HURRICANE Q&A PAGE
Here are some answers to various questions Charlotte County residents may have about hurricane's.
Q: What is meant by the term, ''storm surge?'' Isn't that just a
problem along the beach?
A: Storm surge is a dome of fast-rising water that comes just
ahead of a hurricane's landfall along a coastal area. If rivers,
creeks, harbors or bays are present, they act as transfers of
that water to low-lying areas. Persons living less than 20 feet
above mean sea level are at risk to flooding, even if they don't
reside on waterfront property.
The average elevation of a Charlotte County homesite is 10 feet.
Storm surges as high as 25 feet (Hurricane Camille, 1969,
Mississippi) and 20 feet (Hurricane Hugo, 1989, South Carolina),
have affected U.S. coastal areas. A major hurricane (category 4),
could produce as much a 27 foot surge on the Peace River.
Q: If a storm threatens, should I tape my windows and just close
the drapes? It can't be that bad, can it?
A: Taping windows will do little or nothing against anything
stronger than a minimal hurricane. Shutters, either commercial,
or do-it-yourself, proved very effective against the winds of
Andrew if properly anchored to the building. In many cases, 5/8
inch plywood did just as well as the expensive roll-down
shutters. Aluminum or steel hurricane panels and accordion
shutters also fared well when correctly installed.
It is vital that you protect the exterior envelope of your home
to keep the winds of a hurricane out. The number-one entry point
into homes during Andrew was through 16-foot garage doors. It is
imperative that you look into some sort of bracing retrofit to
add tensile strength to this oft-overlooked fixture on your home.
Q: Do I really need a so-called ''Survival Kit?'' Won't
government or the Red Cross be there with food, water and other
supplies right away?
A: Following Andrew, lines for food, water and ice were often
5,000-people long. Some folks went without food for three days.
It is crucial that you have water and prescription medications
and non-perishable foods to last you at least a week after a
major storm. Remember a manual can opener, and try to keep on
hand foods that don't increase your need or liquid intake.
Don't use an open flame (or charcoal grill) indoors. Have a
flashlight, portable radio and additional batteries.
Q: If I can't stay in my home, I can go to a Red Cross shelter
during the storm, right?
A: That would depend on the strength of the approaching
hurricane. A weak storm (category 1) would allow the opening of
possibly as many as six or eight shelters. A major hurricane
(category 3 or more) would not allow the opening of any Charlotte
County shelters. Our primary shelter sites are schools, and
unfortunately they are located in flood hazard zones like our
homes. We have no public schools or government buildings that are
more than 18 feet above sea level and could thus serve as
evacuation shelters.
Q: If an evacuation is ordered, should I just jump on I-75 and
head north?
A: That would depend on when you decide to leave. If you're ready
to go when the order comes, or even sooner when it appears an
evacuation is imminent, you may easily reach points north along
I-75 like Ocala or Gainesville. If you wait until the latter
stages of the evacuation -- after the order has been given -- you
must then move inland towards Central Florida.
Evacuees fleeing Collier and Lee counties will overburden the
Interstate and traffic to a crawl. Routes such as King's Highway
(C.R. 769), U.S. 17 and C.R. 74 will be available until such time
as the water deteriorates and standing water (from rainfall)
makes them impassable.
This information was compiled by
Wayne P. Sallade, Charlotte County Emergency Management Director.
For answers to other questions regarding this subject, call him
at 743-1270.
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