Page 10 - Talk of Tequesta - September '21

Page 10, The Talk Of Tequesta

norThern noTes

Be Prepared For All Types Of Natural Disasters

By Katie Roundtree, Finance Director, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District
Get The Facts: Know Your for these powerful storms, learn whether your property and devastate a community in seconds. Damage paths from
Risk is flood-prone, prepare an emergency kit, secure your these weather events can exceed one mile wide and 50
Hurricane season started property against high winds and water damage, and know miles long. Everyone is at some risk of this hazard. That’s
June 1 in our area, and for evacuation routes. why it’s important to establish a protective location, secure
many, that is when residents Trim trees and shrubs now since garbage collection financial, insurance, medical documents and update contact
begin to prepare for weather- may stop once tropical storm force winds affect the information to prepare for tornadoes.
related emergencies. But all area. After the storm, make sure to separate yard trash Floods
types of natural disasters from household garbage and recycling. Be patient – Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the
can affect us at any time of the first priority for garbage collection is to restore United States and can occur in any U.S. state or territory.
year. Knowing what to do normal collection of household garbage and food waste. Flooding can happen during any season, but some areas of
before, during and after an Depending on the severity of the storm, it could take three the country are at greater risk at certain times of the year.
emergency is a critical part to six weeks for the first collection of storm debris. Coastal areas are at greater risk for flooding during hurricane
of being prepared and may make all the difference when Thunderstorms And Lightning season (i.e., June to November), while the Midwest is more
seconds count. See below for information about potential Lightning is a leading cause of injury and death from at risk in the spring and during heavy summer rains. Ice
emergencies that can happen throughout the year and how weather-related hazards. Although most lightning victims jams occur in the spring in the Northeast and Northwest.
to prepare for and respond to them. survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety Even the deserts of the Southwest are at risk during the
Hurricanes of long-term, debilitating symptoms. Thunderstorms are late summer monsoon season. It is particularly important
Hurri c a ne s c a n dangerous storms that include lightning and can include to be prepared for flooding if you live in a low-lying area
cause loss of life powerful winds over 50 mph, hail, flash flooding and near a body of water, such as a lake, marsh or canal; along
and catas trophic tornadoes. a coast; or downstream from a dam or levee. The physical
damage to property When thunder roars, go indoors! Pay attention to destruction caused by flooding depends on the speed and
on coastlines and weather reports and warnings of thunderstorms. Be ready level of the water, the duration of the flood, terrain and soil
several hundred miles to change plans, if necessary, to be near shelter. A sturdy conditions, and the built environment (e.g., buildings, roads,
inland. A hurricane is building is the safest place to be during a thunderstorm. If and bridges). Everyone should be aware of flood hazards.
a tropical cyclone or necessary, take shelter in a car with a metal top and sides. If you are in a flood-prone area, be prepared to evacuate
severe tropical storm Do not touch anything metal. If boating or swimming, flooded areas on short notice, elevate electrical panels and
with sustained winds get to land and find a sturdy, grounded shelter or vehicle utilities, clear debris from gutters and downspouts, and
reaching speeds of 74 mph or higher. These storms form immediately. Cut down or trim trees that may be in danger consider purchasing flood insurance.
in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of falling on your home. Consider buying surge protectors, Avoid flooded roadways. Turn around. Don’t drown! Just
of Mexico, and the eastern Pacific Ocean. Hurricanes lightning rods or a lightning protection system to protect six inches of fast-moving water can knock you down, and
develop in four stages: tropical disturbance, tropical your home, appliances, and electronic devices. one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.
depression, tropical storm and finally, hurricane. Wildfires
Hurricanes are classified into five categories based Wildfires can occur at any time throughout the year
on sustained wind speed. The Atlantic hurricane season and anywhere in the country. These events are usually
runs generally from June 1 to Nov. 30, with the peak triggered by lightning or accidents and often begin
season from mid-August to late October. To prepare 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.
Tree struck by lightning in PGA National Additional Resources
Prepare now by signing up for your community’s
Tornadoes warning system. Information on AlertPBC, Palm Beach
About 1,200 tornadoes hit the United States every year, County’s Emergency Notification System, can be found
and every state is at risk. Tornadoes can strike in any season, on the Palm Beach County Public Safety Division of
but most often occur in the spring and summer months. Emergency Management webpage: http://discover.pbcgov.
Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms, spawned from org/publicsafety/dem/Pages/default.aspx.
powerful thunderstorms. Tornadoes appear as a rotating, For more information on protecting yourself from natural
funnel-shaped cloud extending between a thunderstorm disasters and protecting your property and belongings,
and the ground. Some tornadoes are clearly visible, while please visit www.Ready.gov.
others may be hidden from view by rain or nearby low- NPDES tip: Before a storm, make sure all of your grass
hanging clouds. Winds in most of these storms blow at clippings and tree trimmings have been properly stored – do
100 mph or less, but in the most violent occurrences, wind not leave them outside to become potential projectiles, and
speeds can reach 300 mph. Tornadoes can cause fatalities clog the storm drains and canals.

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