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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
739 AM EDT Thu May 9 2024

...HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS WEEK 2024...
...STAY PROTECTED DURING STORMS IS THE THEME FOR TODAY...

All this week, your National Weather Service will be issuing 
informative messages to help you prepare for the upcoming hurricane 
season. Here is a list of the remaining topics for this week. 

Today: Stay Protected During Storms 
Friday: Use Caution After Storms 
Saturday: Take Action Today

During a storm, it is important to know what to expect from the 
hazards you may face. Stay vigilant, remain up to date with the 
latest forecasts and alerts, and continue to listen to local 
officials. Make sure that you have Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled 
on your phone to receive Warnings and other alerts. Pay attention to 
the latest forecast as conditions can change quickly and storms can 
rapidly intensify from a tropical storm into a major hurricane. Even 
small changes in a storm's track can make a big difference in the 
eventual impacts realized for your area. 

Water, through storm surge and fresh water flooding from rainfall, 
cause more direct deaths in tropical cyclones than wind hazards. 
That is why it is so important to evacuate if told to do so. If your 
home becomes flooded during the storm, and you are still there, get 
higher in your house to escape the flood waters. If the highest 
floor of your home becomes dangerous, get on the roof and call 911. 

Winds can also be destructive and deadly in hurricanes. Winds are 
stronger higher above ground level, which can put high-rise 
buildings at a greater risk. To protect yourself from wind, the best 
thing you can do is put as many walls as possible between you and 
the outside. An interior room without windows, such as a closet or 
bathroom, is the safest place you can be. For added protection, you 
can cover yourself with a mattress and wear a helmet. If your area 
is under an Extreme Wind Warning, take shelter immediately and 
remain there until the threat is over. 

Remain vigilant even if you are far from the most damaging impacts. 
Storm surge can be hazardous along the coast even if a storm is 
passing 100 miles offshore. And inland flooding can be felt hundreds 
of miles from the coast. Never drive through floodwaters. A can can 
be swept away with only a foot of water, and there is no way to know 
if the road itself has collapsed when hidden by water.  

For more information about hurricane preparedness, please visit
the following websites:
https://weather.gov/safety/hurricane 
https://hurricanes.gov/prepare
https://noaa.gov/stay-protected-during-storms 
https://flash.org/hurricanestrong

$$