Becoming Storm Savvy
Busting Hurricane Myths
Basic Hurricane Information.
• Pinellas County’s Hurricane Guide
• www.pinellascounty.org/emergency
• Emergency Management: (727) 464-3800
• Front of your telephone white pages
• www.fema.gov
• www.floridadisaster.org
• www.flash.org
What is a myth?
• myth–noun Origin: Gk mŷthos story
– a traditional or legendary story, usually
concerning some hero or event, and
explains some practice, rite, or
phenomenon of nature.
– Any fictitious story or unscientific
account, theory, belief, etc.
Why are myths dangerous?
• They waste your time
• They cost you money
• They make you believe you are safer
The dirty dozen.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Window taping
It costs too much
Pressure differences
Total destruction
Vertical evacuation
High winds
Mobile home safety
Countywide evacuation
• Public shelters
• Evacuation order timing
• Government will provide
•
everything
It can’t happen here
Myth: My windows are
protected. I have them taped.
• “Taping my windows is cheap and easy.
Besides, everyone I see on TV is taping
their windows. It must be a good idea.”
Fact: Shuttering your windows
is the safe thing to do.
• Tape does nothing to protect windows.
• Shutter options:
•
– Plywood (min. 7/16” required – FL Code)
– Commercial systems
Large missile impact rated windows.
Myth: Hurricane preparation
costs too much.
• “News stories claim assembling a supply
kit for a family of four costs more than
$500. Who can afford that?”
Fact: Build your kit without
busting your budget.
• Inventory supplies already in your home.
• Buy a little bit each week.
• Buy only what you will use.
Myth: I’ll open my window to
equalize pressure.
• “If I don’t open the windows on the
opposite side of my home during a
hurricane, the air pressure difference can
cause all of the glass in my windows to
break.”
Fact: Keeping wind out of your
home is top priority.
• It’s not a difference atmospheric pressure
that causes failure – it’s debris impact.
• Wind entering through an opening can
pressurize air in the home, exiting through
the weakest point.
Myth: Everything will be
destroyed after the ‘Big One’.
• “No doubt, a hurricane’s massive winds
will tear everything apart. Protection is
pointless. Besides, I’ll build a new house
when I get my insurance check.”
Fact: Hardening your home can
help save it.
• Repairs are much easier than total
rebuilds.
• You may be able to live in your home if
repairs are minor.
Myth: When the storm comes,
I’m evacuating up.
• “My unit is on the sixth floor of the
building and it has shutters. There’s no
way storm surge or wind can get me. I’ll
be safe.”
Fact: Vertical evacuation
leaves you stranded.
• Wind speed increases the higher you go.
• Storm surge can wash out lower levels of
your building, preventing access after the
storm passes.
Myth: Hurricane winds can’t
be worse than thunderstorms.
• “We have bad thunderstorms here.
Hurricanes aren’t much worse. And, my
house was built in 1960, so it must have
survived lots of big storms.”
Fact: Hurricane winds are more
powerful than you expect.
• F = m x v2
– Example: 120 mph wind is nine times stronger
than a 40 mph wind (3 x 3).
• High winds can do serious damage, throwing
large missiles.
• Last hurricane to hit
Pinellas County was in
1921.
Myth: My mobile home is a
safe place to ride out a storm.
• “I have new tie-downs on my mobile
home. It was also built after 1994 to
tougher standards.”
Fact: NEVER ride out a storm in
a mobile home.
• Older homes not built to withstand high
winds.
• Newer homes rely on tie-downs to resist
forces – they can fail.
• Evacuate when ordered to!
Myth: There’s no safe place
when the ‘Big One’ comes.
• “Surely, there is a plan to evacuate
everyone from Pinellas County when a
Category 5 storm is coming.”
Fact: There are many safe
places to shelter from a storm.
• “Run from water, hide from wind.”
• Seek shelter in a wellbuilt structure out of the
evacuation zones.
• Some areas are less
than one mile from the
beach to a nonevacuation zone.
Myth: Why have an evacuation
plan? I’m going to a shelter.
• “I’ve been told that public shelters
provide cots, food and generators. Why
not use them? I can also bring my pet
with me to a shelter, right?”
Fact: Public shelters are safer, but
they are a last resort.
• Shelters do not provide bedding,
can be crowded and dark.
• Pets are only allowed at
certain shelters.
• Stay with a friend or
relative instead.
Myth: I’ll evacuate when the
weather starts to get bad.
• “The sun is shining. It’s a beautiful
beach day. Why evacuate now? Besides, I
have weather radar on my computer – I’ll
evacuate when I’m sure we’ll get hit.”
Fact: Evacuate when ordered.
• Evacuation orders are issued to protect
you when the threat of storm surge exists.
• Enough time must be provided to clear
residents from affected areas.
• Move quickly but safely.
Myth: The government will
provide everything I need.
• “I don’t need all those things in my
survival kit. When the ‘Big One’ hits, the
government will set up relief stations and
give me exactly what I need.”
Fact: Get supplies to last
AT LEAST 72 HOURS.
• First priorities are search and rescue,
opening hospitals and restarting basic
infrastructure.
• Field aid stations will
open, but it will take
time to get supplies
here on damaged
roadways and bridges.
Myth: It can’t happen here.
• “In Pinellas, we’re protected by an
ancient Indian blessing/our
geography/weather patterns. The storms
will never come here.”
Fact: It’s only a matter of time.
• Major storms form in the Gulf
– Wilma (882 mb), Camille (902 mb)
• Tampa Bay area is not immune
– 1835, 1848, 1852, 1872, 1873, 1887, 1892, 1894,
1899, 1921
• Close brushes since 1950
– Easy (1950), Donna (1960), Gladys (1968),
Elena (1985), Georges (1998), Charley (2004),
Wilma (2005)
Be prepared!
• Know your evacuation level and evacuate
when ordered
• Build your hurricane survival kit
• Prepare your home to withstand high
winds
• Monitor the weather daily during the
hurricane season
Stay in the know
• Weather Alert Radios
– Fast warning from the local weather office
• Local Media (Radio, TV, Newspaper)
• Community Notification System
– (888) 689-8905 from a cell phone
• Citizen Information Center (727) 464-4333
• www.pinellascounty.org/emergency
• E-Lert - Sign up today
Surviving the Storm:
It’s Everyone’s Responsibility
www.pinellascounty.org (727) 464-3800