Hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30 of each year.

Hurricanes can be dangerous killers. Learning the hurricane warning messages and planning ahead can reduce the chances of injury or major property damage.

Category 1 (Winds 74-95 mph.)

        Damage primarily to shrubbery, tree foliage.

        No real damage to other structures.

Category 2 (Winds 96-110 mph.)

        Considerable damage to shrubbery and tree foliage. Some trees down. 

        Some damage to roofing.

        Storm surge 6 to 8 feet above normal.

Category 3 (Winds 111-130 mph.)

        Foliage torn from trees, large trees blown over.

        Some damage to roofing; some window and door damage.

        Some structural damage to small buildings.

        Storm surge 9 to 12 feet above normal.

Category 4 (Winds 131-155 mph.)

        Shrubs and trees down, all signs down.

        Extensive damage to roofing, windows and doors.

        Roof collapse.

        Storm surge 13 to 18 feet above normal. Major erosion of beaches.

Category 5 (Winds greater than 155 mph.)

        Shrubs and trees down; considerable damage to roofing.

        Severe and extensive damage to windows and doors.

        Complete roof collapse.

        Destruction of glass in windows and doors.

        Some complete building failures.

        Small buildings overturned or blown away.

        Storm surge higher than 18 feet above normal.

Before the Hurricane Season

·         Learn location of official shelters.

·         Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.

·         Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed.

·         Review your insurance policy.

Before the Hurricane

·         Frequently listen to radio for official bulletins of the storm's progress.

·         Fuel and service family vehicles.

·         Prepare to cover all window and door openings with shutters or other shielding materials.

·         Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water, and medications.

·         Have on hand an extra supply of cash.

During the Hurricane

·         Stay indoors (in a secure room) even if it is during the eye of the storm.

·         Stay away from windows.  Avoid metal objects and fixed line phones especially when there are heavy lightning flashes.

·         Monitor the radio for bulletins.

After the Storm

·         Don’t venture outside until the “all clear” is given. Do not go sightseeing.

·         Do not drink or prepare food with tap water until you are certain it is not contaminated.

·         Avoid using candles and other open flames indoors. Use a flashlight to inspect for damage.

Do not make unnecessary phone calls

Hurricanes can be tracked using lines of latitude and longitude. These are imaginary lines that run along the earth’s surface.  Lines of latitude run east and west, while lines of longitude run north and south.  These “lines” are used to measure distance on maps, and can help to locate hurricanes.

Ë      When an advisory is given, note the centre position of the hurricane and mark it on the tracking chart.  Hurricane centre positions are given by North coordinates and West coordinates.   The coordinates given by the Met Office indicate the centre position of the hurricane.

Ë      Remember… Hurricanes are large powerful storms that can change direction.  Check frequently on the storm’s progress until all Watches and Warnings from the Met Office are cancelled.