As part of Florida's Severe Weather Awareness Week, Thursday is being devoted to Hurricanes and Flooding.
Some 110 hurricanes and nearly 200 tropical storms have impacted Florida since 1851 with many more cited in history books before official records were even kept.
DID YOU KNOW?
Florida has more hurricane landfalls annually than any other state.
The North Atlantic Ocean hurricane season officially runs June 1st - November 30th but tropical systems can still from outside of hurricane season as early as May and as late as December.
The 2017 hurricane season had above-average activity and many record setting storms. In total, there were 18 named storms, of which 10 were hurricanes.
Category 4 Hurricane Harvey developed in the end of August. Harvey stalled out along the Texas Coast shattering rainfall records as it pummeled parts of Texas and Louisiana. Harvey produced 60.58 inches of rainfall in Nederland, Texas, the highest-ever rainfall total for any tropical cyclone in the United States.
Hurricane Irma followed in the heels of Harvey reaching Category 5 status. For the entire month of September, there was at least one named storm in the Atlantic every day. Next was Jose, which was the 3rd consecutive storm to reach Category 4+ status, a new record. Much like Irma, hurricane Maria rapidly intensified and brought Category 5 destruction to parts of the Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico. While Florida was still recovering from Irma, Hurricane Nate made landfall in Mississippi bringing heavy rainfall to the Panhandle. Tropical Storm Phillippe ended the season for Florida, bringing several tornadoes to South Florida as it crossed the Peninsula. Tropical Storm Rina formed at the start of November and was the last system of the 2017 season.
This means half of the tropical cyclones in 2017 (9/18) impacted Florida in some way.
DID YOU KNOW?
The National Hurricane Center issues
watches and warnings when a tropical system approaches
Watches are issued 48 hours ahead of the time dangerous winds are possible.
Warnings are issued 36 hours prior to the time damaging winds are expected.
A watch should trigger your family's disaster plan, and protective measures should be initiated. Once a warning has been issued, your family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.
Your main protection against hurricanes is to be prepared and have a plan. Hurricane force winds can easily destroy poorly constructed buildings and mobile homes. A hurricane plan doesn't have to be extremely complicated, but should at least consist of the following two things:
- Determine whether you live in an evacuation zone. This information can be obtained from your local emergency management office. If you live in an evacuation zone, know when and where you will be going to pass the storm.
- Have a disaster supply kit ready with non-perishable food, batteries for electronic devices such as your NOAA Weather Radio, and enough supplies to last 3 to 5 days. Asses your property to ensure that landscaping and trees do not become a wind hazard.
DID YOU KNOW?
90% of hurricane fatalities are from drowning
- storm surge or freshwater flooding –
Residents should be aware of their location with respect to flood-prone areas and know evacuation routes. People are also urged to be extremely cautious when driving in heavy rains, especially when water covers the road. Because it is difficult to determine the depth of water or the condition of the road under the water, if you come to a flooded road, remember the phrase "Turn Around, Don't Drown".
More information about hurricanes and flooding and what you can do to protect yourself and others can be found at www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/surge/resources.php, www.floodsafety.noaa.gov or www.FloridaDisaster.org.
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