Woburn City Hall
10 Common Street
Woburn, MA 01801
P: (781) 897-5800
F: (781) 897-5859
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Emergency Prepardeness
Hurricane Season
Continues as Earl
Heads up the Coast!
The National Weather Service advises that hurricane Earl is expected to hit the New England area by mid Friday. That means that it’s time to revisit and update our emergency family plans and make sure that we have all of our emergency supplies ready in case we need them. The best time to prepare for a disaster is before it strikes. Now is a good time to update your emergency contact numbers, restock your emergency supplies, and check the batteries on those flashlights and portable radios. It’s important to remember that the American Red Cross and other public service agencies recommend that you have enough food, water and other necessities available on hand to get you through the first 72 hours of a disaster. Check out the links below or pick up a brochure at the police station to get more information about hurricanes and weather preparedness.
http://hurricanes.noaa.gov/
http://www.red cross.org/
Ready.Gov
Below is some information about hurricanes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Visit their web site to access more interactive and interesting weather and environmental information.
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A hurricane is a severe tropical storm that forms in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, or the South Pacific Ocean east of 160E. Hurricanes need warm tropical oceans, moisture and light winds above them. If the right conditions last long enough, a hurricane can produce violent winds, incredible waves, torrential rains and floods. In other regions of the world, these types of storms have different names.
- Typhoon — (the Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the dateline)
- Severe Tropical Cyclone — (the Southwest Pacific Ocean west of 160E or Southeast Indian Ocean east of 90E)
- Severe Cyclonic Storm — (the North Indian Ocean)
- Tropical Cyclone — (the Southwest Indian Ocean)
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Hurricanes rotate in a counterclockwise direction around an "eye." A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when winds reach 74 mph. There are on average six Atlantic hurricanes each year; over a three-year period, approximately five hurricanes strike the United States coastline from Texas to Maine. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30. The East Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through November 30, with peak activity occurring during July through September.
When hurricanes move onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees and cars. The heavy waves are called a storm surge. Storm surge is very dangerous and a major reason why you MUST stay away from the ocean during a hurricane.
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Basic Hurricane Safety Actions
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• Know if you live in an evacuation area. Know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding and wind. Have a written plan based on this knowledge.
• At the beginning of hurricane season (June 1), check your supplies, replace batteries and use food stocks on a rotating basis.
• During hurricane season, monitor the tropics. Monitor NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards.
• If a storm threatens, heed the advice from local authorities. Evacuate if ordered.
• Execute your family plan.
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Watch vs. Warning
Know the Difference
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A HURRICANE WATCH issued for your part of the coast indicates the possibility that you could experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours. This watch should trigger your family's disaster plan, and protective measures should be initiated, especially those actions that require extra time such as securing a boat, leaving a barrier island, etc.
A HURRICANE WARNING issued for your part of the coast indicates that sustained winds of at least 74 mph are expected within 24 hours or less. Once this warning has been issued, your family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.
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