The Eye of the Storm:

Hurricane Impacts, Evacuation Considerations &

Personal Preparedness
 Objectives

• Hurricane Impacts:
Understanding the
Dangers

• Evacuation
Considerations

• Personal Preparedness:
Taking Action Now!
 Hurricane Impacts:
Understanding the Dangers or
Why We Should Evacuate
• Flooding
• Levees
• Storm Surge
• Utility Failures
(Electricity, Gas,
Water)
 Rationale #2: Flooding is the leading cause of deaths
related to Severe Weather

• 1976-2006 National
Average
• 99= Flood
• 61= Lightning
• 54= Tornado
• 49= Hurricane
 Why Evacuate?
1970-99 U. S. HURRICANE DEATHS
ALL PEOPLE CHILDREN (UNDER AGE 13)

FRESHWATER FLOOD 59% FRESHWATER FLOOD 78%

OTHER 41% OTHER 22%

 Why Evacuate?
Weak and low-lying international border levee sections
present a hazard of inland flooding
Evacuate vs. Shelter-in-Place

Factors to Consider
• Mandatory
Declaration
• Category Strength
• Forecast Landing
• Dependable
Transportation
• $ (gasoline,
housing, food)
• Pets
 Evacuation
• Self-Evacuation vs.
Assisted Evacuation
– Factors to consider
• Dependable Transportation
• $ (gasoline, lodging, food)
• Independence vs.
Dependence
– Time
– Destination
– Transportation
– Lodging
– Belongings
 BP
Poteet

• Evacuation Route
(Ruta de Evacuación)
BP Bus Fuel Point 16 624

BP
281

Ground Evacuation Hub

BP
285
Hebbronville Falfurrias
16
281

BP
SSA State Staging Area Encino

(buses) 1017

186
Edinburg Raymondville
83
McAllen
SSA

San Benito
GROUND HUB & AIR HUB
(Centro de Evacuación)

Fragile
Level III,
and Level
IV/V

AIR HUB

P
 Personal Preparedness

Emergency
Emergency Emergency Pet 2-1-1
Communication
Supply Document Evacuation Evacuation
Plan
Kit Bag Kit Assistance
 Evacuation Materials:
Emergency Supply Kit*
• First aid Kit
• Bottled Water
• Food & Snacks
• Extra Changes of Clothing
• Medication (including
prescription)
• Eyeglasses/hearing aids
• Portable medical equipment
• Radio (battery or crank)
• Pillows & Blankets
• Pet Supplies

*This list is not all-inclusive; your kit may differ.

 Evacuation Materials:
Emergency Document Bag*
• Identification
• Ownership
Documents
• Medical documents
• Emergency Contacts
– Establish a Point of
Contact (POC) from
outside of area
– Share POC with loved
ones

*This list is not all-inclusive; your kit may differ.

 Emergency Communication Plan
• Sometimes, hurricanes or other
disaster destroy local telephone
lines and cellular towers
• Share with your family the name of
a relative or friend (& phone
number) outside the Valley or
outside the State.
• Call that person before you leave
the area, providing details of your
route and final destination.
• When you arrive to your final
destination, call that person.
 Evacuation Materials:
Pet Evacuation Kit*
• Food
• Water
• Medicines
• First aid kit for pets
• Pet carrier
• Sanitation kit
• Picture with pet
• Familiar items (toys)

*This list is not all-inclusive; your kit may differ.

 2-1-1 Evacuee Registration
• Only a little over
5,404 residents
having registered for
government-assisted
transportation.
• The registration totals
allows stakeholders to
order up
transportation assets
from the State (e.g.
buses, aircraft,
military personnel, &
sheltering space)
Texas Hurricane History

Total of 55 Hurricanes dating back to 1851

One every 3 years