Public Information Statement
Issued by NWS Tampa Bay Area, FL
Issued by NWS Tampa Bay Area, FL
112 NOUS42 KTBW 091139 PNSTBW FLZ043-050-052-056-057-061-139-142-148-149-151-155-160-162-165- 239-242-248-249-251-255-260-262-265-092345- Public Information Statement National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL 739 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024 ...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK 2024... ...STAY PROTECTED DURING STORMS IS THE THEME FOR TODAY... All this week, your National Weather Service will be issuing informative messages to help you prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. Here is a list of the remaining topics for this week. Today: Stay Protected During Storms Friday: Use Caution After Storms Saturday: Take Action Today During a storm, it is important to know what to expect from the hazards you may face. Stay vigilant, remain up to date with the latest forecasts and alerts, and continue to listen to local officials. Make sure that you have Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled on your phone to receive Warnings and other alerts. Pay attention to the latest forecast as conditions can change quickly and storms can rapidly intensify from a tropical storm into a major hurricane. Even small changes in a storm`s track can make a big difference in the eventual impacts realized for your area. Water, through storm surge and fresh water flooding from rainfall, cause more direct deaths in tropical cyclones than wind hazards. That is why it is so important to evacuate if told to do so. If your home becomes flooded during the storm, and you are still there, get higher in your house to escape the flood waters. If the highest floor of your home becomes dangerous, get on the roof and call 911. Winds can also be destructive and deadly in hurricanes. Winds are stronger higher above ground level, which can put high-rise buildings at a greater risk. To protect yourself from wind, the best thing you can do is put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. An interior room without windows, such as a closet or bathroom, is the safest place you can be. For added protection, you can cover yourself with a mattress and wear a helmet. If your area is under an Extreme Wind Warning, take shelter immediately and remain there until the threat is over. Remain vigilant even if you are far from the most damaging impacts. Storm surge can be hazardous along the coast even if a storm is passing 100 miles offshore. And inland flooding can be felt hundreds of miles from the coast. Never drive through floodwaters. A can can be swept away with only a foot of water, and there is no way to know if the road itself has collapsed when hidden by water. For more information about hurricane preparedness, please visit the following websites: https://weather.gov/safety/hurricane https://hurricanes.gov/prepare https://noaa.gov/stay-protected-during-storms https://flash.org/hurricanestrong $$