About Hurricanes TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Hurricanes form over warm 5805 N LAMAR BLVD • BOX 4087 • AUSTIN, TEXAS 78773-0001 ocean waters, like those 512/424-2000 www.dps.texas.gov found in the Gulf of Mexico. The hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November STEVEN C. McCRAW COMMISSION DIRECTOR A. CYNTHIA LEON, CHAIR 30. The peak threat for DAVID G. BAKER MANNY FLORES ROBERT J. BODISCH, SR. FAITH JOHNSON the Texas coast exists from DEPUTY DIRECTORS STEVEN P. MACH RANDY WATSON August through September. Dear Colleagues: However, hurricanes can Hurricanes are deadly and destructive threats to communities along the Texas coastline. Along with high and have struck the Texas winds, tropical systems can produce immense storm surge, violent tornados, and dangerous flooding. coast during every month of the hurricane season. In order to help citizens prepare, the National Weather Service has once again collaborated with local nonprofit organizations and the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management to bring you the Official Texas Hurricane Guide. It is especially crucial for coastal residents to plan and prepare for each type of hurricane hazard to prevent and reduce the loss of life and property and improve community resilience. Above: High resolution satellite image of Hurricane Ike This guide is an up-to-date, easy-to-use resource that will help you and your family better understand what over the northwest Gulf of Mexico. Image--NASA to do before, during and after a storm. It will also assist your family with the preparation of a family emergency plan, checklists and a disaster supply kit. Families should review emergency plans and checklists on a regular basis. You can increase situational awareness by monitoring statements issued by the National Hurricane Center, watches and warnings issued by National Weather Service offices in Texas and broadcasts from NOAA weather radio and local media. The emergency management community and its partners are committed to keeping Texans safe when tropical systems threaten our coastal areas. You can be a proactive and resilient household within your community by reading this guide and preparing your family in advance. For additional information about building and strengthening community resilience, you can visit Weather-Ready Nation at www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation. I thank you for your continued dedication to year-round personal preparedness and for your preparations this hurricane season. Be informed. Be prepared. Be involved. Respectfully, W. Nim Kidd, CEM®, TEM® Above: Historical perspective of hurricane landfalls in Chief Texas since 1851. Texas Division of Emergency Management Assistant Director Texas Homeland Security Since 1851, 63 hurricanes have struck the Texas coast. Texas Department of Public Safety @chiefkidd on Twitter That is one every three years on average. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COURTESY • SERVICE • PROTECTION 2 rio grande valley edition rio grande valley edition 3 Storm Surge Storm Surge Storm surge and large waves Coastal Cameron County produced by hurricanes pose the greatest threat to life and property along the coast. )"107 !Rio Hondo )"106 Storm Surge is an abnormal W Harrison Harlingen ! d Laguna R rise of water generated )"345 e n i L by a storm’s winds. Storm s e d Madre e r surge can reach heights a San Benito P ! ! well over 20 feet and can )"510 Bayview South ! span hundreds of miles of !Laguna Vista Padre Island coastline. Los Fresnos Port Isabel ! ! 7¤£7/83 )"100 Storm Tide is the water level ! Rancho Viejo rise during a storm due to ¤£281 Water Depth the combination of storm Above: Home flooded by the storm surge from Hurricane Ike Assumes 25 Ft Storm Surge lvd ton B surge and the astronomical in Bridge City, TX. -- TX DPS No Inundation W Al )"48 )"511 tide. <2 Feet 2 - 4 Feet )"802 )"4 ! 4 - 6 Feet The destructive power 6 - 8 Feet Brownsville of storm surge and large 8 - 10 Feet battering waves can result 10 - 15 Feet >15 Feet in loss of life, buildings : destroyed, beach and dune 0 2 4 8 12 16 Miles erosion and road and bridge damage along the coast. Above: This map indicates the height of the water above ground level for a storm surge of 25 feet. Accuracy is +/- 20%. Storm Surge Can Be Deadly! Use these Tips to Be Ready • Storm surge can occur well before and after the center of the storm passes. Prior to Hurricane Ike, storm tides flooded the Bolivar Peninsula when the skies were sunny and the winds were light. Do not wait until the last minute to leave when an evacuation is ordered. “The greatest potential for loss of life related to a • Storm surge flooding may extend many miles inland from the coastline, dependent on elevation of the coastal areas. Find out today if you live in an evacuation zone (see pages hurricane is from the storm surge.” 26 and 27 in this guide). - National Hurricane Center • During the peak of the storm surge, emergency responders may not be able to reach you. • Storm category is unrelated to the danger from storm surge (See page 32 for details). • Weather conditions and forecasts can change. Always heed the advice of your local elected officials. 4 rio grande valley edition rio grande valley edition 5 Storm Surge Storm Surge Port Isabel/South Padre Island Water Depth Assumes 25 Ft Storm Surge No Inundation <2 Feet 2 - 4 Feet 4 - 6 Feet 6 - 8 Feet 8 - 10 Feet )"106 10 - 15 Feet >15 Feet Cameron + County : Airport Laguna P a d r e B l vd South Madre )"510 Padre ! Laguna Vista Island ! )"100 Laguna Heights ! ! Port Isabel )"48 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 Miles Coastal Willacy County ¤£77 Water Depth Assume 25 Ft Storm Surge Above: **Test storm**, example shown for Houston/Galveston, Texas No Inundation <2 Feet Port Mansfield 2 - 4 Feet ! Potential Flooding 4 - 6 Feet 6 - 8 Feet 8 - 10 Feet NOAA’s National Hurricane Center (NHC) will issue an experimental Potential Storm Surge Flooding 1)"761 10 - 15 Feet Map, developed over the course of several years in consultation with emergency managers, broadcast >15 Feet )"3142 )"186 )"3142 meteorologists, social scientists, and others.” ! ¤£77 1)"834 The map will show: Raymondville )"490 1)"921 • Geographical areas where inundation from storm surge could occur. ¤£77 ...... ! • How high above ground the water could reach in those areas. Lyford )"498 !Porfirio )"491 1)"420 Other things to know about this map: 1)"018 )"507 )"507 • The first map will usually be issued at the same time as the initial tropical storm or hurricane watch. ! Sebastian • The map is based on the forecast track and intensity for the tropical cyclone, and takes into 2)"629 account forecast errors. 2)"925 : • The map shows inundation levels that have a 10 percent chance of being exceeded, and can be 0 1 2 4 6 8 considered a reasonable worst-case scenario for any given location. Miles 1)"847 • The map is subject to change every six hours, with every new NHC full advisory package. • The map will be part of an interactive display on the NHC website (hurricanes.gov) when tropical Above: These maps indicate the height of the water above ground level for a storm surge of 25 feet. Accuracy is +/- 20%. storm or hurricane watches and warnings are in effect. 6 rio grande valley edition rio grande valley edition 7 Inland Flooding Tornadoes and Destructive Winds There are numerous examples of significant Tropical cyclones also produce tornadoes. These flooding caused by land-falling tropical cyclones tornadoes most often occur in thunderstorms in Texas. Storms with a slow forward motion are embedded in rain bands well away from the center the most dangerous as heavy rains persist for a of the hurricane; however, they can also occur longer period of time. near the eyewall. Tornadoes produced by tropical cyclones are relatively weak and short-lived, but Five Practical Ways to Protect still pose a threat. Yourself and Others From the Hurricane force winds of 74 mph or more can Dangers of Inland Flooding destroy buildings, mobile homes, trees and power Protect Your Personal Documents poles. Debris such as signs, roofing material, and Special Items siding, and small items left outside become flying missiles in a hurricane. The strongest winds occur • Store valuables in plastic tubs with in a region of the hurricane called the eyewall. locking tops Wind gusts in the right side of the eyewall are the • In case of evacuation, you should be most destructive. Hurricane force winds can be felt able to secure and move all your valuables within 15 minutes as far as 150 miles from the coast. Above: Wind damage to a billboard from Buy Flood Insurance: A Plan for Replaceable Items Hurricane Lili in October 2002. • The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is available from an insurance agent or the NFIP • For more information see www.floodsmart.gov MOBILE HOME RESIDENTS MUST EVACUATE! Flood Proof Your Home - Take Steps to Minimize Flood Damage • No mobile home or manufactured home - no matter • Shut off the main circuit breaker to prevent short circuiting and eliminate the threat of how new it is - can provide safe shelter from hurricane electrocution force winds. • Raise outside air conditioning units onto platforms above ground level • Straps or other tie-downs will not protect a mobile • Store rarely used or expensive items in the attic or on high shelves home from the high winds associated with a hurricane. Develop a Family Flood Plan • Mobile home residents must evacuate when told to do • Develop a plan of action to keep from panicking during an emergency so by local authorities.