NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA (352today.com) – For all the things that are wonderful about living in Florida, hurricanes are not one of them.
For many Floridians, anxiety sets in every year on June 1 when the North Atlantic hurricane season officially begins and lasts until it ends on November 30.
As our coverage of Florida’s Severe Weather Awareness Week continues, Thursday’s focus is on tropical cyclones (aka hurricanes) and flooding.
Meteorologists say being surrounded by warm water makes Florida particularly vulnerable to these systems as they develop across the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Florida’s relatively flat terrain also makes it susceptible to flooding.
History of hurricanes
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) says records indicate that approximately 145 hurricanes and around 164 tropical storms have impacted the state since 1851, with many more cited in history books prior to that year and even before official records were kept.
Though the season is from June-November, tropical systems can still form as early as May and as late as December. The number of tropical storms and hurricanes typically peaks during August and September.
Residents and visitors need to plan ahead and remain ready for possible hurricane impacts.
When a tropical system approaches the state, The National Hurricane Center will issue watches and warnings.
Do you know the difference between a watch and warning?
Watches are issued 48 hours in advance of the time dangerous winds or surge are possible within the specified area. Warnings are issued 36 hours prior to the time when damaging winds or storm surge 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.
Have a hurricane plan
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 does not have to be anything extremely complicated but should at least consist of the following two things.
First, determine whether you live in an evacuation zone. This information can be obtained from your local emergency management office. You can also find it here.
If you live in an evacuation zone, know when and where you will be going to pass the storm.
Second, 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 seven days.
Assess your property to ensure that landscaping and trees do not become a wind hazard.
Flooding can be fatal
While hurricanes are known and feared for their ferocious winds, historically it is the water that causes most of the deaths in hurricanes. About 90% of all hurricane fatalities occur from drowning in either storm surge or freshwater flooding.
Even outside of tropical systems, flooding is a serious concern in Florida since it can happen anywhere and at any time.
Effects from flooding can be localized, impacting just a few streets in a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting multiple cities, counties, and even whole states. Flooding is caused by the amount of rainfall and what happens to the rain after it hits the ground.
“As our state’s population increases, buildings and pavement replace the natural land. This creates more water runoff and can increase flood problems,” said FDEM.
Most deaths due to flooding in the United States are from people driving their cars into flooded areas. Once a vehicle begins to float, the situation becomes dangerous and often deadly.
Emergency managers say you should be aware of your location with respect to flood-prone areas and know evacuation routes. You 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.”
Meteorologists at the National Weather Service watch the weather to try to warn people well in advance of the flooding so they can save lives and property.
Flood Watches and Warnings, along with Flash Flood Watches and Warnings, are issued for a specific area when flooding conditions are likely or are already occurring.
The National Hurricane Center will also issue Storm Surge Watches and Warnings for areas of the U.S. that have the potential for damaging storm surge from a tropical cyclone.