PeakHurricane Season Arrives On N.C. The 1989 Coast hurricane season, which June 1 he and ends began storms," advised. "They destroy more property and ful hurricane exercise in June have us the tools of all Nov. 30, has entered its peak months of threaten the lives of more than given hurricane-related deaths are caused by drown¬ and people any other we need to protect our coastal residents and visitors," seas rise of August, September October, according to Joe storm." noted. ing. Devastating ahead the storms and can Myers, director of the N.C. Division of Myers push the water level to over 25 feet in some areas. Emergency Hurricanes can cause extensive in coastal The a flooding greatest single loss of life from hurricane in This enormous wall of water. Management. areas and inland areas as well. Even a hurri¬ called a "storm North . though Carolina history occurred during the "Racer's surge" crashes against die land in a and cane weakens in force as they move inland, the storm Storm" in Octobcr 1837. An estimated 90 rapid unpre¬ "Historically, the most severe hurricancs occur can six to 12 inches early people dictable manner. The surge acts as a huge bulldozer produce of damaging rains. In died when the steamboat "Home" encountered the can fruiti the iniuuic of August through the miuriic of i969, Hurricane Camiile killed and destroy everything in its path. The stronger said. He more people in storm of! the coast and was destroyed. the the the will October," Myers added that Hurricane from flooding than died in Louisiana where hurricane, higher surge be. Chantal, which struck the eastern Texas coast is regarded as the most destruc¬ "The role of the Division of last she made landfall. tive hurricane to ever Emergency month, and serve as have struck the North Caiolina is to alert citizens of reminders that Preparedness and proper are the best Management potential dangers the next three months are months for hurricanc planning coast, making landfall in Brunswick County. Hazel that can result from hurricanes and prime ways to minimize the damage done by hurricanes. roared ashore on Oct 15, 19 consequential activity. "The of the Eastern 1954, killing people. flooding," Myers said. For more information on hurri¬ "The hurricane is the completion three-year North Damage estimates exceeded $125 million. canes and contact the most dangerous of all Carolina Hurricane Evacuation and theAsuccess- result flooding, Brunswick County Study of massive flooding, more than 90 percent Emergency Management office at 253-4376. WeatherWatchers OfAll Types Track' Tropical Storm Moves " more The Ifeel threatened, the better record I keep. I like to know where are, they HURRICANE tracking CHART e 46* because it threatens our REMEMBER. hurricanes are large powerful storm* thet can suddenly change direction. Check on the storm's livelihood frequently progress until sll Watches and Warnings for your area Bcxfon from the National Waether Service ere canceled. .Selene Robinson HURRICANE WATCH h"rTte*n'» may threeten within 36 hours S.w Resident . Be prepared to take action H a warning is issued Supply the by . . «0* BY RAHN ADAMS s Keep Informed of the storm's progress HURRICANE WARNING: humcene to When a slorm or hurricane is expected strike within 24 hours tropical brewing in . Leave beachfront and the more than a few low-lying arees Atlantic, people around Brunswick . Leave mobile homes for more substantial shelter County have more than a passing interest in it. . Stay in your home H it is sturdy, on high ground, From A1 Hinn at end not neer the beach but if you are asked to professional meteorologist the lesve National Weather Service office in to local by authontiee. Gol Wilmington, . Stay tuned to radio. NOAA Weather Redio. or 35" weather watcher Jackson Canady of Shallotte Point, to television for hurricane advisories and safety individuals like Supply resident Selene Robinson, the information. weather particularly the severe variety isn't just a topic of casual conversation. Hurricanes, the most powerful of storms, have made their marks on Bn-.nswick County and the south¬ eastern coast, even though the storms 30* are relatively infrequent occurrences here. The last major storm to threaten the coast was in August 1986. But in the backs of many people's minds is the idea that the area is long overdue for a severe hurricane like the devastating Hurricane Hazel of October 1954 or ISLANDS even powerful Hurricane Diana of September 1984. And the potential exists every hurricane season. For that reason, tropical storms and hurricanes arc serious business for many individuals, whether on a profession¬ al basis or not. 2cr Meteorologists like Hinn and Canady agree that this should be an active hurricane season similar to last year O S«*r> lt>and when 11 named storms formed in the Atlantic Ocean, although none of them seriously threatened the North Cttm G<*.*a Carolina coast. "In looking at the season, it would be an average season," Hinn said last week, basing his prediction on information from the country's most renowned hurri¬ cane expert, Dr. William Gray of Colorado State

University. . Hinn indicated that an average season consists of 10* 100 to 120 storm "impulses" forming in the Adantic «. near the coast of Africa; at least 10 named tropical storms; five or six storms that reach hurricane status (74 niph winds); three hurricanes that threaten the TRACKINGMAPSas such one ; and one that is a severe hurricane. the above help coastal residents stay up to date on the movement of a hurricane or other Service issues numbered tropical . The National Weather consecutively advisories at regular intervals stating the storm's position, intensity, speed and direction of movement. The He center is iatitude as hurricane emphasized, however, that hurricanes making position given by (such 20.5 degrees North) and longitude (such as 65.0 West), which can be piotted on the map. landfall in the Cape Fear region can be considered "rare Robinsons lived here in 1954 when Hazel swept the Tracking Dean named storms have events," since only eight have hit this area since the Brunswick County coastline clean. Before already occurred early this season turn of the Hurricane Dean changed its westward bear¬ and that two of them have made landfall, both on the century. Even though Hazel's 109-mph winds were consid¬ ing near and headed north toward Gulf Hazel's Legacy less than Hurricane Coast. But erably powerful Diana's 132-mph , Canady kept close waich on the storm, since long-time local residents like Mrs. Robinson, winds here in Hazel was more de¬ knew Getting Ready of September 1984, he it was following the "classical track" of hurri¬ In for the of a visit wife Supply farmer Harold Kobmson, remember aii structive because she made ianufaii ai preparing possibility from too well how high tide, caus¬ canes iiioi can end up threatening the southeastern Hurricane Dear., Hir.r. said Ac National Weather destructive those rare events can be. The ing a higher than normal . Diana hit at low United States. tide. Service office checked all of its equipment, including a Canady's interest in weather is on a different level "It was no wind-measuring station at Holden Beach. That device picnic," Mrs. Robinson understated from Mrs. Robinson's. An engineer at Atlantic Tele¬ was not about Hazel. "It just cleared the beaches, and of working properly, he said, and parts were those many phone Membership Corporation, Canady records local ordered to fix it immediately. Spare parts for equipment (people) that wouldn't evacuate (the beaches) weather data in his spare time and has served as a local in also were killed." deaths in the Wilmington were ordered. Ninety-five United States weather watcher for the Beacon, a Wilmington televi¬ Besides care of Hinn said were attributed to Hazel, which retained her destructive sion station and various taking equipment needs, the Middle Atlantic government agencies. his office gets ready for tropical storms and hurricanes intensity through States. In tracking tropical storms and hurricanes over the by adjusting the 11-member staff's work schedule. For The Robinsons, whose farm is well inland near few has past years, Canady learned that they are highly example, electronics specialists go on duty around the Supply, did not evacuate during Hazel. Mrs. Robinson . unpredictable Hurricane Diana being a good example clock when the office is in a "hurricane scenario," so chuckled as she recalled using an old oakoftree in their that because she the Bruns¬ that back 2? "harnmp.te.r" unpredictability, passed they would be on hand tn fix any equipment that yard ? to measure the storm's wick County coast, then circled back and made landfall might malfunction. Hinn said severity. "I figured that if it took the oak tree, it would here. He also take the house," she said. The oak still urged local residents to stay informed about gnarled stands. "Diana was probably one of the most frustrating the approach of storms by using weather radios and hurricanes to predict," Canady commented, also noting, tracking maps, as Mrs. Robinson does. "We For at least the 10 Mrs. like "Each one an encourage past years, Robinson, is individual storm." people to buy a weather radio," he said. many other local residents, makes a standard practice of He emphasized that coastal residents should 'They're very tracking tropical storms and hurricanes that form in the be always inexpensive." prepared for possible evacuation during hurricane The weather service transmits on a of Atlantic. She uses an hurricane season. "1 frequency ordinary tracking map think we have to be aware that this is going 162.550 MHz from the WWAY television tower near and her storm data. such as gets coordinates, direction to be a fairly active season," he added. Winnabow. Hinn said residents Brunswick and speed of travel, and wind speeds by to a Like also throughout weather listening Hinn, Canady predicted that at least 10 County can pick up the weather broadcasts, although radio. named storms will occur the current season, the is weak "The more I during signal from Shallotte to Calabash because feel threatened, the better record I which began in June and lasts until the end of the antenna is not she "I like to know pointed in that direction. keep," explained. where they are, November. The heart of the season is late and Still, he assured that the same lyr!)ii«" il lhrratpn« onr livelihood." August basic weather infor- September. maiirvn ran racilv he rerrivpft in She said one of the worst southwestern hurricanes she has ever Canady observed that weather patterns this year are Brunswick from tracked here was Diana. As a result County the Myrtle Beach (S.C.) of high winds and similar to those last year, when slightly more tropical weather service whose is rain in the storm, Robinsons lost half of their storms office, frequency 162.400 heavy and hurricanes than normal occurred. Hurri¬ MHz. Other weather stations can be received at tobacco crop and a shed that housed about 1 ,000 bales canes require ocean water temperatures of at least 80 162.465 MHz. SUPPLY RESIDENT SELENE ROBINSON of hay. to in degrees form and maintain their strength; tropical "I think the is we've some communi¬ stands her back beside . key got yard the oak tree that she "Weather to most if it's not too severe.is storms can exist water good as people with temperatures in the 70s, he cations out there, and the can said served her "barometer" during Hurricane just a nuisance," she said, "but to a farmer, it's his said. capability public stay Hazel in 1954. livelihood." informed," he said. 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