Spring Park Neighborhood Association

Hurricane Preparedness

Numbers to know

For emergency information tune to the following:
NewsTalk AM WOKV
Emergency Preparedness Office: 630-2472
Hurricane Information Network: 630-INFO
Local American Red Cross: 358-8091

Hurricane Warnings You Need To Know

A Tropical disturbance:
is an area of thunderstorms in the Tropics that maintains its identity for 24 hours or more. This is a common phenomenon in the tropics.
A Tropical Depression:
is a tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind is 38 mph or less.
A Tropical Storm:
is a tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface wind ranges from 39-73 mph. A tropical storm is given a name because it bears closer watching by the public because it may turn into a hurricane.
A Tropical Storm Watch:
is issued for a coastal area when there is a threat of tropical storm conditions within 36 hours.
A Tropical Storm Warning, rather that a Watch, is an alert for tropical storm conditions, including winds 39-73 mph within 24 hours or less.
A Hurricane is a tropical cyclone in which the maximum sustained surface is 74 mph or greater. These are the potenital killers. Stay alert to the whereabouts of all hurricanes and familiarize yourself with the standard precautions featured in other categories of this announcement.

A hurrican will be preceded first by an announcement alerting you to the threat of hurricane conditions to a specified area within 36 hours. This is called a Hurrican Watch. Then, a Hurrican Watch will be issued if and when hurricane condiitions are expected within 24 hours.

Types of Hurricanes

Category One:
hurricane has winds from 74-95 mph and can cause a storm surge 4-5 feet. Damage from a Category One storm is usually limited to shrubbery, trees and poorly anchored signs, small boats and unanchored mobile homes. Some coastal flooding and minor pier damage can be expected from a storm this size. But don't take a Category One storm lightly. It can be a killer too, as was Hurrican Agnes in 1971. Although the lowest category, it resulted in 122 deaths from Florida to New York.

Category Two:
hurricane has winds from 96 to 110 mph and storm surges 6-8 feet. A storm of this size can cause major damage to mobile homes, piers, poorly constructed signs and boats in its path. Wind may damage roofs and windows and rains may cause flooding in low-lying coastal areas.

Category Three:
hurricane has powerful winds from 111 mph and storm surges 12-13 feet. Low-lying routes inland can be cut off by rising water 3-5 hours before the hurrican center-the eye-arrives. Evacuation of all residences within several miles of shoreline is wise. this size hurricane will uproot and cause structural damage to small buildings. Larger buildings may be damaged by waves and floating debris. Unprotected mobile homes will problem be destroyed, as well small buildings near the coastline. Expect serious flooding along the coast with this size storm and heavy damage to small crafts.

Category Four:
hurricane has winds of 131 to 155 mph. Hurricane Andrew fresh in everyone's minds was a Category 4 storm. It blew through South Florida and into the Louisiana coastline in 1992 and rates as the costliest economic disaster in United States history.

Category Five:
hurricane winds greater than 155 mph will cause complete roof failure on many residents and industrial buildings. Smaller buildings may be overturned or blown away. Mobile homes are more likely to be destroyed. Boats are damaged or sunk. There is major damage to the lower floors of all structures less than 15 feet above sea level within 500 yards of shore. Low-lying escape routes can be cut off by rising water 3-5 hours before the hurricane eye arrives. Large scale evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 50 miles of the shoreline my be required.