Virginia Tidewater Area
Severe Weather Safety Guide
This guide has been produced to offer guidance and
information on how you and your family should
prepare for and, if necessary, live through a
Hurricane, Tropical Storm or Severe Weather
Phenomena that hits the Tidewater area of Virginia,
USA.
Now is the right time to prepare for such an event,
not when it is 72 hours away.
We ask you to take time to read through this
information and, by taking steps that are appropriate
to your particular circumstances, you will ensure that
you are prepared and best equipped to deal with any
severe weather storm.
Risk Area
It is a well-known fact that the Virginia Tidewater area is susceptible to severe weather phenomena, with
most of us already having experienced hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes & flooding. Without doubt,
these destructive weather patterns are sufficiently volatile to endanger life and/or damage property.
Although severe weather can occur at any time throughout the year, analyses of meteorological and
oceanographic data for the Hampton Roads area indicate the most serious threat comes from hurricanes &
tropical storms and are most likely to occur during the annual hurricane season between 1 Jun - 30 Nov,
with August and September proving to be the most active periods.
The National Hurricane Center classifies hurricanes according to their potential for producing extensive
damage on a scale of 1 to 5. Much of the damage caused by a hurricane is a result of a "storm surge"; a
large dome of water pushed up in advance of a hurricane prior to making landfall. This dome of water can
exceed 20 feet depending upon the strength of the hurricane and tide conditions.
TYPE
Tropical Storm
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
Hurricane
CATEGORY
1
2
3
4
5
WINDS (MPH)
39 - 73
74 - 95
96 - 110
111 - 130
131 - 155
>155
SURGE
4 - 5 Feet
6 - 8 Feet
9 - 12 Feet
13 - 18 Feet
> 18 Feet
Storm Surge Inundation Map
This map indicates the projected hurricane storm surge flooding along coastal areas.
Every resident in the Hampton Roads area needs to know the risk of storm-surge flooding. The threat of
storm surge is the reason emergency officials would order an evacuation. An evacuation order does not
mean that everyone needs to leave in order to stay safe. Local officials will announce the exact areas where
people need to evacuate. If emergency officials order an evacuation for your area, leave immediately and
when you can, contact the NASG(TW) Support staff and let them know that you are safe and where you
are staying and how you can be contacted. Please remember that telephone lines may be down and
making local calls may be difficult.
"Preventing the loss of life and minimizing the damage to property from hurricanes are responsibilities that
are shared by all."
So are you ready? Let’s find out…….
Family safety
If you live in a storm surge area, especially those housed near the coast, make sure you have a plan in place
detailing where you are likely to relocate to should the evacuation order be given and by what route you
will get there.
It is likely that some public utilities will fail during a weather storm and it may take a number of days before
utilities can be restored. Loss of electricity is not necessarily a reason to move your family from the home,
however, if sanitation is compromised, serious consideration needs to be given to finding alternative
accommodation.
Give consideration to purchasing a generator. Have you taken out insurance?
Supplies
Since we live in an area that is vulnerable to hurricanes, it is a good idea to set aside certain supplies at
home throughout the year in preparation for major emergencies or disasters. After a hurricane watch is
issued, there is usually a very high demand and short supply of many items.
For example, a basic hurricane preparedness kit would include the following:
o Water – at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days
o Food – at least enough for 3 to 7 days to include non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices, nonelectric can opener, cooking tools/fuel, paper plates/plastic utensils, etc.
o Medical – First Aid Kit , medicines to include necessary prescription drugs
o Hygiene – Toiletries, moisture wipes or other items to maintain cleanliness
o Flashlight / Radio – Battery operated, candles or kerosene lamps
o Telephones – Fully charged cell phone and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set
o Cash – Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods
o Entertainment – Toys, Books, Games
o Vehicle fuel tanks filled
o Pet care –ample supply of food and water, a carrier or
cage, muzzle and leash.
If you stay at home
The decision to stay at home is not an easy one. If you are in a coastal area or are in an area prone to
flooding, you may be placing yourself and your family in great risk. But if you do decide to stay at home,
here is a list of things to do:

Stay indoors within an inner room on the lowest level away from doors and windows; move furniture
away from exposed doors and windows.

Do not go out in the brief calm during passage of the hurricane eye. The lull sometimes ends suddenly
and winds return from the opposite direction. Winds can increase in seconds to 75 mph or more.

If power is lost, turn off major appliances to reduce power "surge" when electricity is restored.

Protect your property from damage without taking any unnecessary risks. Temporary repairs may
reduce further losses from wind and water, but be careful!

Keep a continuous communications watch: keep radio or television tuned to receive information from
official sources. Unexpected changes can sometimes call for last minute relocations.
Remain calm! Your ability to cope with emergencies will help other members of your family. Stay calm,
reassuring and use common sense. Use the telephone or cellular phones only in the event of an emergency
or life-threatening situation.
If you evacuate
If State authorities order an evacuation, the appropriate military commands will do the same. Regardless of
whether an evacuation is ordered or you make the decision to move your family for their safety, the
following action items are suggested:

Know where you are going and leave early, providing sufficient time to avoid heavy evacuation traffic.
Evacuate in daylight if possible with a full tank of gas. Take only your most valuable possessions with
you; otherwise place them in high points away from flooding within your home. Listen to your car radio
for additional emergency information or evacuation routing problems.

Secure your home by unplugging appliances and turning off electricity and the main water valve.

Inform the NASG(TW) Support Staff where you are going and how to get in contact with you.

If time permits, and you live in an identified surge zone, elevate furniture to protect it from flooding or
better yet, move it to a higher floor.

Bring pre-assembled emergency supplies and warm protective clothing. Ensure you have blankets and
sleeping bags in the vehicle. Lock up the home and leave.
IF IN DOUBT, GET OUT!
Evacuation routes
If you decide to evacuate the local area, the following 2 routes inland are recommended.

I264/Route 58 West towards Suffolk.

I64 North towards Richmond.
Communications
Telephone & Cellular Phone Communications
Make only emergency telephone calls. Keep all calls brief. Report emergencies to 911. Be respectful of the
fact that emergency agencies and others involved with life or death emergencies will need to use the
communications systems. Telephone and cellular phone services will either fail or become overloaded
during a major emergency or disaster. Be prepared not to have services available.
Maintaining Contact
If your planned evacuation location changes before, during or after a hurricane, please ensure that you
keep the NASG(TW) Support Staff informed. Constantly monitor sources of information before, during and
after a hurricane for instructions on returning to evacuated areas and guidance on returning to work.
BayBrits website
For as long as internet services are available, the BayBrits website will be maintained and will provide
updated information on evacuation orders, contact information and guidance on returning to work.
Returning after severe weather
If you evacuated your home after an evacuation order was issued, delay return until authorized or when
recommended by local authorities or military Commander. It is recognized that if extensive hurricane
damage in the Hampton Roads area takes place, you may be pre-occupied with re-establishing your home
and situating your family. It may be difficult or perhaps impossible for you to report to work immediately
on a full time basis.
Checklist on returning
Beware of outside hazards: Watch out for loose or dangling power lines. Many lives are lost by
electrocution! Treat all downed lines as live wires and do not touch them. Report the fallen power lines to
your local power company or police. Stay inside your car if a wire is touching it, and wait for help to arrive.

Walk or drive cautiously: debris-filled streets are dangerous. Use hard-soled shoes. Poisonous snakes
and rodents may be a hazard. Washouts may weaken roads and bridge structures that may collapse
under vehicle weight.

Guard against spoiled food: Food may spoil if refrigerator power is off for more than a few hours.
Freezers will keep food for several days, if doors are not opened after power failure. Do not refreeze
food once it begins to thaw.


Do not use water until safe: Use your emergency supply or boil water before drinking until officials
declare the water safe. Check with your local health department or emergency management agency
regarding water purification procedures. Report broken water or sewer mains to proper authorities.

Loss of electrical power: If you and others have lost power, call Dominion Virginia Power using 1-866DOM-HELP (1-866-366-4357). Give your name, address and the general area of the outage. If the line is
busy, try again later. A busy signal means others are also reporting outages. Leave a light on so you will
know when power is restored.
Reimbursements
If you are ordered to vacate you home, you will be able to claim back hotel charges.
Should you choose to leave your home and find alternative accommodation, under certain circumstances
the Embassy may approve reimbursement of your hotel costs. For example, if you lose services such as
sanitation or you have an infant and the loss of utilities leaves you with no choice but to vacate to a hotel,
under these circumstances the Embassy would look favorably on your case for submitting a claim.
Please remember to retain all receipts. These will be needed when submitting a claim.
The responsibility to evacuate ultimately lies with you and your family.
Their and your safety is the most important thing to consider, even though you
may not be entitled to reclaim the costs it takes to preserve it!
Local Services/Utilities Contact Information
Police, fire, rescue: 911
Virginia Beach
Virginia Beach Line: 427-3580; then press:
• evacuation information, 492
• drinking water tips, 513
• hurricane terms, 625
• hurricane preparedness, 626
• information on basic supplies, 628
• after the hurricane, 632
• hurricane bulletins, 633
• shelter information, 630
• Public information: 427-4111
VA Pilot Emergency Infoline: 640-5555, 1237
Norfolk
Norfolk City Line: 664-4010
Police Non-emergency information: 441-5600
Portsmouth
Emergency Services office: 393-8551
City information: 393-8432
Chesapeake
Office of Emergency Services: 547-6464
Suffolk
Police: 925-6415; at night, 925-6350
Information: 934-3111
Emergency Services: 925-6414
Electricity
Virginia Power: 858-4660
Dominion Power 1-866-DOM-HELP (1-866-3664357)
Natural Gas
Virginia Natural Gas: 466-5550; after 5 p.m., call
466-5500
Suffolk: 539-2376; after 5 p.m., call 873-6200
Hampton: 873-1322; after 5 p.m., call 873-6200
Newport News: 873-6200
Commonwealth Gas: 399-3961 or 1-800-5445606
Telephones
Bell Atlantic of Virginia: 611
GTE-Virginia: 1-800-483-1000
Cox communications support 757) 224-1111
Water/Sewage
Utility Recovery systems: (317) 356-8980
Traffic
Highway Helpline: 1-800-367-7623
Info line: 640-5555, press 7874
Insurance Claims
National Insurance Consumer Helpline: 1-800942-4242
Virginia State Corporation Commission consumer
hotline: 1-800-552-7945.
Pets
SPCA of Virginia Beach: 427-0070
Norfolk SPCA: 622-3319
Useful Websites
Virginia Hurricane Evacuation Guide:
http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/resources/hurricaneEvacuation1.pdf
Hurricane Shelters in South Hampton Roads:
http://www.fincen.uscg.mil/pdf/Encl9_I5530.1_Emergency_Shelters.pdf
NASG Tidewater Det Team
Duty Mobile (24hr)
001 757 232 6633
Thank you for taking the time to read the Tidewater Severe Weather guide, we hope that it has provided
you with useful information and will enable you and your family to remain safe, calm and prepared for such
events in the future.
A word from Lt Cdr Gordon Jones:
A Guide to Weather Warnings in the USA
The US National Weather Service (NWS) uses a series of specifically worded terms when discussing
hazardous weather that the UK Met Office doesn’t. It can be quite disturbing the first time (or even the
sixth time) that your TV viewing gets disturbed by the siren and the warning that your region has been
placed under a severe thunderstorm watch, or even worse a tornado watch it doesn’t necessarily mean
that you’re about to be dragged of like Dorothy and find yourself surrounded by Munchkins and flying
monkeys!
The most important thing about these severe weather events is that the best solution for getting through
them is to be prepared, NSAG(TW) has a list of the recommended contents for an emergency box and you
can also get good information from Ready Virginia (http://www.vaemergency.gov/readyvirginia) or from
Ready Hampton Roads (http://readyhamptonroads.org/Practitioners/HREMC.aspx). Ready Hampton
Roads also includes high resolution storm surge maps so you can determine which risk zone your house is
in, normally when flooding is announced they will announce it by city and by zone, so you need to know if
you are in a “Virginia Beach Category 2” or similar.
Types of Hazardous Weather
The NWS releases warnings for a number of different types of hazardous weather, the three which are of
most interest are below;
Severe Thunderstorms – These are much more active than the majority of storms that we are used to
experiencing in the UK, normally accompanied by very strong winds in excess of 60mph and very heavy rain
leading to local flooding.
Tornado – A tornado is very difficult to forecast very far in advance, a storm may be forecast to have the
potential for creating tornados (a tornado watch) but the actual formation of a tornado would typically
only come with 5-10 minutes of warning. If a tornado warning is issued the best thing to do is immediately
seek shelter, these are often associated with severe thunderstorms so you will not be able to see the
tornado due to the storm.
Hurricane – A hurricane is a massive tropical storm system that forms over the sea and which contains very
strong winds, a lot of rain and is often associated with flooding. Atlantic Hurricane season runs from 1 May
to 30 November, with the Hampton Roads peak being 1 June to 31 October.
Types of notification
The NWS issues two types of notification for severe weather, a watch and a warning.
A watch means that there is a forecast that includes the possibility of severe weather occurring, these are
normally released 6 hours before the weather will actually occur for a specific region and are normally
issued for a county or a city (or a collective of them). A watch doesn’t mean that the weather will actually
occur; the NWS is not mystically better at forecasting the weather than the UK met office. In the specific
case of a hurricane warning this is the last opportunity you really have to start stocking up on your
emergency pack, but be advised, it’ll be you and a million freaked out Americans fighting over that last
pack of batteries and gallon of water in Walmart, you’re much better off planning ahead!
A warning means that the hazardous weather is actually forming AND is going to pass through the area in
the warning. This is the point at which you should be sheltering from the hazard and making sure that you
are SAFE. Most weather warnings will be issued about 15 minutes to an hour before the storm arrives, but
remember that a tornado warning could be much less time. Severe thunderstorms are typically 10-15
miles across, a tornado is typically less than half a mile, and hurricanes can be greater than a hundred miles
across.
In summary, a watch means “watch this space, more news may follow”, a warning means “be warned this
hazard is occurring in these regions”.
If you have more questions the please feel free to bring them up on Viva Virginia on Facebook or on Bay
Brits.
Gordon