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Preparedness Key to Survival During Hurricanes, Floods
People in coastal areas of the state expect a hurricane that comes their way to bring high winds, pounding tides and drenching rain. But much of the damage and death toll comes from the slow-moving, wide-ranging storm systems that continue inland after the winds die out.
These kinds of roving storms repeatedly dumped record-breaking rains on Texas last year, causing severe, deadly flooding. Although no hurricane struck the Texas coast in 1998, the moisture remaining in weakened tropical storms and hurricanes which struck elsewhere and drifted over Texas created disasters of their own, according to the Texas Department of Health (TDH).
"Families and entire communities need to be prepared for whatever severe weather comes our way," says Dr. William Archer, Texas Commissioner of Health. "We need to be informed, prepared and equipped to deal with nature's forces before anything hits our state."
Meteorologists are studying how to improve severe storm forecasts that typically include estimated locations, courses, size, wind speeds and intensity of tropical weather systems. They now are looking for ways to estimate the flooding potential of smaller storms and to forecast any unusual threats of heavy or sustained rainfall as tropical storms begin to lose strength over land.
Emergency experts agree that, along with a more watchful eye on long-range predictions, Texans need to prepare now and remain alert for severe weather. The hurricane season typically extends from June 1 to Nov. 30.
Local emergency coordinators, usually county judges, mayors or their designees, are responsible for planning for disaster survival throughout their communities. In addition, families are urged to do their own planning, know their particular evacuation routes, rehearse the job of each member in the plan and have survival supplies adequate to last several days.
TDH Emergency Preparedness staff recommends these minimum precautions during hurricanes or potential flood conditions:
Keep a battery-operated radio and extra batteries ready in case of power outages. Be sure your car's gas tank is always at least half full. Conserve gasoline and battery power by using car radios only for emergencies.
- Check on the safety of neighbors and relatives, especially the elderly, disabled or children.
- Stay tuned to TV and radio reports from the National Weather Service for weather watches, warnings and special advisories.
- If you are evacuating, follow local government instructions and directions. Turn off the gas, power and water in your home as you leave. Tell someone outside the emergency area where you plan to go. Take a supply of water; nutritious snacks; cash, traveler's checks or credit cards; clothing; baby items; blankets; a first-aid kit; and prescribed medicines. Find care for your pets in advance, since they are not allowed in evacuation shelters.
- While driving, avoid low-lying areas, including beaches and valleys prone to tides or flooding. Never drive through flood waters. If your car stalls in rising water, abandon it and find higher ground and shelter.
- If safe evacuation is not possible, weather the storm in a sturdy structure above the danger level of storm tides. Keep on hand supplies of food and water, medicine, baby items, a radio and flashlights with extra batteries and be sure all cooking equipment is in safe working order. Protect valuables and documents in watertight containers. Tie down lawn furniture or other outside objects. Fill boats on trailers with water for extra weight.
- Sterilize containers with bleach and fill with water. In emergencies, use bathtubs, cooking utensils, jugs or other containers for a reserve water supply. If you must boil water for drinking or cooking, be sure that it boils for at least a full minute before using.
- Stay sheltered throughout the storm, making emergency repairs quickly if the storm's eye surrounds you. Remember that conditions will be calm in the storm's eye but that winds will return from the opposite direction as it passes. Tornadoes, dangerous hail and lightning or downed power lines are dangers.
- Try to remain calm and disregard rumors. Your composure will help others.
For a copy of the "Disaster Planning Guide for Families" call the TDH Division of Emergency Preparedness at 512-834-6700, ext. 2389.
- Texas Department of Health
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www.floodalert.org
That's the Rice University/Texas Medical Center Flood Alert System Web address, and you can find very valuable information there prior to and during a storm.
The Texas Medical Center sits in the eastern part of the Brays watershed, which drains over 120 square miles of land. Brays Bayou, flowing west to east, cuts through highly developed areas, including the Texas Medical Center campus area.
The Flood Alert System - designed by Dr. Phillip Bedient, chairman of the environmental science and engineering department at Rice - is an integrated system of storm cell tracking, rain gauge data compilation, bayou stage data compilation, and hydrologic modeling. Storms are monitored by the National Weather Services WSR-88D (NEXRAD) radar, which provides five to six minute updates of rainfall over a large area as well as wind speeds.
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©2006 Texas Medical Center
E-Mail: tmc-info@tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/06_15_99/page_04.html
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