Evacuation Plan

An evacuation plan is essential to many of our residents due to the fact they currently live in Mobile Homes, homes located in flood plain areas or are elderly needing special assistance. The Office of Emergency Management urges you to create an evacuation plan should any of the following threats affect you. If you are a resident with special needs and will need our assistance with your evacuation, please fill out the following form and return it to our office:

SPECIAL NEEDS APPLICATION FORM
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Below is a list of possible events that could have a tremendous effect on our community. Click the topic you wish to research further.

·        Severe Weather

·        Flood

·        Hurricanes

·        Wildfires

·        Terrorism

Severe weather is a common occurrence in Florida . It’s not uncommon to see strong thunderstorms with gusty winds and frequent lightning during the summer months. While these may be a common occurrence, residents should bear in mind some important tips when severe weather threatens our area.

·         All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous.
Lightning kills more people each year than tornadoes.

·          Lightning often strikes as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.
Many deaths from lightning occur ahead of the storm because people try to wait to the last minute before seeking shelter.

·          You are in danger from lightning if you can hear thunder.
If you can hear thunder, lightning is close enough that it could strike your location at any moment.

·          Lightning injuries can lead to permanent disabilities or death.
On average, 20 percent of strike victims die; 70 percent of survivors suffer serious long-term effects.

Lightning Quick Facts

• 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes occur in the United States each year.
  
  
• The air within a lightning strike can reach 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
  
  
• Lightning can heat its path five times hotter than the surface of the sun.
  
  
• One ground lightning stroke can generate between 100 million and 1 billion volts of electricity.

If a severe storm threatens our area you should take the following steps:

• While nothing offers absolute safety from lightning, some actions can greatly reduce your risks. If a storm is approaching, avoid being in, or near, high places, open fields, isolated trees, unprotected gazebos, rain or picnic shelters, baseball dugouts, communications towers, flagpoles, light poles, bleachers (metal or wood), metal fences, convertibles, golf carts and water. If you are inside your home or vehicle, stay there.

• High winds, rainfall, and a darkening cloud cover are the warning signs for possible cloud-to-ground lightning strikes. While many lightning casualties happen at the beginning of an approaching storm, more than 50 percent of lightning deaths occur after the thunderstorm has passed. The lightning threat diminishes after the last sound of thunder, but may persist for more than 30 minutes. When thunderstorms are in the area, but not overhead, the lightning threat can exist when skies are clear.

• Monitor local television, radio, and NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts for storm information.

For more information about severe storms, visit NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) at http://www.noaa.gov/lightning.html or the National Severe Storms Laboratory at http://www.nssl.noaa.gov/.

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Inland and river flooding is a potential hazard in Hardee County especially if you live in a low-lying area.

One of the most overlooked dangers residents face is flooding. Unless you reside near a body of water, most people don’t consider flooding a true danger. Flash floods are a rapid rise in water along a stream or low-lying urban area. They typically occur when slow moving thunderstorms or tropical storms dump large quantities of rain in a concentrated area.

Did you know that…

• It takes as little as two (2) feet of water to float a vehicle (this includes trucks and SUV’s).
  
  
• Water erodes the roadbed increasing the driving hazard.
  
  
• Many flash floods occur at night making it harder to see the flooded road.
  
  
• One-half (50%) of all tropical storm related deaths over the last 30 years are flood related.
  
  
• Historically, floods are long-term events that can last days or weeks.

So what can you do to avoid becoming a statistic? Follow these tips on flood safety:

• Never drive where water is over the road. The depth of the water can be misleading or even impossible to determine from inside your vehicle.

• Never swim, play, or wade in floodwaters. There may be hidden dangers such as debris or contaminates in the water. In addition, the current could easily increase in speed with no warning.
  
  
• If you come upon moving water that is deeper than your ankles, turn around and go back. Most people can be swept off their feet in as little as 6 inches of water.

• If you are told to evacuate, do it immediately as conditions can worsen with little or no warning.
  
  
• Never drive past a barricade or “Road Closed” sign. They are placed for your protection.

In addition, remember to stay out of flood-damaged areas until you are told it is safe to return. Your presence could hamper emergency crews or worse, you could become a victim yourself. You can visit http://weather.gov/om/severeweather/index.shtml.

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Cyclones that form in the Western Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, or Gulf of Mexico are called Tropical Storms. When the wind speed of these storms exceeds 74 miles per hour (64 knots per hour), they are classified as Hurricanes. A hurricane is among the most destructive forces in nature. Fortunately, modern weather forecasting, radar, and satellite services can provide ample warning to residents to prepare their homes or to evacuate.

There are three major forces at work causing Hurricane damage; wind, flooding rain, and storm surge. Winds inside the Hurricane can reach 125 mile per hour or greater (see Saffir-Simpson scale below). Heavy rains can cause localized flooding well inland from the storm, and residents on the coast can experience storm surge as high as 15 feet above normal tidal levels.

So what can you do to protect yourself? Follow this checklist to prepare you and your family for potential Hurricane impact.

• Have 1 gallon of water per person in your home per day for at least 3 days.

• Have a family disaster kit and keep it stocked with batteries, flashlights, portable radio, non-perishable food.

• If you decide to stay in your home, go to an interior room in the center of the house if the winds become severe.

• Stay in your home until the all clear is given by emergency service personnel.

• Stay away from downed power lines.

If you decide to evacuate, remember these tips when going to a public shelter.

• Bring only what you need to survive for 12-24 hours.

• Bring necessary medications or required foods if you are on a special diet.

• Bring a cot, sleeping bag, or bedroll.

• Have activities on hand for children.

• Pets (except service animals) are not allowed in shelters.

• Do not bring weapons, drugs, alcohol, large amounts of cash, or personal property.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane's present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the determining factor in the scale, as storm surge values are highly dependent on the slope of the continental shelf in the landfall region. Note that all winds are using the U.S. 1-minute average.

Category One Hurricane:

Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs and some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage. Hurricanes Allison of 1995 and Danny of 1997 were Category One hurricanes at peak intensity.

Category Two Hurricane:

Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Expect damage to some roofing material, door, and windows in buildings. However, there is usually considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers are likely to experience considerable damage. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings. Hurricane Bonnie of 1998 was a Category Two hurricane when it hit the North Carolina coast, while Hurricane Georges of 1998 was a Category Two Hurricane when it hit the Florida Keys and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Category Three Hurricane:

Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. There will be some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtain wall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline may be required. Hurricanes Roxanne of 1995 and Fran of 1996 were Category Three hurricanes at landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and in North Carolina, respectively.

Category Four Hurricane:

Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More extensive curtain wall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Mobile homes can be completely destroyed along with extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. There is major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km). Hurricane Luis of 1995 was a Category Four hurricane while moving over the Leeward Islands. Hurricanes Felix and Opal of 1995 also reached Category Four status at peak intensity.

Category Five Hurricane:

Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge is generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs are blown down. Complete destruction can occur of mobile homes. There is severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Hurricane Mitch of 1998 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity over the western Caribbean. Hurricane Gilbert of 1988 was a Category Five hurricane at peak intensity and is one of the strongest Atlantic tropical cyclones of record.

For more information on Tropical Storms and Hurricanes, visit the National Hurricane Center at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov.

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Every year, thousands of acres are destroyed by wildfires. Although many are naturally occurring, many more are set deliberately or as a result of carelessness. Still others are set by The Florida Division of Forestry who sets controlled burns to regulate growth and prevent large-scale fires from breaking out. Wildfires are a real danger whether you live in urban, suburban, or rural areas. Here are some tips on preparing your home for wildfires.

• Keep branches and low-hanging limbs off your home.

• Keep access to your home open for emergency vehicles to enter.

• Create a defensible space of at least 30 feet around your home that is free of vegetation.

• Choose ignition-resistant building materials for home construction.

• Choose drought-resistant plants for landscaping.

What should you do if your home is threatened by wildfire?

• If there is time, close windows, vents, and doors. Remove lightweight curtains.

• Turn off the gas or propane tank.

• Wet down your roof and surroundings of your home in a 15 foot area.

• Bring any combustibles such as lawn furniture inside the house.

• If you must evacuate, do so when told by emergency crews, leave immediately and be sure to leave word where you are going.

For more information about wildfire, visit Firewise Communities at www.firewise.org or The U.S. Fire Administration at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/.

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Unlike most natural disasters, such as Hurricanes or Floods, there will likely be little or no warning for a terrorist act. Known terrorist activity is routinely monitored in Florida and throughout the United States by law enforcement agencies specially trained to deal with terrorists and their actions.

Because the best thing you and your family can do is prepare, below is a list of additional supplies you should put in your family disaster preparedness kit:

• Set up an improvised safe room, preferably in a windowless interior room in your home.

• Maintain a supply of duct tape, plastic sheeting, or garbage bags to seal around doors and windows.

• Determine escape routes from your home and establish a meeting place such as a public building or designated area established by the local government.

In the event you are a victim of a terrorist act, remember these important safety tips:

EXPLOSION:

• Leave the premises quickly and calmly.

·         If you are trapped in debris, cover your mouth with a piece of cloth and rap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can hear you. Shouting can lead to inhalation of dust or other particulate debris.

• Assist victims ONLY if they are not trapped and it is safe for you to do so. Untrained persons can become victims themselves should the building collapse. Wait for trained rescuers.

BIO-CHEMICAL AGENTS

• You will be instructed by authorities to either seek shelter and seal the premises or evacuate immediately.

• Turn off AC and/or ventilation units immediately.

SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES

• Leave the package alone. Do not touch it or move the item(s).

• Leave the vicinity immediately.

• Instruct all who have had contact with the package to wash hands with soap and water.

• Call 911.

• Collect information on all persons who have been exposed (name, birthday, any ill effects reported, etc.).

Even though Hardee County doesn’t have many “high value” targets such as large military installations, shopping malls, or stadiums, we should be prepared for potential acts of domestic terrorism just as we would for a flood or hurricane. For more information, visit: www.floridadisaster.org or www.redcross.org.

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