Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Guide - Governor's Office of ...

PREPARE + PREVENT + RESPOND + RECOVER + MITIGATE[ 4 ]High Wind+ TornadoTornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawnedfrom powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can causefatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds.Some of the danger signs of a tornado are a dark, oftengreenish sky; large hail; a large, dark, low-lying cloud(particularly if rotating); and loud roaring, similar to afreight train.Hurricanes, no matter how weak, are dangerous. The combination of storm surge, wind andother contributing factors determines a hurricane’s destructive power. To compare the disasterpotential of sustained wind, emergency forces utilize the Saffir-Simpson scale of wind speedsto help them predict potential hazards. The National Oceanic and AtmosphericAdministration’s (NOAA) forecasters use the Saffir-Simpson Scale.CATEGORY 1CATEGORY 2 CATEGORY 3 CATEGORY 4 CATEGORY 574 – 95 mph 96 – 110 mph 111 – 130 mph 131 – 155 mph 155+ mphHurricane Isaac had Category 1 sustainedwinds but extensive damage from floodingon I-10 in LaPlace.Graphic courtesy of Lafayette Utilities SystemFlooding + IcePREPAREMost people in Louisiana associate hurricanes withdevastating winds and storm surge. While strong windsand high storm surges do cause a tremendous amount ofcoastal destruction, flooding resulting from a hurricane canoccur hundreds of miles from the coast. Inland floodingthroughout coastal, central and north Louisiana cancause severe damage after a hurricane makes landfall andas the remaining weather system moves through the State.Since 1970, inland flooding has been responsible for morethan half of all deaths associated with tropical storms andhurricanes in the United States.Flooding can occur as a result of other weather events.People across the State can be at risk from floodingcaused by heavy rains. People in central and northLouisiana may be at risk from flooding caused bymelting snow and ice.Winter storms accompanied by dangerously lowtemperatures and sometimes by strong winds, icing,sleet and freezing rain can also be a danger. Winterstorms can knock out heat, power and communicationsservices to your home or office, sometimes for days at atime. Icy conditions and extreme cold can immobilize anentire region.FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:getagameplan.org and ready.govTrimming limbs that extend overbuildings in advance of ice storms is animportant mitigation measure.