Page 9 - Abacoa Community News - September '21

Abacoa, Page 9
Northern Notes

Be Prepared For All Types Of classified into five
Hurricanes are
Natural Disasters categories based on
sustained wind speed. The
By Katie Roundtree, Atlantic hurricane season
Finance Director, Northern runs generally from June
Palm Beach County 1 to Nov. 30, with the
Improvement District peak season from mid-
Get The Facts: Know Your August to late October. To
Risk prepare for these powerful
Hurricane season started storms, learn whether your property is flood-prone, prepare an
June 1 in our area, and for emergency kit, secure your property against high winds and
many, that is when residents water damage, and know evacuation routes.
begin to prepare for weather- Trim trees and shrubs now since garbage collection may stop
related emergencies. But all once tropical storm force winds affect the area. After the storm,
types of natural disasters can make sure to separate yard trash from household garbage and
affect us at any time of year. Knowing what to do before, during recycling. Be patient – the first priority for garbage collection Tree struck by lightning in PGA National
and after an emergency is a critical part of being prepared and is to restore normal collection of household garbage and food
may make all the difference when seconds count. See below waste. Depending on the severity of the storm, it could take three place to be during a thunderstorm. If necessary, take shelter in
for information about potential emergencies that can happen to six weeks for the first collection of storm debris. a car with a metal top and sides. Do not touch anything metal.
throughout the year and how to prepare for and respond to them. Thunderstorms And Lightning If boating or swimming, get to land and find a sturdy, grounded
Hurricanes Lightning is a leading cause of injury and death from weather- shelter or vehicle immediately. Cut down or trim trees that may
Hurricanes can cause loss of life and catastrophic damage related hazards. Although most lightning victims survive, be in danger of falling on your home. Consider buying surge
to property on coastlines and several hundred miles inland. A people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, protectors, lightning rods or a lightning protection system to
hurricane is a tropical cyclone or severe tropical storm with debilitating symptoms. Thunderstorms are dangerous storms protect your home, appliances, and electronic devices.
sustained winds reaching speeds of 74 mph or higher. These that include lightning and can include powerful winds over 50 Tornadoes
storms form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf mph, hail, flash flooding and tornadoes. About 1,200 tornadoes hit the United States every year, and
of Mexico, and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes develop When thunder roars, go indoors! Pay attention to weather every state is at risk. Tornadoes can strike in any season, but
in four stages: tropical disturbance, tropical depression, tropical reports and warnings of thunderstorms. Be ready to change plans, most often occur in the spring and summer months. Tornadoes
storm and finally, hurricane. if necessary, to be near shelter. A sturdy building is the safest are nature’s most violent storms, spawned from powerful
thunderstorms. Tornadoes appear as a rotating, funnel-shaped
cloud extending between a thunderstorm and the ground. Some
tornadoes are clearly visible, while others may be hidden from
When it comes to your view by rain or nearby low-hanging clouds. Winds in most of
these storms blow at 100 mph or less, but in the most violent
to-do list, put your occurrences, wind speeds can reach 300 mph. Tornadoes can
future rst. cause fatalities and devastate a community in seconds. Damage
paths from these weather events can exceed one mile wide and
50 miles long. Everyone is at some risk of this hazard. That’s why
To nd out how to get your nancial it’s important to establish a protective location, secure financial,
goals on track, call my o ce for a insurance, medical documents and update contact information
to prepare for tornadoes.
complimentary review. Floods
Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the United
States and can occur in any U.S. state or territory. Flooding can
Sally S Stahl, AAMS® happen during any season, but some areas of the country are
Financial Advisor at greater risk at certain times of the year. Coastal areas are at
greater risk for flooding during hurricane season (i.e., June to
1851 W Indiantown Rd Ste 106 November), while the Midwest is more at risk in the spring and
Jupiter, FL 33458 during heavy summer rains. Ice jams occur in the spring in the
561-748-7600 Northeast and Northwest. Even the deserts of the Southwest are

www.edwardjones.com at risk during the late summer monsoon season. It is particularly

M e m b P I S r e C important to be prepared for flooding if you live in a low-lying
area near a body of water, such as a lake, marsh or canal; along
a coast; or downstream from a dam or levee. The physical
destruction caused by flooding depends on the speed and level
of the water, the duration of the flood, terrain and soil conditions,
and the built environment (e.g., buildings, roads, and bridges).
Everyone should be aware of flood hazards. If you are in a flood-
prone area, be prepared to evacuate flooded areas on short notice,
elevate electrical panels and utilities, clear debris from gutters
and downspouts, and consider purchasing flood insurance.
Avoid flooded roadways. Turn around. Don’t drown! Just
six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and one
foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
Wildfires
Wildfires can occur at any time throughout the year and
anywhere in the country. These events are usually triggered by
lightning or accidents and often begin unnoticed. The destruction
caused by wildfires depends on the size of the fire, the landscape,
the amount of fuel in the path of the fire, and the direction and
intensity of the wind. Fires spread quickly igniting brush, trees
and homes. Each year many homes are destroyed by a major
wildfire. Homes that survive almost always do so because the
homeowners were prepared. Before a wildfire strikes your area
prepare an emergency kit, reduce sources of fuel near your
property, use irrigation, allow for open space, plant fire-resistant
landscaping, and plan evacuation routes from home and work.
Additional Resources
Prepare now by signing up for your community’s warning
system. Information on AlertPBC, Palm Beach County’s
Emergency Notification System, can be found on the Palm Beach
County Public Safety Division of Emergency Management
webpage: http://discover.pbcgov.org/publicsafety/dem/Pages/
default.aspx.
For more information on protecting yourself from natural
disasters and protecting your property and belongings, please
visit www.Ready.gov.
NPDES tip: Before a storm, make sure all of your grass
clippings and tree trimmings have been properly stored – do not
leave them outside to become potential projectiles, and clog the
storm drains and canals.