31 August, 2010

Protective Actions for Hurricanes

Hurricane Season Isn’t Over Yet
The District’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency Issues
Protective Actions for Hurricanes

(Washington, DC) –This past Sunday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) announced that Hurricane Earl had reached category 2 (sustained winds 96-110 mph) and was predicted to approach the East Coast by week’s end. Hurricane Earl has since escalated to a category 4 (sustained winds 135-155 mph). The District of Columbia, along with other local government agencies, regional business and Federal partners, such as U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have been closely monitoring the potential impact of Hurricane Earl on the District and surrounding areas.

Today, the National Weather Service (NWS), reports that at this time, Hurricane Earl is expected to have minimal impact on the DC Metropolitan Area. Heavy rains have been predicted to slightly impact the coastal regions of Maryland.

Hurricane season extends from June 1 to November 30. However the peak months for hurricanes are August and September. Although Hurricane Earl is not expected to have a direct impact on the District, The Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) wants to remind everyone to be prepared, be ready and have an emergency plan.

Millicent West, Director of the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency says, “District residents should begin now to prepare for possible power outages, flooding and other types of damage that frequently occurs as a result of all types of severe summer storms, including thunderstorms and tornadoes as well as hurricanes.” “Washington, DC is vulnerable to all types of severe summer weather, said Ms. West. “We should be mindful of these hazards and take steps now to prepare.”

Everyone should know the difference between a watch and a warning. A hurricane WATCH means that a hurricane is possible within 48 hours. A hurricane WARNING means that a hurricane is expected to arrive within 36 hours or less.

The National Weather Service remains the source of official severe weather watches and warnings, including flash flooding which can take only a few minutes to develop in the case of heavy rains which are often associated with hurricanes.

Please visit www.72hours.gov to learn more about how to prepare for emergencies of all kinds. A Spanish version of the FEMA preparedness website is available at www.listo.gov. To report a problem call the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center at 311.

Sent by DC HSEMA to e-mail....powered by Cooper Notification RSAN

No comments: