STRONGEST WINDS AND HIGHEST STORM SURGE...HOWEVER...OCCURRED OVER CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS WHERE GUSTS UP TO 125 MPH OCCURRED. TROPICAL STORM IRENE IN 2011 ALSO EXHIBITED THIS BEHAVIOR...WITH DEVASTATING RAINFALL TO THE LEFT OF THE STORM TRACK ACROSS MOST OF THE EAST COAST. THE STRONGER WINDS WERE ACROSS CONNECTICUT...RHODE ISLAND AND PORTIONS SOUTHEAST MASSACHUSETTS...WHICH WERE TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRACK. IN 1955...TROPICAL STORM DIANE TOOK AN UNUSUAL TRACK. IT PARALLELED THE SOUTH COAST OF NEW ENGLAND...WHICH PUT ALL OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND ON THE RAINY NORTH AND WEST SIDE OF THE STORM. A FOOT OF RAIN WAS COMMON ACROSS A LARGE PORTION OF INTERIOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND...WITH THE JACKPOT OVER WESTFIELD MASSACHUSETTS...WHERE 18.15 INCHES OF RAIN OCCURRED IN JUST 24 HOURS. AS WITH ANY RULES OF THUMB...THERE CAN BE EXCEPTIONS...BUT THEY ARE RATHER RARE. ONE NOTABLE EXCEPTION WAS HURRICANE CAROL IN 1954 WHICH HAD THE HEAVIEST RAINS JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRACK. STAY TUNED TOMORROW FOR MORE RULES OF THUMB FOR NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES. $$ BELK/FIELD 000 NOUS41 KBOX 181325 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-191330- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 925 AM EDT WED JUL 18 2012 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND... ...RULES OF THUMB FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES - PART 3... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED THIS WEEK AS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THE FOLLOWING IS THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF FIVE STATEMENTS...THE FIRST THREE WITH RULES OF THUMB FOR NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES AND THE LAST TWO WITH PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS. YESTERDAY WE DISCUSSED THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW IN A GENERAL SENSE WHICH SIDE OF THE TROPICAL CYCLONE YOU MIGHT BE. TYPICALLY HEAVY RAINFALL OCCURS TO THE LEFT OF THE STORM TRACK...WITH STRONG WINDS AND MAXIMIZED STORM SURGE TO THE RIGHT OF THE STORM TRACK. THIS IS NOT TO SAY TO FOCUS ON THE EXACT TRACK. THE PURPOSE IS GET AN IDEA OF WHICH HAZARDS YOU ARE MOST LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE AT YOUR LOCATION. HERE IS ANOTHER RULE OF THUMB FOR NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES...AND IT WORKS PRETTY WELL. IF YOU WANT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE MAXIMUM WIND GUST POTENTIAL WILL BE AT YOUR LOCATION YOU CAN TAKE THE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS AND THEN ADD THE FORWARD MOTION OF THE STORM IF YOU ARE TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRACK...OR SUBTRACT THE FORWARD MOTION IF YOU ARE TO THE LEFT OF THE TRACK. IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE...WINDS CIRCULATE COUNTERCLOCKWISE AROUND LOW PRESSURE AREAS...SUCH AS HURRICANES. THUS...TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER...WINDS ARE BLOWING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH AND TO THE WEST OF THE CENTER...WINDS ARE BLOWING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. HURRICANES THAT IMPACT NEW ENGLAND ARE USUALLY ACCELERATING NORTHWARD ALONG THE COAST. SO...TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER...THE NORTHWARD MOTION OF THE WHOLE STORM IS IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS THE WINDS BLOWING THROUGH THE STORM...WHICH HAS AN ADDITIVE EFFECT. TO THE WEST OF THE CENTER...THE NORTHWARD MOTION OF THE STORM IS OPPOSING THE NORTH TO SOUTH WINDS BLOWING AROUND THE STORM...WHICH HAS THE EFFECT OF REDUCING THE WIND GUSTS OBSERVED AT THE GROUND. LET US LOOK AT A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES TO ILLUSTRATE THIS RULE OF THUMB...STARTING WITH HURRICANE BOB FROM AUGUST OF 1991. THE CENTER OF BOB TRACKED FROM NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND NORTHEAST ACROSS INTERIOR SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS AT THE TIME OF LANDFALL WERE 95 MPH AND IT WAS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 25 MPH. TO THE EAST OF THE CENTER...ONE WOULD EXPECT 95 PLUS 25...OR 120 MPH GUSTS. MEASURED PEAK WIND GUSTS WERE 125 MPH AT BREWSTER AND NORTH TRURO ON CAPE COD. TO THE WEST OF THE TRACK...ONE WOULD EXPECT 95 MINUS 25...OR 70 MPH GUSTS. OBSERVATIONS OF 65 TO 75 MPH GUSTS WERE COMMON ACROSS MUCH OF THE NORTHWEST HALF OF RHODE ISLAND. AS WITH ANY RULE OF THUMB THERE CAN BE EXCEPTIONS. THERE WAS ONE ISOLATED ANOMALY DURING BOB. THAT WAS WITHIN A BAND OF CONVECTION THAT OCCURRED IN CONNECTICUT...WHICH PRODUCED AN ISOLATED POWERFUL WIND GUST OF 125 MPH IN WETHERSFIELD CONNECTICUT. ON SEPTEMBER 21 1938...THE GREAT NEW ENGLAND HURRICANE OF 1938 TRACKED FROM LONG ISLAND TO NEW HAVEN CONNECTICUT...THEN STRAIGHT NORTH THROUGH WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS WERE 125 MPH AND IT WAS RACING NORTHWARD AT 60 MPH. MUCH OF SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WAS TO THE RIGHT OF ITS TRACK. USING THIS RULE OF THUMB...ONE WOULD EXPECT 125 PLUS 60...OR 185 MPH MAXIMUM WIND GUSTS EAST OF THE TRACK. THE BLUE HILL OBSERVATORY...LOCATED IN MILTON MASSACHUSETTS AT AN ELEVATION OF 660 FEET...RECORDED ITS RECORD WIND GUST OF 186 MPH. TOMORROW AND FRIDAY...WE WILL CONCENTRATE ON PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS FOR NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES. $$ 000 NOUS41 KBOX 191359 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-201400- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 959 AM EDT THU JUL 19 2012 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND... ...RULES OF THUMB FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES - PART 4... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED THIS WEEK AS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THE FOLLOWING IS THE FOURTH IN A SERIES OF FIVE STATEMENTS. ANOTHER RULE OF THUMB FOR NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES IS THIS...RUN FROM THE WATER AND HIDE FROM THE WIND. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THREAT FROM HURRICANES IS FLOODING...EITHER DUE TO COASTAL INUNDATION OR HEAVY RAINFALL. IN BOTH CASES...IT IS BEST TO LEAVE AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING AND SEEK SHELTER IN STRUCTURES WHICH CAN WITHSTAND THE WIND. THIS IS ALSO A GOOD IDEA FOR THOSE IN AREAS WHICH MAY NOT FLOOD THEMSELVES...BUT BECOME ISOLATED AS ALL ACCESS POINTS INTO THAT AREA ARE CLOSED. ALONG A COASTLINE...THE MAIN THREAT IS THE STORM SURGE. THE STORM SURGE IS SIMPLY WATER FROM THE OCEAN PUSHED TOWARD SHORE BY THE WIND. BESIDES THE INTENSITY AND SPEED OF A TROPICAL SYSTEM...THE ARRIVAL TIME AND SLOPE OF THE OCEAN BOTTOM PLAY A LARGE ROLE IN DETERMINING THE SEVERITY OF A STORM SURGE. A STORM SURGE ARRIVING DURING THE PEAK OF A HIGH TIDE WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN THE SAME STORM SURGE ARRIVING DURING A LOW TIDE. AREAS WITH A STEEP COASTLINE WILL NOT EXPERIENCE AS MUCH STORM SURGE AS AREAS WITH A MORE SHALLOW COAST. WHEN THE NORMAL TIDE CYCLE IS CONSIDERED ALONG WITH THE STORM SURGE...IT IS CALLED THE STORM TIDE. STORM TIDES IN EXCESS OF 15 FEET ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND COAST. STORM TIDES ALSO POSE A THREAT TO MARINE INTERESTS WITHIN CONFINED HARBORS. IN THE CASE OF BUZZARDS BAY MASSACHUSETTS...A STORM TIDE APPROACHING 28 FEET IS POSSIBLE IN A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE...DUE TO THE NARROWING AND SHALLOWING OF THE BAY HEADING INTO THE CAPE COD CANAL. NEITHER THE STORM SURGE NOR STORM TIDE ACCOUNT FOR THE LARGE... BREAKING WAVES ON TOP OF THE WATER. THE IMPACT FROM THESE WAVES CAN ALSO BE SUBSTANTIAL. FOR AREAS AT ELEVATIONS 10 FEET OR LESS ABOVE SEA LEVEL...THE THREAT FROM STORM TIDES SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED. THE THREAT FROM STORM TIDE IS TWOFOLD. FIRST...WATER IS HEAVY... WEIGHING NEARLY 1700 POUNDS PER CUBIC YARD. THE FORCE GENERATED BY LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER MOVING ONSHORE RAPIDLY CAN BE DEVASTATING AND PERSISTENT...SOMETIMES LASTING FOR HOURS. UNLESS A COASTAL STRUCTURE HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THIS FORCE...IT IS LIKELY TO BECOME STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND. ONCE A STRUCTURE IS COMPROMISED...ITS VALUE AS A SHELTER IS SEVERELY LIMITED. THIS LEADS TO THE SECOND THREAT FROM THE STORM TIDE...ISOLATION. THE STORM TIDE CAN ARRIVE SEVERAL HOURS AHEAD OF THE TROPICAL CYCLONE EYE...POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN THE CLOSURE OF EVACUATION ROUTES FOR AN AREA. EVEN IF THE DECISION TO LEAVE IS MADE...IT MAY NO LONGER BE POSSIBLE TO DO SO. DO NOT WAIT TO LEAVE IF ASKED TO EVACUATE. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR HEAVY RAINFALL FARTHER INLAND...AS RIVERS...STREAMS AND CREEKS RESPOND QUICKLY. TROPICAL SYSTEMS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TYPICALLY CAN PRODUCE 6-8 INCHES OF RAIN IN A 24 HOUR PERIOD...AND SOMETIMES MUCH MORE. FOR EXAMPLE... TROPICAL STORM DIANE ON 18 AUGUST 1955 PRODUCED 18.15 INCHES OF RAINFALL IN WESTFIELD MASSACHUSETTS...WITH ALMOST 20 INCHES TOTAL BY THE TIME THE STORM WAS OVER. RECENTLY ON 28 AUGUST 2011 TROPICAL STORM IRENE BROUGHT 6 TO 10 INCHES OF RAIN ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE BERKSHIRES IN MASSACHUSETTS AS WELL AS CENTRAL AND WESTERN PORTIONS OF HARTFORD COUNTY CONNECTICUT. IN THOSE AREAS STREAM AND RIVER FLOODING RANGED FROM SIGNIFICANT TO LOCALLY CATASTROPHIC. SEVERAL RIVER GAGES MAINTAINED BY THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SET NEW RECORDS. IRENE BROUGHT MAJOR FLOODING ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHWEST MASSACHUSETTS FROM GREENFIELD WEST THROUGH COLRAIN...LEYDEN... BUCKLAND...CHARLEMONT AND VICINITY...IN PARTICULAR ALONG THE DEERFIELD RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. THERE WERE NUMEROUS EVACUATIONS AND A NUMBER OF HOMES THAT WERE FLOODED AND OTHERS CONDEMNED. ONE BUILDING IN SHELBURNE FALLS WAS MOVED A DISTANCE DOWNSTREAM OF ITS FOUNDATION. ANOTHER HOME WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN WASHED AWAY IN LEYDEN ALONG THE GREEN RIVER. MULTIPLE MAJOR ROUTES AND HIGHWAYS WERE AFFECTED INCLUDING ROUTE 2...INTERSTATE 91...ROUTE 20...ROUTE 5...AND ROUTE 112. LARGE SWATHS OF FARMLAND WERE INUNDATED AS WELL. IN HARTFORD COUNTY CONNECTICUT...THE PEQUABUCK RIVER IN BRISTOL OVERFLOWED ITS BANKS AND FLOWED THROUGH MAIN STREET. UNFORTUNATELY...TWO PEOPLE WENT CANOEING INTO THESE FLOOD WATERS AND THEIR CANOE WAS OVERTURNED. ONE PERSON WAS RESCUED...ANOTHER TRAGICALLY DROWNED. OTHER STREAMS AND RIVERS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED IN THE AREA. IRENE WAS A STRONG REMINDER THAT IMPACTS FROM TROPICAL STORMS AND HURRICANES ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE COASTLINE. THESE SYSTEMS CONTAIN COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE THAT CAN BE TRANSPORTED FAR INLAND...CREATING DEVASTATING FLOODING IF THE CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE FOR PROLONGED TORRENTIAL RAINS. WHETHER FROM INLAND FLOODING OR STORM SURGE...THE GOAL OF EVACUATION IS TO MOVE FROM A NOT SO SAFE AREA...TO A SAFER AREA. THIS DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN EVACUEES MUST TRAVEL HUNDREDS OF MILES. IN FACT THE SHORTEST TRAVEL DISTANCE TO A SAFE LOCATION IS BEST SINCE IT REDUCES TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND MINIMIZES THE CHANCE OF ENCOUNTERING OTHER PROBLEMS ON THE ROADWAYS. ALSO REMEMBER IT WILL OFTEN TAKE MORE TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION. STAYING WITH FAMILY OR FRIENDS...OR EVEN AT A HOTEL...OUTSIDE THE AREA TO BE IMPACTED BY A TROPICAL SYSTEM IS IDEAL. ANOTHER GOOD IDEA IS TO ESTABLISH A COMMON CONTACT OUTSIDE THE IMPACTED AREA WHERE FAMILY AND FRIENDS CAN CHECK IN...AND LET OTHER FAMILY AND FRIENDS KNOW THEY ARE SAFE. WHEN EVACUATING...IT IS BEST TO USE THE ROUTES DESIGNATED BY AUTHORITIES. THESE ROUTES ARE OFTEN MORE CLOSELY MONITORED...AND ASSISTANCE CAN BE PROVIDED MORE QUICKLY. YOU CAN FIND EVACUATION ROUTES FOR YOUR AREA BY CONTACTING LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS. IF YOU HAVE PETS...DEFINITELY CALL AHEAD TO YOUR CHOSEN DESTINATION. MOST PUBLIC SHELTERS DO NOT ACCEPT PETS. IF A PUBLIC SHELTER DOES ACCEPT PETS...THEY MUST BE EITHER ON LEASH OR IN A CAGE OR BOX. DO NOT FORGET TO BRING PET FOOD...MOST SHELTERS DO NOT PROVIDE IT. CONSIDER ACQUIRING FLOOD INSURANCE...WHICH IS NOT A PART OF REGULAR HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONCERNING EVACUATION PLANS FOR HURRICANES... PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE OF YOUR STATES EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY OR OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY. OTHER SOURCES WOULD BE LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS AND FEMA. $$ BELK/NMB/FIELD 000 NOUS41 KBOX 201405 PNSBOX CTZ002>004-MAZ002>024-026-NHZ011-012-015-RIZ001>008-211415- PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA 1005 AM EDT FRI JUL 20 2012 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND... ...RULES OF THUMB FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES - PART 5... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS DECLARED THIS WEEK AS HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. THE FOLLOWING IS THE LAST IN A SERIES OF FIVE STATEMENTS. THE LAST RULE OF THUMB FOR NEW ENGLAND HURRICANES IS THIS...BE PREPARED TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT FOR AT LEAST THREE DAYS UP TO ONE WEEK. THIS MEANS HAVING ENOUGH FOOD...WATER AND MEDICINES FOR ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY. IF YOU HAVE PETS...DO NOT FORGET THEIR NEEDS AS WELL. A HURRICANE STRIKE IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND WILL DISRUPT NORMAL ACTIVITIES. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY FOR MANY ROADS TO BE CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING...FALLEN TREES OR DEBRIS. UNTIL THE WATER RECEDES...OR THE DEBRIS REMOVED...IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO TRAVEL. THAT MEANS NO TRIPS TO THE GROCERY OR CONVENIENCE STORE...OR RESTAURANTS FOR FOOD OR DRINK. THIS ALSO MEANS EMERGENCY SERVICES...SUCH AS POLICE...FIRE AND AMBULANCE...MAY ALSO BE INTERRUPTED. ELECTRIC AND TELEPHONE SERVICES MAY BE UNAVAILABLE FOR DAYS... INCLUDING CELLULAR PHONES. PRIOR TO THE START OF HURRICANE SEASON...IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO ESTABLISH A COMMON CONTACT WELL AWAY FROM THE EAST OR SOUTH COASTS. AS THE STORM APPROACHES... YOU CAN CONTACT THAT PERSON TO INFORM THEM THAT YOU HAVE MOVED TO A SAFE SHELTER. FAMILY AND FRIENDS SHOULD KNOW TO CONTACT THAT PERSON TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOUR WELL-BEING. PUTTING TOGETHER A DISASTER PREPAREDNESS KIT CAN BE VERY EXPENSIVE IF DONE ALL AT ONCE. TRY BUILDING YOUR KIT SLOWLY...BY PURCHASING ONE OR TWO ITEMS PER WEEK. A BASIC KIT SHOULD CONTAIN AT LEAST... * ONE GALLON OF WATER PER PERSON PER DAY FOR DRINKING AND SANITATION * NON-PERISHABLE FOOD AND A MANUAL CAN OPENER * BATTERY POWERED OR HAND CRANK RADIO AND A NOAA ALL-HAZARDS WEATHER RADIO - INCLUDE EXTRA BATTERIES FOR EACH * FLASHLIGHTS OR LAMPS - INCLUDE EXTRA BATTERIES * FIRST AID KIT * EXTRA GLASSES AND ANY MEDICINES * A WHISTLE TO SIGNAL FOR HELP * A WRENCH OR PLIERS TO TURN OFF UTILITIES * MOIST TOWELETTES...GARBAGE BAGS AND PLASTIC TIES FOR SANITATION * LOCAL MAPS DO NOT USE CANDLES OR AN OPEN FLAME AS A SOURCE OF LIGHT AFTER A MAJOR STORM. FIRE SERVICES WILL LIKELY BE DISRUPTED...AND A SMALL FIRE COULD GET OUT OF HAND QUICKLY. IF THERE HAPPENS TO BE A NATURAL GAS LEAK NEARBY OR SOME KIND OF FUEL IN FLOOD WATERS...A BAD SITUATION COULD BE MADE MUCH WORSE. STAY AWAY FROM DOWNED POWER LINES. THERE IS NO ADVANCE NOTICE WHEN POWER COULD RETURN TO THE LINES. OR...SOMEONE ON THE STREET COULD HAVE HOOKED UP THEIR PORTABLE GENERATOR IMPROPERLY. FOR MORE SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT SHOULD GO INTO A DISASTER KIT... PLEASE VISIT WWW.READY.GOV/AMERICA/GETAKIT /ALL IN LOWERCASE/. YOU COULD ALSO VISIT THE WEBSITE OF YOUR STATES EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY OR OFFICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY. $$ FIELD/BELK/DUNTEN