Preparing for the Hurricane Threat

Hurricane Planning and Response

Hurricanes* produce widespread torrential rains, their winds growing with great velocity and generating violent seas. Floods are the deadly and destructive result. When the federal government, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), tried various methods to weaken hurricanes, it found that the weather systems that make up hurricanes are simply too large to affect.

Each year on average, ten tropical storms develop over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico. While many of these hurricanes remain over the ocean, about five of them strike the U.S. coastline every three years. Of these five, two will be major hurricanes.

Hurricane conditions become a threat within 36 hours, so it's critical to review your hurricane plans, keep informed and be ready to act once a warning is issued.

*Note that hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons represent the same phenomenon called by different terms depending on the region. The list below from the NOAA defines which regions use which terms.

• "hurricane" (the North Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, or the South Pacific Ocean east of 160E)
• "typhoon" (the Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the dateline)
• "severe tropical cyclone" (the Southwest Pacific Ocean west of 160E or Southeast Indian Ocean east of 90E)
• "severe cyclonic storm" (the North Indian Ocean)
• "tropical cyclone" (the Southwest Indian Ocean)

Prepare for a hurricane:

• Consider investing in an alternate workplace strategy, or establish alternate locations to work from as part of your business continuity plan.
• Coordinate your hurricane plan with emergency officials, hospitals, business partners, suppliers, and other branches of your company.
• As part of your emergency response training, train employees so that they know what to do in the event of a hurricane.
• Keep the appropriate materials on hand to secure the workplace such as duct/masking tape, board for windows, plastic for equipment (see below).
  
• Back up critical computer files and store them in an off-site location in another region.

What to do when a hurricane is approaching:

• Clear all papers and small items off of desktops and move into drawers or cabinets. Lock these if possible.
• Bring in any outside items such as trash cans, chairs, tables, and plants.
• Unplug computers and electronics, wrap in plastic, and tape down. If possible and if flooding is a likely possibility, move critical equipment to a higher area of the building.
• Move furniture and equipment away from windows and off the floor to the extent possible. Move the most critical files, equipment, and items into interior rooms with no windows, such as bathrooms, offices or closets.
• Board up windows and glass doors; if not possible, cover with cross-hatched masking tape.
• Close and lock all windows and doors.
• Relocate employees in accordance with any business continuity strategies. Make sure other employees know the basics for hurricane evacuation and safety at home.

Devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in Gulfport, MS, September 6, 2005. Photo courtesy of FEMA.

Hurricane Links

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) explains what to do before, during, and after a hurricane, and planning in states and local communities.

DisasterHelp.gov is a government website that directs you to the right place for applying for disaster assistance before or after a disaster. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides key facts about hurricane readiness and tracks situation updates on past hurricane seasons.

National Weather Service's National Hurricane Center tracks tropical weather and hurricane outlook, and provides past season summaries and reports, and other additional resources.

National Weather Service's Climate Predication Center shows hurricane maps, graphs, and tables for one-month to three-month climate outlooks, as well as extended range outlooks.

The Red Cross has a Hurricane Safety Checklist for making sure your family is prepared.

The National Hurricane Survival Initiative, a collaboration between a number of agencies, has thorough information, statistics, and preparation guides for dealing with hurricanes.

The US Fire Administration (USFA) has tips for protecting your home from the threat of a fire following a hurricane or tornado.

Continuity Central gives tips for businesses in dealing with unexpected hurricane impacts.

The International Code Council (ICC) has information about building safely for hurricanes.

National Geographic News article on the future of hurricanes in the Northeast.

NASA's Hurricane Resource Page provides information, animations, and videos about hurricanes from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Hurricanes and Extreme Storms Impact Studies includes information on the effects of hurricanes from the U. S. Geological Survey.

The National Hurricane Center's Storm Surge page provides information on storm surge.