Today's post is the latest (here anyway) update from the NHC, full of good information (lots of good links at the bottom. Thanks, Suzanne from the finca!). It's time to be finishing up your preps, if you aren't finished already. My thoughts are 4000 miles away... impotent concern and knowing I'm missing a good party! Stay safe, boys and girls, and keep blowing north!PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...CORRECTED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
1044 AM AST SUN JUL 31 2011
...PERSONS IN PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SHOULD
CONTINUE TO STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST TROPICAL WEATHER INFORMATION...
A STRONG TROPICAL WAVE LOCATED ABOUT 650 MILES EAST OF THE LESSER
ANTILLES HAS CONTINUED TO BECOME BETTER ORGANIZED...BASED ON
LATEST INFORMATION FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IN MIAMI...A
TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM LATER THIS AFTERNOON. THIS SYSTEM
IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH AND HAS A HIGH
CHANCE...NEAR 100 PERCENT...OF BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING
THE NEXT 48 HOURS. MOST MODELS SUGGEST A FORECAST TRACK NEAR OR
OVER OUR LOCAL REGION.
TROPICAL STORM WATCHES WOULD LIKELY BE REQUIRED FOR THE U.S.
VIRGIN ISLANDS LATER TONIGHT. RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OF THE U.S.
VIRGIN ISLANDS AND PUERTO RICO ARE ENCOURAGED TO GO OVER THEIR
HURRICANE PLANS AND CLOSELY MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THIS SYSTEM.
SOME IMPORTANT FACTS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TROPICAL CYCLONES...
TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE WATCH...TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE
CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE GENERALLY BETWEEN 36 TO 48 HOURS.
TROPICAL STORM/HURRICANE WARNING...TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN 24 HOURS.
DO NOT FOCUS ON THE LOCATION OF THE FINE FORECAST LINE ASSOCIATED
WITH THIS OR ANY OTHER SYSTEM.
A HURRICANE IS NOT A POINT ON A MAP. THE DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF A
HURRICANE CAN EXTEND SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES AWAY FROM THE CENTER.
IF YOU ARE WITHIN THE CONE OF UNCERTAINTY...IT IS WISE TO ASSUME
THAT YOU COULD EASILY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE STORM.
NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND SECURE YOUR PROPERTY. THE
FOLLOWING ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR PREPARING FOR THE STORM...
GROCERY STORES MAY SELL OUT OF ITEMS QUICKLY. STOCK UP ON
BATTERIES FOR RADIOS AND FLASHLIGHTS...CANNED OR DRIED FOOD...
DRINKING WATER FOR AT LEAST 5 TO 7 DAYS...FIRST AID SUPPLIES...
AND PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE.
GET CASH...AS CREDIT CARDS AND ATM MACHINES WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT
ELECTRICITY. ALSO...GET FUEL FOR AUTOMOBILES...GENERATORS AND
CHAIN SAWS.
AROUND THE HOUSE...STORE LOOSE ITEMS SUCH AS TRASH CANS OR YARD
FURNITURE. SECURE WINDOWS WITH SHUTTERS OR PLYWOOD. ENSURE
BATTERY OPERATED RADIOS ARE WORKING. MOVE BOATS TO A SAFE
LOCATION. TRIM LARGE TREES THAT COULD FALL ON YOUR HOME. MAKE
SURE VALUABLE PAPERS ARE SECURE.
KNOW WHICH LOCAL SHELTER WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO YOU SHOULD YOU
DECIDE YOU ARE NO LONGER SAFE FROM HIGH WINDS AND/OR FLOODING.
IF YOU MUST EVACUATE TO A PUBLIC SHELTER...REMEMBER TO BRING A
FIRST AID KIT...MEDICINE...BABY FOOD...DIAPERS...TOILETRIES...
CHANGE OF CLOTHES...BATTERY POWERED RADIO AND EXTRA BATTERIES...
FLASHLIGHT...SLEEPING BAGS OR BLANKETS...IDENTIFICATION...
VALUABLE PAPERS...CASH...GAMES.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS TIPS...AND
HURRICANES IN GENERAL...IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET FROM SEVERAL
SOURCES...
PUERTO RICO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY SPANISH WEB PAGE...
HTTP://WWW.GOBIERNO.PR/AEMEAD/
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY...
HTTP://FEMA.GOV
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS HOME PAGE...
HTTP://WWW.NHC.NOAA.GOV/HAW2/
NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER...
HTTP://HURRICANES.GOV
AMERICAN RED CROSS HOME PAGE...
HTTP://REDCROSS.ORG
