League City Area News: A Hurricane's Coming - Could it happen tomorrow?

Weather forecasters at the National Hurricane Center predict four to six major hurricanes

June 15, 2006

The 2006 hurricane season is expected to be quite active, said government officials at a May 22 news conference at the National Hurricane Center. The hurricane season is from June 1 through Nov. 30 and is usually most active from August through October.

"For the 2006 north Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA is predicting 13 to 16 named storms, with eight to 10 becoming hurricanes, of which four to six could become 'major' hurricanes of Category 3 strength or higher," said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

Eleven named storms, including six hurricanes, two of which will become major hurricanes of at least category 3 strength develop in the North Atlantic in an average year.

The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a record breaker with 28 named storms, including 15 hurricanes.

"Whether we face an active hurricane season, like this year, or a below-normal season, the crucial message for every person is the same: prepare, prepare, prepare," said Max Mayfield, director of the NOAA National Hurricane Center. "One hurricane hitting where you live is enough to make it a bad season."

Photo credit: Courtesy of NOAA National Hurricane Center

A Hurricane's Coming - Could it happen tomorrow? Part 1. Evacuation help is available at 2-1-1 for residents and their pets

Hurricane Help by Marilyn Clark, League City Area News Online

June 15, 2006

If you are disabled, don't drive, your car breaks down at the last minute, your mechanic warns that the car you are driving can not handle gridlock traffic or a long distance dash to safety, get on the phone and call family, friends, and neighbors.

If these people are unable to help, 2-1-1 operators are now available to answer your evacuation questions and help you register for transportation to higher ground. Pets will be evacuated also.

“In Texas, where your dog is as prized a possession as your pick-up truck, it should come as no surprise that many Texans chose to ride out the storm rather than separate from their pets, Gov. Perry said.

“Our 2-1-1 operators have been specially trained and are ready to assist those who need to arrange for transportation to get to safety when a storm threatens the Texas coast,” Gov. Perry said.

Request evacuation help as soon as possible. Let the operator know how many pets you have and if they have special needs.

Government officials need time to develop evacuation routes; obtain busses, vans, and ambulances; assign drivers; and find shelter for people with a variety of special needs.

Even if a last minute need arises, please call because the state and city and town officials are "Going all out" to see that no one is left behind when storm clouds threaten.

Residents of the City of Houston can obtain registration forms from home service providers such as Meals on Wheels and the Houston Health Department. Houston residents can also register at the Web site of the Office of Emergency Management - www.houstontx.gov/oem .

The Houston Office of Emergency Management will also mail forms to residents on request. These should be returned to the Houston Office of Emergency Management, 5320 N. Shepherd, Houston, Texas 77091 as soon as possible. If you move, your form will be forwarded to the department in the city that will be handling your evacuation.

Call 2-1-1 or the Houston Office of Emergency Management (713) 884-4500 if you have questions such as whether or not you are in an evacuation zone.

Also, let the 2-1-1 operator or the Houston OEM know of any changes as soon as possible such as a new address, phone number or if you no longer need assistance and update your information each year.

Houston Emergency Management
5320 N. Shepherd
Houston, Texas 77091
713 884-4500
TTY 713 884-4518
Web site: http://www.houstontx.gov/oem

A Hurricane's Coming - Could it happen tomorrow? Part 2. Area stores have a variety of hurricane supplies

As a tropical storm or hurricane approaches, supplies like batteries go fast and the lines are often long.

June 15, 2006

New items and the old standbys are in stock at a number of locations.

Flashlights

Regular battery-powered flashlights, replacement bulbs and batteries are available in many stores.

Alkaline batteries can be stored in an air conditioned room and maintain reasonable shelf life. For temperatures in the 90s, consider storing them in a dry, airtight container in the refrigerator. In contrast, nickel metal hydride batteries hold their charge significantly better when stored in a dry, airtight container in the refrigerator.

If you would like to try one of the battery-free flashlights, Wal-Mart and Bed, Bath & Beyond have the self-charging Faraday flashlights that you can charge by shaking. Wal-Mart got a special order in where the manufacturer has thrown in a small Faraday flashlight for free.

Lowe's carries a self-charging flashlight that also serves as a road-side emergency flasher. This flashlight at Lowe's is powered by turning a hand crank instead of being shaken.

Radios

A battery powered radio is recommended by the National Hurricane Center. A battery-free, hand-crank radio is available at Bed, Bath & Beyond and Lowe's.

The May 2005 brochure, Texas Hurricanes: Tips for the Galveston Study Area, reports that these radios can be used to listen to weather forecasts on emergency radio stations KTRH 740 AM and KPRC 950 AM. NOAA Weather Radio is available at 162.550 megahertz KHB40 and 162.400 megahertz KGG68 on radios with weather bands.

Home power generators

Some people have decided they want the power and are buying generators at home supply stores such as Kilgore's, Home Depot and Lowe's to run refrigerators, freezers and perhaps an air conditioner.

Battery-powered fans

Others are buying one of the battery-powered fans available at Wal-Mart, Home Depot and Bed Bath & Beyond.

Coolers

The ultratherm coolers such as the MAXCOLD by Igloo are great for storing ice. All of the MAXCOLD coolers in the Igloo product line will keep ice for five days when external temperatures are as high as 90 degrees said Jamie, a technical service representative for Igloo. Coleman and Rubbermaid manufacture similar products.

All of the ice had melted by the end of 3 days when the average temperature was below 90 degrees F. in my outdoor test of a 16 qt. MaxCold cooler filled with ice cubes. Ice made by freezing water in 2 liter or smaller soft drink bottles would have lasted longer. So, if you want a 5-day cooler, I can only recommend those products that say they are 5-day coolers.

Some hurricane veterans recommend using a 5-day cooler to store ice and another cooler to store other cold items.

Stores are also selling refrigerated coolers that plug into a cigarette lighter. I looked at a display model by Coleman that even had an AC adapter. It can be used upright or turned on its side and run as a chest refrigerator. It was priced at about $75.00 at Wal-Mart.

A Hurricane's Coming - Could it happen tomorrow? Part 3. Post Rita, Thoughts on last minute evacuation tasks

After a hurricane watch is announced, a hurricane can arrive in 24 to 36 hours - Not much time to get gas, money, food, batteries and prepare one's household for evacuation.

Hurricane Help by Marilyn Clark, League City Area News Online

June 15, 2006

Hurricane Rita, it happened to me; did it happen to you?

Bay Area residents have "so many tasks, so little time" when hurricane evacuation orders are given.

Some residents will rush to fill-up or top-off their gas tanks and get some cash, including some small bills, in case retailers later lose their power and with it the ability to run credit cards and credit checks.

Other residents will be rushing to add last minute items to their hurricane evacuation kit.

While still other residents will be packing sandwiches and other snack food, like granola bars, and drinks to help limit food stops.

When you leave your residence, unplug small appliances, such as radios, televisions, toasters and microwaves, FEMA officials recommend. Set freezers and refrigerators to the coldest setting and leave them plugged-in unless there is a risk of flooding. Close and lock doors and windows.

Before leaving your home or business, consider placing the contents of lower file cabinet and desk drawers (depending on the expected height of floodwaters) in plastic bags or other containers and moving them to a safer location such as the top of a desk, file cabinet or table (U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, "Surviving the storm"). The components of computer workstations and other important equipment can be placed in contractor or heavy duty plastic garbage bags and placed on tables or carts above the height of expected floodwaters. Take copies of projects and important computer data with you. Also, store a copy of this work along with your original computer software in a floodproof location.

For students, important documents and work such as research for term papers, theses and dissertations can be lost to flood waters. Take a backup of your work with you. If possible, also place an additional backup of this information and your original computer software in a floodproof safe or at an alternate dry location.

Many of the gas stations along evacuation routes for Hurricane Rita were either closed or had unbelievably long lines. So, if you are a girl or are disabled, plan now how you will meet your bathroom needs if facilities are not available or if lines are too long. What supplies will you need?

We've been promised open stations, lots of gas and the early creation of contra-flow lanes for 2006. Hopefully, the new evacuation plans will fall into place smoothly.

“For seven months, we have worked diligently to learn from the challenges of last year’s hurricanes, and we have made remarkable progress in our preparedness,” Gov. Perry said in May. “With systems to better assist Texans with special needs, new traffic management and fuel plans, and private sectors partners to oversee the distribution of food, water, ice and fuel, I believe Texas is a model in preparedness for other states.”

A Hurricane's Coming - Could it happen tomorrow? Part 4. OK, OK, I'm leaving. What do I take with me?

Hurricane Help by Marilyn Clark, League City Area News Online

June 15, 2006

The experts advise completing hurricane evacuation kits now so that residents can "Grab and go" when a major storm threatens.

"Preparation is the key message that President Bush wants to convey during National Hurricane Preparedness Week. The impact from these storms extends well beyond coastal areas so it is vital that residents in hurricane prone areas get ready in advance of the hurricane season," said David A. Sampson, deputy secretary of commerce at the National Hurricane Center May 22.

Recommended items for a hurricane evacuation kit include

• Seasonal supplies such as insect repellant and sunscreen

-- Replace sunscreen more than a year old.

• A waterproof first aid kit, medical supplies, including a spare pair or glasses or current prescription, prescription medicine for at least two weeks, and a list of prescription medicines and their numbers. If your prescription is with a national chain of stores, take any required documentation such as your driver's license or other form of identification.

• Copies of important documents such as insurance policies, social security card, medical records, and possibly birth certificates should be carried in a watertight container. You may wish to include a copy of a utility bill and its postmarked envelope as proof residency.

• The phone numbers of your doctor, friends, relatives and your evacuation destination

• Keepsakes, including pictures, scrapbook and heirlooms

• Maps

• Tools

• Flashlight, spare bulbs and extra batteries

• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and extra batteries

• Rain gear, sturdy shoes and a change of clothing

• Bedding - blankets, pillow and sleeping bag

• Toiletries, such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, comb or brush, dental floss, razor, soap, lipstick and feminine hygiene items

• Baby supplies

• Pet supplies, including medications, immunization record, carrier, leash, muzzle, food and water

• Container for carrying gas

• Child supplies, including games, toys and books

Meal Preparation

• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer

• Manual can opener

• Paper plates and cups and plastic utensils

• Charcoal or gas grill and supply of fuel for cooking outdoors only
  -- matches or lighter in waterproof container

Food and water

• Up to 7 days of food and water per person depending on your location and the severity of the expected storm

• One gallon per day per person, more for adding to powdered beverages

• Drinking water can be store in plastic containers meant for food such as 2-liter or smaller soft drink bottles with screw caps.

• Prepared food such as canned soup, chili and other beef products, tuna, and packaged fruit and pudding snacks.

• Cereal, bread, peanut butter and other spreads.

• Fresh vegetables may last for several days
  -- Some raw vegetables such as carrots keep better at room temperature than others.

• Fresh fruit
  -- apples do well at room temperature

• Bottled, canned or powdered juice

• Canned or powdered milk

• Instant coffee or tea

If you will be staying at home,

• A large trash can or a bath tub may be used to hold water for flushing the toilet.

• The bathtub can hold drinking water that is disinfected with fragrance free bleach wrote Jan Norris in the PalmBeachPost.com .
  -- Add a teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water, mix then wait 30 minutes. Repeat if needed until the water smells slightly chlorinated.

• Plastic or canvas tarps can be used to cover furniture and other items to protect them from water damage, for temporary roof repair and tents.

To prepare a kitchen for a tropical storm, you may wish to

• Unplug small appliances.

• Set your refrigerator and/or freezer to the maximum cold setting

• Protect canned food, and kitchen utensils, as well as other household items such as clothing, if flooding is expected by putting them in a higher location and/or put them in waterproof containers.

  -- Contractor quality plastic garbage bags or plastic garbage cans may be used. Contractor bags are about three mils thick. They can also be split open at the edges and duct taped together to form an emergency tarp. Contractor bags can be found at Wal-Mart and home supply stores such as Home Depot and Lowe's.

• The tops of food cans may be labeled with waterproof markers in case the labels come off due to high humidity or water.

Dry Ice

• Dry ice can be placed in the bottom of an ultratherm 5 day cooler to keep frozen foods cold and hopefully frozen. Avoid direct contact between the food and the dry ice to prevent freezer burn.
  Also do not touch the dry ice directly and avoid breathing the CO2 released as the dry ice is converted from a solid to a gas. Protect children from the dry ice vapor by keeping them away from the stored dry ice.

• If you put dry ice directly into a working freezer, the freezer will usually turn itself off the food after the temperature falls below a preset level wrote Kenneth Ackerman, who has been answering the public's dry ice questions for almost 30 years as part of his job managing an ice company.

• Dry ice can be used to keep frozen food frozen for about a week in a cooler, reported the PalmBeachPost.com in its May 29, 2005 issue. Ten pounds will only last a day or two so you may need to get a large block.

• If power is lost, use 25 pounds of dry ice per ten cubic feet of freezer space to keep food frozen for three to four days (Are you ready? An in-depth guide to citizen preparedness?, FEMA, IS-22, August 2004).

Dry ice in our area cost as little as 99¢ a pound in June and is available at

• Kroger #344
  200 Gulf Freeway South
  League City, TX 77573
  Phone: (281) 332-5555
  $1.19 a pound

• South Shore Randalls #2051
  2951 Marina Bay Dr #8,
  League City, TX 77573
  Phone: (281) 538-2500
  99¢ a pound

• H.E.B. #572
  16811 El Camino Real,
  Houston, TX 77058
  Phone: (281) 488-1601
  $1.09 a pound

For more hurricane preparation information contact:

Galveston County Office of Emergency Management
http://www.gcoem.org/
(281)309-5002

City of Houston's Office of Emergency Management
http://www.houstontx.gov/oem
(713) 884-4500

Data Sources for the series include:
City of Houston's Office of Emergency Management
http://www.houstontx.gov/oem
(713) 884-4500
including the Shelter Packing List for the Evacuation Registration 2006 Form

Galveston County Office of Emergency Management
http://www.gcoem.org/
(281)309-5002

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center, including Hurricane Preparedness: Disaster Supply Kit.

PalmBeachPost.com at www.palmbeachpost.com .

Texas Hurricanes: Tips for the Galveston Study Area, May 2005.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency, including 1. Are you ready? An in-depth guide to citizen preparedness?, FEMA, IS-22, August 2004 and 2. Surviving the Storm.

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last update: August 24, 2006