Severe Weather Preparedness

Why Prepare for a Disaster and What to do when a Natural Disaster threatens Norfolk.

The Norfolk VFD is here for you but you can take some simple steps to be proactive, informed and prepared when nature hits.

Disaster can strike without warning, forcing you to go for days without basic necessities or to evacuate your home.  Relief workers will be on the scene following a disaster, but may not be able to reach you immediately. 

You need to be prepared!  

Build an emergency kit with essential items you and your family will need for at least 72 hours, including food, medicines and first-aid supplies.

Knowing the steps to take during a disaster – whether Flooding, Blizzards, Tornados, Extended Power outages, or another crisis can greatly reduce the danger and distress your family may face.  These instructions will help you and your family plan for a variety of emergency situations, persevere during them, and recover afterward. 

First and Formost: Remember: 9-1-1 is for ALL Emergencies 

Note: If you need to contact the Norfolk Vol. Fire Department or Ambulance for Non-Emergencies, I.e: Wellness checks, Basement Flooding, Wires down, Trees down without wires involved,  Call our 24hr Dispatch Center (Litchfield County Dispatch *LCD*) in Torrington: 860-496-0711, and they will get ahold of us to assist you. 

DO NOT CALL THE FIREHOUSE, DO NOT LEAVE A MESSAGE, THIS MACHINE IS ONLY CHECKED WEEKLY.

State Police Troop B (North Canaan):  860-626-1820

Eversource Power:  1-800-286-2000 (to report no power)

Norfolk Town Hall:  860-542-5829

Eversource Outage reporting & Outage Map

FEMA

COMMODITIES DISTRIBUTION:
Power line, telephone lines and normal retail commerce will be disrupted during a wide scale disaster. Some residents may need a supply of life-sustaining commodities. These comodities will be managed thru Emergency Managment as available.

SHELTER
If Warranted, The town of Norfolk may provide temporary shelter for its residents depending on the condition of a suitable building with the availablility of Civilian Emergency Response Team (CERT) members. Contact Norfolks EMD Office if youd like to be a CERT volunteer!

In Case the power goes out:

  • Extended power outages may impact the whole community. A power outage is when the electrical power goes out unexpectedly. This could be caused by trees falling on the wires, a car accident hitting a pole damaging wires, or excessive grid use causing rolling blackouts from the power plant. 
  • A Power Outage may:
  • Disrtupt communications, Water, and Transportation
  • Close retail business, Grocery stores, Gas stations, ATMs, Banks, and Other services 
  • Prevent the use of medical devices. I.e Oxygen concentrators, Dyalysis machines, Meters & Monitors, Data collection, Feeding/Treatment/Respiratory equipment, Lifts, Power beds/chairs, etc. 

PROTECT YOURSELF DURING A POWER OUTAGE!

  • Take an inventory of the items you need that rely on electricity. Are there battery backups or UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) avaiable for these items?
  • Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity and how to store refrigerated medicines.
  • Make proper use of Surge protectors to protect vital appliances, equipment, or elctronics. Power may return with momentary “surges” or “spikes” that can cause damage.  
  • Find out how long medication can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life. 
  • Practice Energy conservation to help your power company avoid rolling blackouts. Note: LED Bulbs use significantly less power than traditional bulbs plus your generator will appreciate the reduced power draw for lighting. 
  • Do NOT use a gas stove to heat your house!
  • Disconnect appliances and electronics to avoid damage from electrical surges. 
  • Always keep your cars fuel tank at least 3/4 full – many gas stations use electricity to operate pumps and will not be able to pump fuel. Do NOT run your car in the garage to charge phones or stay warm. Keep it outside and make certain the exhaust is not blocked by snowbanks, etc. 
  • Plan for batteries and other alternatives to meet your needs when the power goes out. An LED lantern is much safer then candles. Remember pets are not used to candles on coffee tables or low tables/shelves. Wagging tails could knock lit candles over and cause a fire. Never go to sleep with a candle burning!
  • Know how to manually release your electric garage door to get your vehicle out or in.
  • Sign up for local alerts and warning systems here.
  • Download the Eversource mobile app from the App Store or Google Play and make it a part of your storm preparation kit to check the status of your outage and estimated restoration time.
  • Monitor local weather reports. 
  • Install Carbon monoxide detectors with battery backups in a central location inside the house.
  • Determine weather or not your home phone (landline) will work in a power outage and how long battery backups will last. Keep a Cell phone portable charger on hand ready to go.  
  • Protect your computer and WIFI router with a surge protector.
  • Avoid opening the refridgerator and freezer doors. Food should remain fresh for up to 12 hours after the power goes out if you refrain from opening the door.  If you know power outages may happen, Freeze water in plastic bottles to keep food cool longer.
  • Have alternate plans for refridgerating medicines and/or using power-dependent medical devices. 
  • If the outage is expected to last for several days or more, consider relocating to a shelter or a friends home for heat or cooling.
  • Check on your neighbors.
  • Go to a community location in town with power if heat or cold is extreme. Call 911 if its an emergency.
  • Food Safety TIP:  Place a coin on top of an ice cube in the freezers ice tray.  If you return and the coin is frozen in the bottom of the tray, you know that the temperature was warm enough to spoil the food and refroze when the power was restored. You MUST throw away all the food in your Freezer & Refridgerator for Health & Safety concerns that has thawed or spolied!
  • Automotive ReFueling Tip:  When Norfolk and Winsted/Torrington are affected. The local gas station in town has a generator for pumping fuel. Also remember; Great Barrington, Mass (20 Miles away) or Millerton, NY (19.5 Miles away) may have power and the ability to pump fuel. Check social media or call before making the drive to confirm.

Using a Generator:

  • If you plan to use a generator, operate it OUTSIDE only.  Face the exhaust away from basement windows and doorways – Do Not operate in a basement or garage.
  • Do NOT hook it up directly to your homes wiring. A certified 3-position generator switch is mandatory when connecting to your panel to prevent backfeeding. 
  • Inappropriate genertor connections or plugging into an outlet can kill responders dealing with downed wires miles down the road and cause your generator to overload and malfunction. 
  • Instead, connect the equipment and appliances you want to power directly to the outlets on the Generator. 

Before a Severe Weather Event…

To prepare for severe weather, you should take the following measures:

Protect yourself and your home:

To begin preparing:

  • You should build an emergency kit and Make a family communications plan.​ “Click the 2 Links for a more detailed list”
    • At least a 3 day supply of Non-perishable food and a manual can opener.  Do NOT buy items that need to be refridgerated in the event of a long term power loss.
    • Sufficient cash to purchase items. Debit/Credit card machines may be inoperable. ATM Machines may also be inoperable or out of cash during an emergency.
    • Make sure you have sufficient medicine (Prescription and OTC) for yourself and family members and any Special need items. Ie. Diapers, baby food/formula.
    • ​​One Gallon of Water per person, per day for at least 3 days for drinking and sanitation. Do not waste drinking water to wash clothes.
    • Dog/Cat/Pet food, a leash, drinking water and any items or medicine they may need. Attach ID Tags to your pet with your name, number, and address. 
    • Ensure livestock Horses/Goats/Cows have ample grain, hay & clean water.
    • If you’re on well water: Have water in pails to flush toilets, or fill the bathtub prior. Melted Snow/ice also works for this if applicable. 
    • Cell Phone & chargers and a 12v charger/inverter for your car.
    • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities. 
    • Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation.
    • A Whistle to signal for help.
    • A First Aid Kit with bandages, antibacterial ointment .
    • Hand Sanitizer.
    • an LED Flash Light and extra batteries.
    • Battery/Solar/Hand Crank powered weather/AM/FM radio (24hr Weather Broadcast 162.500).
    • Winter Weather: Stock up on Food, Water, Medicine, & Heating Fuel.
    • Secure back-up heat sources such as kerosene heaters. NEVER use Charcoal, Gas, Kerosene, or Propane heaters indoors. Exhaust and Co (Carbon Monoxide) can kill with no warning or smells. Invest in a Carbon Monoxide Detector or Call the Norfolk VFD for a Free unit.   
    • Buy bags of rock salt and sand for use on icy walkways.
    • Weatherstrip windows and doors to help seal out the cold. 
  • Identify an out-of-town contact or family member at least 50 to 100 miles away that can report your condition to others. It may be easier to make a long distance phone call or text than to call someone also effected by the severe weather. If possible, a post to Social Media will keep loved ones aprised of your situation and provide comfort.  
  • Know your surroundings. Obtain a local map that has grocery stores within 30 miles of your home, restaruants, and gas stations. (The internet will most likely be unavailable and Cell towers unable to stream data).
  • Fuel Tip:  When Norfolk and Winsted/Torrington are affected. Remember Great barrington (20 Miles away) or Millerton, NY (19.5 Miles away) may have power and the ability to pump fuel. 
  • Teach family members how to use Text messaging. Text Messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through and it uses less battery life on your cell phone. Plan ahead and set up a “Family Group” text conversation in your phone.
  • Sign up here for Emergency Alerts to your cell phone to keep aprised of happenings in Norfolk, CT. 
  • Traditional “Landline” phones will receive reverse 911 messages but your Cell phone will not. Use the link above to sign up. 
  • Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone. This will help you know how your property will be affected when flash flooding is forecasted.
  • Identify levees and dams in your area and determine whether they pose a hazard to you.
  • Make plans to secure and protect your property from would-be-thieves. 
  • Cover all of your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.
  • Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This will reduce roof damage.
  • Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant.  
  • Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
  • Reinforce your garage doors; if wind enters a garage it can cause dangerous and expensive structural damage.
  • Plan to bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything else that is not tied down. These items can become destructive in high winds
  • Determine how and where to secure your boat.
  • Have a generator installed by a licensed professional for emergencies. Inappropriate genertor connections or plugging into an outlet can kill responders dealing with downed wires miles down the road and cause your generator to overload and malfunction. 

During and after a Winter Storm:

  • Conserve heating fuel by shutting off unused rooms in your home.
  • Wear several layers of clothing and a hat outdoors. Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.
  • Dont overexert yourself while shoveling snow. Tell family where you’ll be shoveling.
  • Watch for signs of frostbite: Loss of feeling along with paleness in tip of nose, fingers, toes, and earlobes.
  • Beware of hypothermia. Signs include uncontrollable shivering, slurred speech, drowsiness, memory loss, and disorientation.
  • Avoid driving at night or alone. Notify others of your schedule and route. 

Freezing Rain/Ice Storm:

  • Minor Impact:  <.5″ = Untreated roads become slippery, Branches are glazed with ice.
  • Moderate Impact:  .5″ – .75″ = Tree limbs can sag or break, Scattered power outages.
  • High Impact:  >.75″ = Many trees and limbs will break, Windespread power outages, Roadways may be impassable without tire chains. 

During a Heat wave:

  • Stay indoors in air conditioning if possible and in the shade if you go outside. 
  • If your home is not air conditioned, spend at least two hours daily at an air conditioned Public area, Library, Grocery Store, Shopping Center, or Mall.
  • Wear sunscreen outside, along with light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible. 
  • Dring water regularly even if you are not thirsty. Limit alcohol, which speeds dehydration. 64 ounces (half gallon) of water per day is a minimum. 
  • NEVER leave childern or pets alone in a car.
  • Avoid exertion during the hottest part of the day. 
  • Take a cool shower or bath. 
  • Refrain from going on a long hike. Go to Toby pond instead!

Flooding:

  • Before a Flood: Consider purchasing flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. Regular homeowners insurance does NOT normally cover flood losses. 
  • Know how to get to higher ground from your home.
  • Ask local officials how you can protect your home and request flood maps on file at Town Hall.
  • During a Flood: Stay tuned to radio, Norfolks Emergency Managment social media, or the TV for updates.
  • Watch for Flash flooding. This can occur without rain clouds or rain in the immediate area. 
  • Avoid low lying areas such as valleys or drainage channels.
  • Never walk through moving water more than 6 inches deep. 
  • Do NOT drive through flooded areas.
  • If your vehicle stalls inwater, exit it and move to higher ground. Climb onto the roof if possible and Call 911 for help.
  • Evacuate if instructed to by authorities, and return home only when they say its safe. 
  • If your home is prone to flooding, have your furnace, water heater, and electrical panel moved to higher floors by a professional. contractor/electrician in prepararion of the worst. 
  • Install “check valves” in sewer traps to prevent water from backing up into your house.
  • Waterproof your basement walls to stop seepage.
  • Build barriers such as floodwalls or levees to keep out flood water.
  • Store insurance policies, Deeds, and other records in a safe-deposit box. 
  • After a Flood: Becareful in areas where floodwaters have receded.
  • Watch for downed electrical wires and weakened roads and bridges. DO NOT Drive over them, Call 911 and report them!
  • Stay out of flooded buildings.
  • Use caution when entering damaged structures. Their foundations may have weakened.
  • Avoid coming into contact with flood water. It may be contaminated with raw sewage. ALWAYS wash your hands if they get wet or use sanitizer. 
  • Discard any food that has come into contact with floodwater.
  • Beware of Land slides:  Look for changes in the landscape, such as small slides, leaning trees, poles or fences; widening cracks in the driveway or street; or the ground bulging out at the base of a slope or hill.  While Driving, Watch for signs, such as fallen rocks and mud in the roadway. Embankments along the roadside can slide with little or no notice. Move quickly out of their path!  

Tornado Warnings & Watches:

Yes, Norfolk CT can occasionaly get Tornados or High Wind Mirco-Bursts.

Tornadoes can destroy buildings, flip cars, and create deadly flying debris. Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes can:

  • Happen anytime and anywhere;
  • Bring intense winds, over 200 MPH; and
  • Look like funnels.

 IF YOU ARE UNDER A TORNADO WARNING, FIND SAFE SHELTER RIGHT AWAY!

  • If you can safely get to a sturdy building, then do so immediately.
  • Go to a safe room, basement, or storm cellar.
  • If you are in a building with no basement, then get to a small interior room on the lowest level.
  • Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.
  • Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You’re safer in a low, flat location.
  • Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death.
  • Use your arms to protect your head and neck.

HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN A TORNADO THREATENS

Prepare NOW

  • Know the signs of a tornado, including a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud; an approaching cloud of debris; or a loud roar—similar to a freight train.
  • Sign up for CT Alert to receive important messages for your area. YOU need to register your cell phone to receive these alerts. 
  • Pay attention to weather reports. Meteorologists can predict when conditions might be right for a tornado.
  • Identify and practice going to a safe shelter in the event of high winds.  The best protection is a small, interior, windowless room on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
  • Consider constructing your own safe room that meets FEMA or ICC 500 standards.

 Survive DURING

  • Immediately go to a safe location that you identified.
  • Take additional cover by shielding your head and neck with your arms and putting materials such as furniture and blankets around you.
  • Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.
  • Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle.
  • If you are in a car or outdoors and cannot get to a building, cover your head and neck with your arms and cover your body with a coat or blanket, if possible.

Be Safe AFTER

  • Keep listening to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, and local authorities for updated information.
  • If you are trapped, cover your mouth with a cloth or mask to avoid breathing dust. Try to send a text, bang on a pipe or wall, or use a whistle instead of shouting.
  • Stay clear of fallen power lines or broken utility lines.
  • Do not enter damaged buildings until you are told that they are safe.
  • Save your phone calls for emergencies. Phone systems are often down or busy after a disaster. Use text messaging or social media to communicate with family and friends.
  • Be careful during clean-up. Wear thick-soled shoes, long pants, and work gloves.

Home Fire Safety:

  • Have Smoke Detectors and fire extinguishers on EVERY level of your home.
  • Test and clean smoke detectors monthly and replace batteries at least twice per year. 
  • Free Smoke Detectors are available for Norfolk Residents through the Norfolk Fire Department. Just call us 860-542-5021 and leave a message.
  • Check Fire Extinguisher pressure gauges monthly.
  • Store matches and lighters out of sight and reach of small children.
  • Do NOT overload electrical outlets or run cords underneath rugs.
  • Inspect electrical cords for damage and replace or repair them if needed.
  • Keep space heaters at least three feet from furnature or drapes.
  • Clean the lint screen on your clothes drier before each use.
  • Have your furnace inspected every year. 
  • Change forced hot air furnace filters every six months or sooner if needed. 
  • Store Flammable materials and chemicals safely away from sources of heat.
  • Clean fireplace, coal stove, and wood stove chimneys every year. 
  • Thin bushes and trees within 30 feet from your home.
  • Create a family fire escape plan that shows two ways out of every room and a family meeting place outside. Practice it at least twice per year.

Protect your Posessions:

  • It is important to review your insurance policies yearly and especialy prior to the start of hurricane season. 
  • Review your policy with an agent or contract the Connecticut Insurance Department to understand what is and what is not covered with your coverage plan. Ensure you are receiving adequate protection in the event of damage and loss. 
  • Keep your policies and insurance information in a safe place. 
  • Back-up your computer and Data to the cloud or similar secured storage.
  • Make an inventory of your posessions should your property be damaged and you have to file a claim. 

Protecting your Business: 

  • Develop a prepardness plan – including resource managment, emergency response, crisis communication, business continuity, information technology, employee assistance and incident managment. 
  • Identify regulations that establish minimum requirments for your emergency program. 
  • Gather information about hazards and asess risks. 
  • Examine ways to prevent hazards and reduce risks.
  • For Retail, Food, and Fuel stops, Consider opening as soon as possible and/or operating with mimimal staffing during the event as a means to help others during their time of crisis.
    • Prepare for Cash transactions and the inability to take and process debit/credit cards.

National Security:

  • Emergencies can include foreign or domestic terrorist acts from Active Shooter/Assailant, Bombings to Biological or Chemical attacks. 
  • Raise your Awareness: Beaware of your surroundings!  Note emergency exits and staircases when in unfamiliar places. 
  • Leave the area if you feel something is wrong. 
  • Report suspicious behavoir or packages to 911 ASAP.

REALISTIC SIMULATION: A Category two (2) Hurricane is approaching Norfolk.

The purpose of the Hurricane Readiness Plan is to provide a systematic approach to follow in the event of a hurricane with emphasis on ongoing safety, awareness, preparedness and long-term survivability. 

Many of the Trees in Connecticut are passing 100 years in age. A significant wind surge across the state is anticipated to break, destroy, or knockover 80% of the standing trees. This worst case scenerio will greatly impact Norfolk and the entire state. You need to be prepared!

DAY ONE T-minus 12 HOURS (12 hrs. before the hurricane hits Norfolk, CT)

  • The NVFD will have been notified of the impending weather by radio, TV,  weather radio and Litchfield County Dispatch (LCD, the 911 dispatch center) will alert all Fire Department personnel.
  • **Pending Emergency Management Director and Selectmen approval**,  Reverse 911 may be utilized to notify and warn all Norfolk “landline” phone numbers and indivuals that have been registered their cellular phone numbers with CT ALERT) that a serious weather event is coming.
  • Please follow all state and town recomendations to Evacuate if deemed necessary. The NVFD will NOT place its members or equipment in danger from gale force winds or hail.
  • Fuel-up any vehicles and generators and have non-perishable food and water stored for up to 7 days. **NOTE: Do not buy items that need to be kept cool in the likely event power is out for several days.**
  • During the severe weather: NVFD Personal will not be placed in harms way. We will only respond to true emergencies. Cellar pump outs and reports of wires down will be held until the danger has passed. 
  • DAY TWO AND DAY THREE (The hurricane has passed over us, winds have subsided)
  • Our Highway Department and our Fire Department personnel will be responding to emergencies and will begin clearing roads. We are anticipating most telephone lines and power line will have been disrupted.
  • Our priority is to open the roads to gain access to your house for emergencies. 
  • If necessary, the Fire Department will begin door-to-door visits to acquire information about the condition of the residence. That information will be radio’d back to the Fire Dept. HQ and solutions will be planned and executed. If you have damage ti your home and intend to leave, please let us know so our first respondors conducting a door to door inspection will not loose valuable time looking for you. Contact the Town hall 860-542-5829 or Fire House 860-542-5021

DAY FOUR until situation is controlled

  • Continuation of relief efforts, the Fire Department will begin door-to-door visits of heavily damaged areas to acquire information about the condition of the residence. That information will be radioed back to the Fire Dept. HQ and solutions will be planned and executed. If you have damage to your home and intend to leave, please let us know so our first respondors conducting a door to door inspection will not loose valuable time looking for you.  Contact the Town hall 860-542-5829 or Fire House 860-542-5021

Glossary of Hurricane & Storm-Related Terms:

  • ​Flood Watch: Flooding is possible within 12 to 36 hours.
  • Flash Flood Watch: Flash Flooding is possible and could occur without warning.  Prepare to move to higher ground if you are in a low lying area thats at risk.
  • Flood Warning: Flooding is or soon will be occuring, evacuate immediaetly if advised. 
  • Flash Flood Warning: Flash flooding is occuring.  Move to higher ground at once if you are at risk. 
  • Heat Wave: Period of extreme heat, usually accompanied by high humidity. 
  • Heat Index: The relative humidity added to the air temperature – How hot it feels.
  • Heat Cramps: Muscle pains due to exertion – The first sign of heat-related problems.
  • Heat Exhaustion: A Mild form of shock brought on by strenuous activity in the heat.
  • Heat Stroke: A Life threatening condition occuring when the bodys temperatuire control system shuts down. Brain damage or death can result if the body is not cooled at once. 
  • Freezing Rain: Rain that freezes on contact with roads, trees, sidewalks, Etc. 
  • Sleet: Rain that freezes before hitting the ground.
  • Winter Storm Watch: A Winter storm is possible in the area.
  • Blizzard Warning: Winds or gusts 35mph or greater, along with snow, are expected to last 3 hours or more.
  • Winter Storm Warning: A Winter storm is occuring or will begin soon.
  • Frost/Freeze Warning: Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing. 

The following are definitions of terms, used by the National Hurricane Center in their forecasts, which will help you better understand the extent of the threat posed by a hurricane.
•  Advisory: A formal message from the National Hurricane Center, issued every six hours, providing details on location, intensity and movement of a tropical cyclone.
•  Hurricane Eye: The relatively calm area near the center of a storm. The duration of the “Calm” may last from several minutes to up to an hour, depending on the size and speed of the hurricane. The “Calm” usually ends suddenly as winds return, possibly with even greater force.
• Hurricane Warning: This warning indicates that a hurricane, with sustained winds of at least 74 mph, is to be expected in 24 hours or less. At this point, hurricane preparedness plans must be finalized. Hurricane warnings are seldom issued more than 24 hours in advance, and in cases of hurricanes with unusual or erratic paths, the warning may be issued only a few hours before landfall.
• Hurricane Watch: A hurricane watch indicates that hurricane conditions are a strong possibility and may threaten a given area within 36 hours. This advisory does not necessarily mean a hurricane is imminent, however you must initiate your hurricane preparedness activities.
• Intermediate advisories: Advisories are issued at two or three hour intervals, between regularly schedules advisories, whenever a storm nears a coast.
•  Storm Surge: A dome-like rise in ocean level associated with a hurricane. The difference between this abnormal rise in sea level and the level that normally occurs is called the storm surge. It is highest along and to the immediate right of the location where the eye of the hurricane strikes land.

– Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are possible in the area. Stay tuned to radio or TV and watch the sky. 
•  Tornado Warning: If a tornado is reported in the area, a warning will be issued. Tornadoes spawned by hurricanes are capable of producing severe damage and casualties.

•   Tropical Depression: A non-frontal low pressure system which usually originates in the tropics, it rotates counter clockwise and achieves maximum sustained winds of 38 mph.
•  Tropical Storm: A non-frontal low pressure system which usually originates in the tropics, it rotates counter clockwise and achieves maximum sustained winds of 73 mph.
•  Tropical Storm Warning: This warning indicates that there is a strong possibility that a storm, with a wind speed of 39 to 73 mph, which could strike a given area within 24 hours.
•  Tropical Storm Watch: A tropical storm evolves from a tropical depression. This advisory means that a tropical storm could threaten a given area within 36 hours.​

-Severe Thunderstorm Warning: An alert issued when trained storm spotters or a Doppler weather radar indicate that a thunderstorm is producing or will soon produce dangerously large hail or high winds, capable of causing significant damage.

– Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Issued when weather conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms.

Hurricane Intensity:

Categories, Wind Speed Storm Surge, Typical Effects
Category One Hurricane — Weak but dangerous
74-95 mph (64-82kt)
Minimal Damage: Damage is primarily to shrubbery, trees, foliage, and unanchored mobile homes. No real damage occurs in building structures. Some damage is done to poorly constructed signs.
4-5 ft (1.2-1.5m)
Low-lying coastal roads are inundated, minor pier damage occurs, some small craft in exposed anchorages torn from moorings.
 Category Two  Hurricane — Moderate
96-110 mph (83-95kt)
Moderate Damage: Considerable damage is done to shrubbery and tree foliage, some trees are blown down. Major structural damage occurs to exposed mobile homes. Extensive damage occurs to poorly constructed signs. Some damage is done to roofing materials, windows, and doors; no major damage occurs to the building integrity of structures.
6-8 ft (1.8-2.4m)
Coastal roads and low-lying escape routes inland may be cut by rising water 2- 4 hours BEFORE the hurricane center arrives. Considerable pier damage occurs, marinas are flooded. Small craft in unprotected anchorages torn from moorings. Evacuation of some shoreline residences and low-lying island areas is required.
Category Three Hurricane — Strong
111-130 mph (96-113kt)
Extensive damage: Foliage torn from trees and shrubbery; large trees blown down. Practically all poorly constructed signs are blown down. Some damage to roofing materials of buildings occurs, with some window and door damage. Some structural damage occurs to small buildings, residences and utility buildings. Mobile homes are destroyed. There is a minor amount of failure of curtain walls (in framed buildings).
9-12 ft (2.7-3.7m)
Serious flooding occurs at the coast with many smaller structures near the coast destroyed. Larger structures near the coast are damaged by battering waves and floating debris. Low-lying escape routes inland may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours BEFORE the hurricane center arrives. Flat terrain 5 feet (1.5 m) or less above sea level flooded inland 8 miles or more. Evacuation of low- lying residences within several blocks of shoreline may be required.
Category Four Hurricane — Very Strong
131-155 mph (114-135kt)
Extreme Damage: Shrubs and trees are blown down; all signs are down. Extensive roofing material and window and door damage occurs. Complete failure of roofs on many small residences occurs, and there is complete destruction of mobile homes. Some curtain walls experience failure.
13-18 ft (3.9-5.5m)
Flat terrain 10 feet (3 m) or less above sea level flooded inland as far as 6 miles (9.7 km). Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore due to flooding and battering by waves and floating debris. Low-lying escape routes inland may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours BEFORE the hurricane center arrives. Major erosion of beaches occurs. Massive evacuation of ALL residences within 500 yards (457 m) of the shoreline may be required, and of single-story residences on low ground within 2 miles (3.2 km) of the shoreline.
Category Five Hurricane** — Devastating
Greater than 155 mph (135kt)
Catastrophic Damage: Shrubs and trees are blown down; all signs are down. Considerable damage to roofs of buildings. Very severe and extensive window and door damage occurs. Complete failure of roof structures occurs on many residences and industrial buildings, and extensive shattering of glass in windows and doors occurs. Some complete buildings fail. Small buildings are overturned or blown away. Complete destruction of mobile homes occurs.
Storm Surge Greater than 18 ft (5.5m)
Major damage occurs to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft (4.6 m) above sea level and within 500 yards (457 m) of the shoreline. Low-lying escape routes inland are cut by rising water 3-5 hours BEFORE the hurricane center arrives. Major erosion of beaches occurs. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5 to 10 MILES (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required!