Hurricane Evacuation Guide
What is a Hurricane?
Hurricane Watch
The National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane watch to alert specific regions when hurricane conditions are forecast for the area within the next 36 hours.
This watch should trigger your family’s disaster plan and you should begin protecting your home and property from the storm. Monitor weather reports via television or radio to stay informed.
Hurricane Warning
The National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning when sustained winds of 74 mph or greater are forecast for the area within the next 24 hours.
All precautions must be taken immediately; your family should already be in the process of securing property and relocating to a safe place to wait out the storm.
Monitor weather reports via television or radio to stay informed.
Storm Surge
For a hurricane, local officials issue evacuation orders to protect residents from storm surge – not wind.
Storm surge results when strong winds make incoming tides deeper than normal.
People who live in storm surge areas and who will actually be adversely affected by the amount of storm surge should understand that they don’t have to drive great distances to be safe.
If they have family or friends in the region that live on higher ground, then they should go there instead of trying to drive out of the area.
Hampton Roads residents can contact their local emergency management office to learn how storm surge can affect their property.
General and local storm surge maps are available at www.vaemergency.com in the “Hurricane” section, located in “Threats and Emergencies.”
Shelter Information
If emergency officials order an evacuation for your area, you should leave immediately.
Make plans now to stay with family or friends who live on higher ground in the area, and remember to make sheltering plans for your pets.
If you cannot stay with family or friends or at a hotel or motel, public shelters will be available to you.
Public shelters will provide necessities such as food, water and space for your family until emergency officials can determine that it is safe for you to return home.
You should gather supplies to take with you if you have to evacuate.
In addition to the basic items in your emergency supply kit, remember to include:
A three-day supply of special items for any elderly, disabled or infant members of your household
Copies of important documents, such as insurance policies and birth certificates, that will help you claim assistance after the disaster
Blankets, pillows, linens and something to sleep on, such as a cot, air mattress or cushion
During an evacuation, listen to your local television and radio stations and watch message signs along the road to learn where public shelters are.
Shelters can fill quickly and officials will open new shelters as needed.
If you need to go to a different shelter, toll-free call centers will also be open during an evacuation to provide you with the most current information.
The Saffir / Simpson Hurricane Scale
CATEGORY 1
Surge: Four to five feet
Winds and effects: 74-95 mph (64-82 knots)
No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery and trees. Also, some coastal flooding and minor pier damage.
CATEGORY 2
Surge: Six to eight feet
Winds and effects: 96-110 mph (83-95 knots)
Some roofl, door and window damage. Considerable damage to vegetation, mobile homes, etc. Flooding damages piers. Small craft in unprotected moorings may break away.
CATEGORY 3
Surge: Nine to 12 feet
Winds and effects: 111-130 mph (96-113 knots)
Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings, with a minor amount of structural failures. Mobile homes are destroyed. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures. Larger structures damaged by floating debris. Terrain may be flooded well inland.
CATEGORY 4
Surge: 13-18 feet
Winds and effects: 131-155 mph (114-135 knots)
More extensive structural failures, with some complete roof failure on small residences. Major erosion of beach areas. Terrain may be flooded well inland.
CATEGORY 5
Surge: 19 feet and over
Winds and Effects: 156 mph and over (135 knots and over)
Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures, with small utility buildings blown over or away. Flooding causes major damage to lower floors of all structures near the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas may be required.
For information about how to prepare for all types of emergencies, visit ReadyVirginia.gov.
