Hurricane Awareness Information for Matagorda

Atlantic Hurricane Names
2010 Hurricane Names: Alex-Bonnie-Colin-Danielle-Earl-Fiona-GastonHermine-Igor-Julia- Karl-Lisa-Matthew-Nicole-Otto-Paula-Richard-SharyTomas-Virginie-Walter
2011 Hurricane Names: Arlene-Bret-Cindy-Don-Emily-Franklin-Gert-HarveyIrene-Jose-Katia-Lee-Maria-Nate-Ophelia-Philippe-Rina-Sean-TammyVince-Whitney
2012 Hurricane Names: Alberto-Beryl-Chris-Debby-Ernesto-FlorenceGordon-Helene-Isaac- Joyce-Kirk-Leslie-Michael-Nadine-Oscar-PattyRafael-Sandy-Tony-Valerie-William
2013 Hurricane Names: Andrea-Barry-Chantal-Dean-Erin-Felix-GabrielleHumberto-Ingrid- Jerry-Karen-Lorenzo-Melissa-Noel-Olga-Pablo-RebekahSebastien-Tanya-Van-Wendy
2014 Hurricane Names: Arthur-Bertha-Cristobal-Dolly-Edouard-Fay-GustavHanna-Ike- Josephine-Kyle-Laura-Marco-Nana-Omar-Paloma-Rene-SallyTeddy-Vicky-Wilfred
2015 Hurricane Names: Ana-Bill-Claudette-Danny-Erika-Fred-Grace-HenriIda-Joaquin-Kate-Larry-Mindy-Nicholas-Odette-Peter-Rose-Sam-TeresaVictor-Wanda
Hurricane names for the current & future seasons are listed above.
Particularly note-worthy (e.g. very deadly or very costly) hurricane names are
retired. These names rotate every 6 years (the 2016 names will be the same
as the 2010 names and so on through the years).
Hurricane: Know the Terms
Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a hurricane hazard:
Tropical Depression: An organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with
a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 38 MPH (33
knots) or less. Sustained winds are defined as one-minute average wind
measured at about 33 ft (10 meters) above the surface.
Tropical Storm: An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined
surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39–73 MPH (34–63
knots).
Hurricane: An intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a
well-defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 MPH (64
knots) or higher.
Storm Surge: A dome of water pushed onshore by hurricane and tropical storm
winds. Storm surges can reach 25 feet high and be 50–1000 miles wide.
Storm Tide: A combination of storm surge and the normal tide (i.e., a 15-foot
storm surge combined with a 2-foot normal high tide over the mean sea level
created a 17-foot storm tide).
Hurricane/Tropical Storm Watch: Hurricane/tropical storm conditions are
possible in the specified area, usually within 36 hours. Tune in to NOAA
Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.
Hurricane/Tropical Storm Warning: Hurricane/tropical storm conditions are
expected in the specified area, usually within 24 hours.
Short Term Watches and Warnings: These warnings provide detailed
information about specific hurricane threats, such as flash floods and
tornadoes.
If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately!
Listen to area media outlets for re-entry details.
What to Bring to the Shelter
aid kit
• First
prescriptions
• Medicine,
food and diapers
• Baby
• Games, books, music
players with headphones
• Toiletries
• Battery-powered radio & cell
phone
HURRICANE KIT
• Flashlights
batteries
• Extra
• A blanket or sleeping bag for
each person
• Identification
• Copies of key papers such
as insurance policies
• Cash, credit card
Assemble this now. Put aside in a special box in garage. Keep heatsensitive items inside home and rotate stock throughout season
Batteries (can go in refrigerator)
Flashlights and extra bulbs
Battery-operated TV or Radio
Fully charged battery-operated
lanterns (candles & kerosene
lanterns are fire hazards)
Extra batteries
Matches
Clock (wind-up or battery- operated)
Plastic garbage bags
Working fire extinguishers
Scissors
Toilet paper
Clean change of clothes, rain gear,
sturdy swamp boots you won’t
mind throwing away later
An inexpensive rabbit-ears television
antenna to use when cable goes
out
Map of the area List of phone
numbers
Copy of insurance policy
During an emergency, log on to the Bay City website at www.cityofbaycity.org
or the Bay City Tribune website at www.baycitytribune.com to see updates for
Matagorda County residents - which will include re-entry details.
Program Organizers
Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Texas Sea Grant College Program
City of Bay City
City of Palacios
American Red Cross - Rio Colorado Chapter
Bay City Chamber of Commerce
Matagorda County Hospital District
Matagorda County Emergency Management
The Bay City Tribune
The Local Emergency Planning Committee
Palacios Beacon
Pictures: www.tpicks.com
TAMU-SG-10-106R April 2010
for Matagorda County
Hurricane Assistance Information
COUNTY — for emergency information about Matagorda County
www.co.matagorda.tx.us
Bay City Police Department 979-245-8500
Palacios Police Department 361-972-3112
Matagorda County Sheriff 979-245-5526
Matagorda Co. Emergency Management Office 979-323-0707 d.matthes@co.matagorda.tx.us
American Red Cross-Rio Colorado Chapter 979-245-3056
www.riocoloradoarc.org
Texas AgriLife Extension Office 979-245-4100
Local Radio Stations
KMKS 102.5 979-244-4242
KKHA 92.5 979-323-7771
County Emergency Operation Center—Public Information
*Only active during actual emergencies 979-244-5318
For life-threatening situations 911
STATE — A statewide telecommunications network providing
24/7 evacuation, shelter and general information during a disaster.
The Texas Information and Referral Network 211
Hurricane Preparedness & Evacuation
www.governor.state.tx.us/priorities/health_safety/hurricane
Prescription Emergency Refill Information
www.tsbp.state.tx.us/hurricaneinfo.htm
Texas Coastal Evacuation Routes
www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/hurricane.htm
Texas Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)
www.texashelp.tamu.edu
Texas Governor’s Div. of Emergency Mgmt. - Situation Reports
www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/sitrepindex.htm
Texas Road Conditions www.dot.state.tx.us
Windstorm Insurance Inspections www.tdi.state.tx.us
1-800-252-3439 or Bay City # 979-244-9451
To report price gouging for fuel & gasoline
State Attorney General’s office 1-800-252-8011
Emergency Info — WEBSITES
For evacuation tips, recommended items to take, etc. www.ready.gov
American Red Cross www.redcross.org
1-866-438-4636 or 1-866-GET-INFO
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Aid) www.fema.gov
1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-621-FEMA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration www.noaa.com
National Weather Service www.nws.noaa.gov
City of Bay City
www.cityofbaycity.org
Bay City Tribune—Updates for Matagorda County www.baycitytribune.com
How to Survive Hurricane Season
Hurricane season officially begins in June. START TODAY. Decide what you need to protect. Write up a detailed disaster plan. Make sure your
home insurance plan covers flood damage.
your loved ones on your disaster plan. What if you get separated during
away disaster supplies. Check and test them regularly. Good rules of
•Brief
•Lay
the storm? There will be no one looking out for you in all the chaos! Decide on a
thumb: military-style food pouches (MRE’s) have a 7-year shelf life; canned
safe place to meet up.
up critical papers like documentation and prescriptions. Make photocopies
•Back
of your passport, driver’s license, latest prescriptions, SSN cards, birth
•
•
certificates, tax records, and property deeds. Put them in ZipLoc bags and send
them someplace where water can’t get to them. Alternately, scan them in and
send them as PDFs to a special web-based e-mail account (such as Gmail).
You can then access these records from anywhere. (Be aware this does open
you to a certain risk of hackers.)
Take photos of the outside and inside of your house. You need these for
insurance purposes. Zip them in you secure e-mail account.
Learn how to protect your property. Home Depot and other stores often have
classes that teach you how to install storm shutters. Invest in hurricane supplies
for your property. Don’t get caught in the last-minute rush for plywood, tarps,
rope, chainsaws, duct tape and other critical items. Prices go up, availability
goes down.
•
•
•
•
foods are good for 2 years; bottles water should be rotated every six months
(for taste); batteries are often good for 3 years of more. In any case, check the
“best-before” date on packages and update regularly.
Invest in a good battery operated radio and a weather radio. If you have a
radio, you will be able to hear local stations that have connections with the local
disaster authorities. AM radio is better in a hurricane because FM towers are in
exposed locations (so they blow over more easily).
If you are told to evacuate. NEVER TRY TO RIDE IT OUT AT HOME! It’s not
cool, if you’re told to get out – GET OUT. You will put other people at risk when
they have to come for you.
Can’t get out? Batten down the hatches! Stay away from windows. Get into an
interior room. Monitor the situation constantly. Listen to the radio for updates.
After the hurricane, stay put. Unless your life is in danger, the smartest move is
to stay where you are. Electricity will be restored and the world will come back.
Stay tuned to the radio.
HURRICANE CHECKLIST
Buy supplies early to prepare for the storm. When the storm threatens, lines will be long and supplies short. Get enough nonperishable foods now for two weeks. Then put
them in a box and leave them alone Don’t buy foods that are salty or dry or high in fat or protein; they’ll make you thirsty.
FOOD SUPPLY
Water: 3 gallons per person/
per day
Ice
Shelf-package juice and milk
boxes
KITCHEN ITEMS
Manual can opener
Bottle opener
BABY NEEDS
Disposable diapers
Wipes
Diaper-rash ointment,
petroleum jelly
HARDWARE
Canned and powdered milk
Beverages (powdered or
canned, fruit juices, instant
coffee, tea)
Prepared foods (canned
Matches in a plastic bag
Ice chests or coolers
Paper plates, napkins
Baby medicines (pain,
cold, cough)
Medicine dropper
Extra formula, baby food
Hand tools - hammer, screwdrivers to
use now, shovel and pickax for after
the storm
Power screwdriver 4-by 8-foot sheets of
plywood 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch thick to
put over your windows.
soups, beef, spaghetti, tuna,
chicken, ham, corned beef
hash, packaged pudding)
Canned vegetables and fruits
Dried fruits
Plastic cups, knives,
forks, spoons
EMERGENCY TOILET
Small can or garbage
can with tight lid
Plastic bags for liners
Make sure you ask for exterior plywood.
1/4-inch machine screw sockets and
screws
Plastic sheeting to cover furniture
Rope
Sturdy working gloves
Snacks (crackers, cookies,
hard candy, nuts)
Snack spreads (peanut butter,
cheese spreads, jelly)
Cereals
Disinfectant or bleach
Deodorizer
Raw vegetables
Sugar, salt, pepper
Bread
Dry and canned pet food
Extra formula, baby food
Pocket knife - preferably
Swiss Army-style
Camp stove & fuel —
Do not use charcoal
MEDICAL NEEDS
Drugstores will be mobbed just before a storm
& closed for days after.
Keep a 2-week supply of prescription drugs
Duct tape to waterproof items. Masking
tape isn’t strong enough
Canvas tarps
Nails. There are many kinds, so look
over your home now & determine
what you will need. A nail too small,
the wrong shape or hammered in
wrong will fail, & that will give the
storm the breach it needs to get into
your home.