RIEMA Urges Homeowners To Prepare For This Year's Hurricane Season

Hurricanes are among the most dramatic, damaging and potentially deadly weather events.  The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  and The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) are urging residents of New England’s coastal communities to be prepared for the upcoming hurricane season. The force of hurricane winds alone can cause tremendous devastation, toppling trees and power lines and undermining weak areas of buildings. 

Past hurricane seasons have illustrated that the consequences of seasonal and coastal flooding can be devastating, and the greatest potential for loss of life related to a hurricane is from the storm surge.  Storm surge is simply water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around the storm.  This advancing surge combines with the normal tides to create the hurricane storm tide, which can increase the mean water level to heights impacting roads, homes, and other critical infrastructure. Last year we just missed being hit by Hurricane Earl. Had that storm turned west the damage to our coastal communities would have been devastating. Our friends at the National Weather service tell us every year that we will get hit by a significant Hurricane. It’s just a matter of time.

Executive Director J. David Smith of  R.I. Emergency management  has been working aggressively with State and local governments and officials, and most importantly the general public to prevent and offset hurricane damage through preparedness measures.

FEMA and RIEMA are working closely with our partners to prepare for the 2011 Hurricane Season, but it is also imperative that the public does all they can to be prepared.  In fact, the emergency response team – composed of our federal partners, state and local governments and officials – will only be as successful as the public is prepared.

While RIEMA and its partners are preparing for the next emergency, it is critical that families and communities do all they can to prepare as well.  This includes having a plan in case of an emergency.  What will your family do?  Where will you go?  Where will you meet if you are separated?  Being prepared not only means having a plan, but also having an emergency response kit with supplies to support you and your family for at least 72 hours if not longer.

And, in the event of an emergency, after you have secured your family, do one more thing, check on a neighbor.

We all have a stake in emergency preparedness, and the outcome of the next disaster will be defined by this preparedness.                              

The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, and local resources to protect the public during disasters and emergencies.  RIEMA helps develop plans for effective response to all hazards, trains emergency personnel, provides information to families and communities, and assists in recovery from disaster losses.  You can learn more about RIEMA by visiting the RIEMA homepage at www.riema.ri.gov                                          

Southern New England Hurricane Fact Sheet

Tropical History/Climatology

• The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking about September 10
  • 11 named storms, of which 6 are hurricanes (2 are Category 3 or higher)
  • Peak of the season for New England is in August and September, but there have been tropical cyclones as early as late May and as late as late October
  • Since 1900, a total of 52 tropical cyclones have impacted southern New England with at least a period of high winds, torrential rainfall, coastal flooding or tornadoes
    • 24 were hurricanes, of which 11 made a direct landfall
    • 28 were tropical storms, of which 10 made a direct landfall
    • The last hurricane to make a direct landfall in southern New England was Hurricane Bob on August 19, 1991 along the Rhode Island coast near Newport
      • Weakening Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds as high as 100 mph and gusts up to 125 mph.  Strongest winds were experienced across Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
      • A 6-9 foot storm surge occurred in Narragansett Bay and Buzzards Bay, which was not the worst-case scenario for these areas
      • Fastest observed 5-minute sustained wind speed was 121 mph with gusts to 186 mph during the 1938 Hurricane at the Blue Hill Observatory in Milton MA (elevation about 660 feet MSL)
      • Greatest 24 hour rainfall was 18.15 inches in Westfield, MA during Tropical Storm Diane in August 1955
      • Four major hurricanes made landfall in southern New England in the 16 year period between 1938-1954
        • The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 (“The Long Island Express”)
        • The Great Atlantic Hurricane of 1944
        • Hurricane Carol – August 31, 1954
        • Hurricane Edna – September 12, 1954
        • Southern New England is typically impacted by a Tropical Storm at least once every 3 years and a hurricane once every 10-20 years on average

General Characteristics

• Average forward speed of 33 mph, as compared to 10-15 mph along the Gulf Coast
  • The 1938 Hurricane clocked at more than 50 mph as it made landfall on Long Island NY
  • 6-8 inches of rainfall, mainly along and left of the storm track
    • Heavy rainfall often arrives 12-15 hours before the eye
    • Greatest wind speeds and storm surge occur along and right of the storm track
      • Tropical storm force winds last 12-16 hours, hurricane force winds last for 3-6 hours for a direct landfall.  Recurving tropical storms and hurricanes may have a shorter duration of strong winds depending on the exact trackSafety and Preparedness

• Tropical cyclones are not just coastal storms!  Impacts can be felt hundreds of miles inland, especially from freshwater flooding.  Fast-moving hurricanes can also bring widespread devastating winds to interior southern New England, just like the 1938 Hurricane did!
• Any tropical cyclone near the Bahamas should have your attention!
  • More than 80% of all tropical cyclones which impact southern New England pass near the Bahamas
  • Hurricanes in New England are low frequency, but high impact events!  It will only takes one direct hit to inflict damage which may take years and several millions, if not billions, of dollars to recover completely.
  • “Run from the water, and hide from the wind”
    • The natural hazard most responsible for fatalities during tropical cyclones is flooding, both from coastal flooding as well as freshwater flooding farther inland
    • Storm surge does not gradually increase water levels like the tides! 
      • It happens quickly and frequently several hours before the arrival of the eye
      • Arriving water has tremendous force!
        • Coastal structures not designed to withstand this force can be damaged to a point their value of a shelter is severely compromised
        • Cars, and even some trucks, can be floated and moved 
        • Coastal roads may become inundated and impassable well before the strong winds arrive
        • Buzzards Bay could experience a storm surge upwards of 25 feet for a Category 3 hurricane!
• Tropical cyclones can produce large, deadly waves along the coast!
  • Even without  a direct strike, these large waves can arrive without much warning and sweep people and objects in vulnerable areas out to sea
    • Two people were swept out to sea at Acadia National Park in August 2009 due to large waves from distant Hurricane Bill.  A 55 year-old man was rescued, but his 7-year old daughter drowned.
    • Exposed jetties or piers are especially at risk
• Strong rip currents can develop several days in advance of the tropical cyclone, even if the beach weather is perfect
  • Heed the instructions of local beach patrols and emergency management with regards to beach closures.
• Some areas, like Wellfleet Harbor and Cape Cod Bay can experience their worst storm surges and coastal flooding after the tropical cyclone has departed
• The goal of evacuation is to move out of areas which will be impacted by water and shelter within buildings that can withstand the expected wind speeds
  • Always heed the evacuation instructions of local emergency management officials!
  • The time to prepare for this hurricane season is now!
    • We live in a highly populated area.  It is far better to stock up on critical supplies now when they are available and more easily replenished.  If you wait too long to prepare, the critical supplies you need may be unavailable.
    • Develop an emergency disaster kit and a plan for your family
      • Be prepared to be on your own for at least 3 days, but preferably 7 days
      • Got to www.riema.ri.gov for more details on what should go in your kit and plans
      • Stay informed of the latest weather information from NOAA
        • On the Internet at weather.gov/Boston and www.nhc.noaa.gov
        • NOAA All-Hazards Weather Radio