Trying to Reason With Hurricane Season (Part 2)

Being Prepared, Possible Oil Spill Impact

By Allan Boyles


 A tropical storm system, by far, gives us more advanced warning than exists with any other meteorological anomaly. Hurricanes don’t just appear and strike. They begin as tropical depressions in the Atlantic Basin, usually near Africa, and travel at an average speed of 15 mph. There is plenty of time to get out of the way, but having a plan in place is the first point of preparation.  Part of your plan should consist of checking weather forecasts daily. CLICK HERE and bookmark for up-to-date tropical forecasts.

 

Secondly, you need a hurricane kit. The kit should contain enough non-perishable food for 3-4 days and a minimum of 3 gallons of water per person. Don’t forget the can opener! You might also want Sterno or a portable camp stove.  Of course, a first aid kit, along with any medical supplies and medications should be included. Hygiene supplies, including hand sanitizer or moistened towelettes. A basic tool kit consisting of a hammer, screwdrivers, pliers, flashlight, spare batteries, a camp shovel, duct tape, plastic sheeting should be part of your hurricane kit. A full change of clothing, bedclothes and bedding would be quite useful. A battery-operated radio, fully charged cell phones and car chargers will keep you in the loop. Remember that texting takes less battery power than calls and operates on a different system than cellular calls. Important documents, such as, identification, insurance policies, a map and important phone numbers, as well as pencil and paper should be included. Cash is important! These days we purchase everything with debit and credit cards. Remember, with no electricity, they will be useless. It is also important to include items such as board games, playing cards, crosswords or anything else not requiring batteries. These items will take up idle time and help relieve stress.

 

Third, be prepared to follow through with your plan should the time arise. Complacency is safety’s biggest enemy! 1 in 3 residents have no disaster plan! Now, with the focus on the Gulf oil spill, the sluggish economy and coming off an inactive 2009 hurricane season, it’s important that personal safety is not forgotten. A much more active hurricane season has been predicted. Florida emergency management is very experienced in dealing with hurricanes. It is wise to follow suggestions and mandates issued by county emergency management offices. Bay County uses public schools for emergency shelters and can shelter 15,000 people. Obviously, leaving the area would be best. The earlier you decide to leave, the less traffic you’ll encounter. It will also be easier to find accommodations. The later you leave, the farther you’ll have to drive to find accommodations. In any case, keeping your gas tank topped off will save a lot of stress and time. If you don’t leave in time, make plans to go to a designated shelter. Being caught on the road during a hurricane could be very dangerous. Shelters will be announced and opened with looming storm.

 

 

 

CLICK HERE for evacuation routes for leaving Bay County, Florida.

 

Should you decide to “ride the storm out”, keep in mind that the deadliest part of a hurricane is the storm surge. Also keep mind that over half of land-falling hurricanes produce at least one tornado. To help you make the wisest decision, CLICK HERE for an animation representing the Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity. Here are some informative links to help tourists and residents become knowledgeable and properly prepare for a hurricane.

 

National Hurricane Center Links:

 

Many are concerned about the effect a hurricane in the Gulf would have on the Deepwater-Horizon oil spill. First I should mention that while Panama City Beach has had some impact in the form of some weathered tar balls, this impact is quite manageable and is being cleaned usually before reaching shore. The beaches are still beautiful and the water is warm and clear. Panama City Beach is open for business!

 

 

 Emergency management officials have little to no experience with the impact of hurricanes on oil spills. Most experts feel that the oil spill will not affect speed, direction or intensity of such a storm as the typical hurricane covers vastly more area than the present oil slick in the Gulf. With that being said, a hurricane could have many different effects on the oil slick. There are those that believe storm surge from a hurricane could dilute the surface oil to a point that major environmental damage would be less likely. Most agree that a hurricane’s impact would cause spreading, dispersing, weathering and degrading of the oil. The greatest fear is oil being transported to coasts it might not have otherwise reached. Some also feel that storm surge could help clean already soiled coasts.