Hurricane Season Trivia

Now that we're officially in Hurricane Season 2009, let's brush up on our hurricane trivia!

What's the difference between a "watch" and a "warning?"

• A HURRICANE WATCH issued for your part of the coast indicates the possibility that you could experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours.
  This watch should trigger your family's disaster plan, and protective measures should be initiated, especially those actions that require extra time such as securing a boat, leaving a barrier island, etc.
• A HURRICANE WARNING issued for your part of the coast indicates that sustained winds of at least 74 mph are expected within 24 hours or less.
  Once this 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.

Do you know why more than 63% of deaths attributed to tropical cyclones occur in inland counties?

More people have died from inland flooding from 1970 up to 2000. Intense rainfall is not directly related to the wind speed of tropical cyclones. In fact, some of the greatest rainfall amounts occur from weaker storms that drift slowly or stall over an area.

In a study from 1970 to 1999, freshwater flooding accounted for more than half (59%) of U.S. tropical cyclone deaths.

Source: www.NHS.noaa.gov.