Hurricane Wilma breaking records

How to protect yourself and family in hurricanes or storms         

[OCT. 20, 2005]  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Hurricane Wilma, the "season's 21st named storm and 12th hurricane, became the most intense hurricane recorded in the Atlantic Basin on Wednesday with a minimum central pressure of 882 millibars. The Category 5 hurricane is forecast to lose some strength before a weekend landfall currently projected to be along the west coast of Florida."

This storm, based on its projected path, will not only cut a swath across Florida but move up the eastern seaboard. The Coast Guard Auxiliary wants all those who might be in the path of this storm to find out what they can do to protect themselves, as well as understand what may or can or will happen.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary strongly suggests that all members of the public who are in hurricane, tornado and severe thunderstorm areas take the time and educate themselves about these powerful natural occurrences.

The National Weather Service provides advisories to the nation on large storms like hurricanes as well as local thunderstorms and tornados.

Most people are confused by some of the terminology used by the National Weather Service. The two most confusing terms are "warning" and "watch."

A "watch" issued for your area indicates the possibility that you could experience adverse conditions. The criteria change depending on the type of watch -- hurricane, tornado or severe thunderstorm.

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 or leaving a barrier island.

A "warning" issued for your area indicates that the adverse conditions will happen or are happening -- again based on the type of weather.

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.

Below are some links to information that can help you and your family understand these storms, as well prepare for them.

• "Hurricane Basics
"

• http://hurricanes.noaa.gov/pdf/
  hurricanebook.pdf
  [To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for the PDF file, click here.]

• http://hurricanes.noaa.gov/prepare/

• Hurricane and other severe weather guides, from NOAA's National Hurricane Center

• Hurricane awareness, from NOAA's National Weather Service

• "Hurricanes...Unleashing Nature's Fury" -- Hurricane safety and information from the American Red Cross, NOAA and FEMA [To download Adobe Acrobat Reader for the PDF file, click here.]

• "Tornadoes... Nature's Most Violent Storms?"

• "Thunderstorms and Camping Safety"

• Hurricane readiness guide, from the American Red Cross

• "Owlie Skywarn's Weather Book about Tornadoes," -- weather safety for kids

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, nonmilitary volunteers who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing maritime domain awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education.

The auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in 1941. Its 31,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.

[U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary news release]