Protect Your Family In The Event Of A Hurricane
The recent devastation in Houston, Texas as the result of Hurricane Harvey serves as a reminder for all of us living on the coast about the importance of being prepared. It was less than a year ago in October of 2016 when Hurricane Matthew required large-scale evacuations throughout South Carolina. A category one storm, it still resulted in numerous deaths and billions of dollars in damages. You can protect yourself and your family against potentially life threatening personal injuries by being alert to the news and being aware when a storm is headed our way.
Be Aware Of Hurricane Dangers That Could Put You At Risk
The South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) offers a hurricane preparedness guide to help residents of our state protect themselves in the event of a storm. Most are tracked far out into the ocean days or weeks before arrival, providing extra time to get prepared. As the storm gets closer, a watch or warning may be issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). It is important to be aware of the different types of warnings, and what each of them means:
- Tropical storm or hurricane watch: Means that storms are possible in our area
- Tropical storm or hurricane warning: Means that storms are expected
- Storm surge watch: Storm surge, an uprising of water from the ocean, is one of the main causes of death in most storms. A watch means there is the possibility of storm surge within the next 48 hours
- Storm surge warning: A surge is expected in the area within the next 36 hours
- Extreme wind warning: Within the eye wall of a storm, wind gusts reach up to 115 miles per hour. An extreme wind warning means these types of winds are expected within the hour
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Know Hurricane Categories
Through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the NHC closely monitors each storm to determine the category. Categories provide an indicator of how severe a storm is likely to be. It is important to be familiar with these classifications:
- Category One: Hurricane Matthew was a ‘cat one’ storm, and brought heavy flooding and wind gusts up to between 75 and 95 miles an hour.
- Category Two: With wind gusts up to 110 miles per hour, these storms are likely to cause extensive damage to homes.
- Category Three: With wind gusts up to 129 mph, category three storms are likely to be devastating, causing power outages for weeks after.
- Category Four: As evidenced by Hurricane Harvey, a category four hurricane can reach wind gusts up to 156 mph and cause catastrophic flooding.
- Category Five: The most severe type of storm, these are likely to result in extensive loss of life.
We Are Here To Help When Disasters Occur
When serious accidents and injuries impact your family, the Anastopoulo Law Firm is here to help. Call or contact our South Carolina personal injury attorneys to request a free consultation regarding your case. With locations in Charleston and throughout the Upstate, we offer the trusted, professional legal representation that can help as you recover.
Call or text 803-222-2222 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
