Storm Grade Terms Defined Advisory: Advisory messages are issued by the National Hurricane Center, concerning all tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes at midnight, 6 a.m., 12 noon and 6 p.m. These advisories are supplemented at 3-hour intervals when landfall is likely within 24 hours. An advisory gives details as to where the storm is located, its intensity, direction and speed of movement. Precautionary measures are given for ships and coastal residents near the storm center. Advisories are broadcast over most radio and TV stations. Tropical Storm Watch : Tropical Storm Watch conditions include winds of 39-73 miles per hour and a possible strike in a specific coastal area within 36 hours. Tropical Depression: A Tropical Depression is a closed circulation of low atmospheric pressure originating over tropical waters that blow counter- clockwise around a center at speeds less than 39 miles per hour. Tropical Storm Warning : Tropical Storm Warning conditions include winds of 39-73 miles per hour, which are expected to strike a specific coastal area within 24 hours. Hurricane Watch : Hurricane Watch indicates that a hurricane is near enough that everybody in the area covered by the “WATCH” should listen for subsequent advisories and be ready to take precautionary measures. Watches are usually issued 24-36 hours in advance of a hurricane landfall. Hurricane Watch conditions mean a violent storm has originated over tropical water with sustained (constant) winds over 74 miles per hour. Hurricane Warning : A Hurricane Warning issued by the National Hurricane Center means that sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher associated with a hurricane are expected in a specific coastal area in 24 hours or less. All precautions should be taken immediately. Hurricane: A Hurricane is a violent storm originating over tropical waters with sustained winds over 74 miles per hour. The winds, as in tropical depressions and storms, blow in a counter-clockwise direction around the center. Diameter of these storms range from 100 to 1,000 miles. To make predicted hazards of an approaching hurricane easier to understand, hurricane forecasters have developed a disaster potential scale which assigns storms to five categories. This scale is called the SAFFIR/SIMPSON scale. Wind: Strong surface winds can cause a barrage of sand and debris problems. Hurricanes can have sustained winds from 74 miles per hour to more than 200 miles per hour. Strong winds can sever power and communication lines. Branches from trees are severed and many trees are felled. Mobile homes and manufactured homes should be vacated. Roofs can be damaged and windows broken by flying debris. Poorly built structures collapse. Small craft are damaged or destroyed by being pushed up against their moorings. Winds in excess of 45 miles per hour begin to cause damage to traffic signals and trees. Tornadoes: Multiple tornadoes may form in the tornado feeder bands can cause small-scale destruction. These tornadoes can inflict tremendous damage without warning. Torrential Rain : Torrential rains associated with hurricanes and tropical storms can cause widespread fresh water flooding inland. Amounts of 20 inches or more are possible in a twenty-four hour period. Heavy rain will drown plants in low-lying areas and increase the probability of disease and pest infestation in those plants that survive. Insects, vermin, dead animals and polluted waters from sewage backup may create health problems. Life threatening problems are minimal. Storm Surge : The rapidly rising surge is the hurricane’s killer threat. Ninety percent of people who lose their lives in hurricanes do so by drowning. Rising tide levels from 2 to 25 feet can occur in SW Florida as the storm makes landfall. The amount of damage depends on the hurricane category, direction, size and landfall point. The storm surge causes salt water flooding crippling communication, sewage backup and drinking water to become contaminated. The surge flooding fills streets with debris. Clogs drains and washes out roads that are used for evacuation routes. SLOSH : (Sea, Lake and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) is a computerized model run by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) to estimate storm surge heights resulting from historical, hypothetical, or predicted hurricanes by taking into account it is used for determining the maximum surge for a location. FEMA: Flood Insurance Rate Map. Used to determine flood zone the community is in and whether or not insurance is required. Advisory Flags: Verandah Community Patrol will display at each gatehouse an advisory flag: Storm Advisory Flags Gatehouse Operations Performed Step 1 Yellow Flag Watch Tropical Storm Watch or Hurricane Watch Step 2 Red Flag Warning Tropical Storm Warning or Hurricane Warning Step 3 Blue Flag Evacuation Shelter closed; community to be evacuated Step 3 White Flag All Clear No Storm Threat Emergency Contact List American Red Cross......................................................................................... 278-3401 Fort Myers Shores Fire Department…………………………………………694-2833 Charlotte County Emergency Management................................................... 743-1270 Lee County Emergency Management............................................................. 774-8444 Lee Fire Department......................................................................................... 947-3473 Fire or Medical Emergency........................................................................................911 Fire or Medical Non-Emergency ..................................................................... 355-1600 Florida Highway Patrol.................................................................................... 278-7100 Florida Marine Patrol after 5:00 p.m. ..................................................1-800-342-5367 Florida Marine Patrol....................................................................................... 332-6971 Ft. Myers Police Department........................................................................... 338-2111 Lee County Sheriff’s Office …………………………………………….……793-9300 Gulf Coast Hospital........................................................................................... 768-5000 Lee County Emergency Management............................................................. 477-3600 Lee County Health Department ...................................................................... 332-9501 Lee County Humane Society............................................................................ 332-0364 Lee County Sheriff - Bonita Springs Substation............................................ 495-4500 Lee County Sheriff - Marine Patrol ................................................................ 964-2400 Lee County Sheriff - Six Mile Cypress Parkway Office................................ 477-1200 Lee County Sheriff - South District................................................................. 590-2200 Lee County Storm Hotline (when activated)..................................477-1900/477-1925 Lee Memorial Health Park .............................................................................. 433-7799 North Lee Hospital............................................................................................ 597-1417 Storm Information Hotline (when activated)..................................................335.2500 The Salvation Army, Ft. Myers ....................................................................... 278-1551 US Coast Guard ................................................................................................ 463-5754 Weather Information........................................................................................ 332-4030 Radio Frequencies In Progress On Property: Verandah Radio Controller - Irrigation - VHF - 457.55000 - 2 watts Talk Radio - 457.6000 - 2 watts Radio Controller - Irrigation/Talk - VHF - 456.7750 - 2 watts AM Frequency Radio Station Location 770 WWCN Ft. Myers 1240 WINK Ft. Myers 1270 WNOG Naples 1410 WMYR Ft. Myers FM Frequency Radio Station Location 90.1 WSFP Ft. Myers 93.5 WNOG Naples 94.5 WARO Naples 95.3 WOLZ Ft. Myers 96.1 WRXK Bonita Springs 96.9 WINK Ft. Myers 98.5 WDDR San Carlos Park 101.1 WAVV Naples/Ft. Myers 101.9 WWGR Ft. Myers 103.9 WXKB Naples 105.5 WQNU Naples 107.1 WCKT Ft. Myers 162.475 NOAA Weather Station Lee County Emergency Shelters • Alva Elementary School 21290 Park St. • Alva Middle School 21219 N. River Road • Bayshore Elementary School 17050 Williams Road • Colonial Elementary School 3800 Schoolhouse Road • Diplomat Elementary School 1115 N.E. 16th Terrace • Diplomat Middle School 1039 N.E. 16th Terrace • Estero High School 21900 River Ranch Road • Heights Elementary School 16200 Alexandria Court • J. Colin English Elementary School 120 Pine Island Road • Lee Middle School 1333 Marsh Ave. • Lehigh High School 801 Gunnery Road • Littleton Elementary School 700 Hutto Road • Mariner High School 701 Chiquita Blvd. • Mirror Lakes Elementary School 525 Charwood Ave. S. • Riverdale High School 2600 Buckingham Road • Royal Palm Exceptional Center 1817 High St. • Skyline Elementary School 620 SW 19th St. • Tangle wood Elementary School 1620 Manchester Blvd. • TECO Arena Interstate 75/Exit 19 (Corkscrew Road) • Three Oaks Elementary School 19600 Cypress View Drive • Three Oaks Middle School 18500 Three Oaks Parkway • Tice Elementary School 4524 Tice St. Southwest Florida Evacuation Routes WHERE TO EVACUATE - Based on Direction and Strength