HURRICANE EXERCISE 5-12-17 @ 3:30PM

THIS IS AN EXERCISE… EXERCISE… EXERCISE…

Here is the latest on Hurricane Brady from Fleet Weather Center and Naval Station Norfolk’s Emergency Manager, Gene Lambert:

Hurricane Brady is currently a strong CAT 3 hurricane located approximately 110 miles North/Northwest of Miami, FL [see attached graphic]. BRADY is forecast to continue to track parallel to the FL coastline and decrease slightly with land interaction. Once near the GA coast, BRADY is forecast to make a turn to the NE and pick up speed, making landfall near CAPE Fear, NC as a CAT 2 hurricane. It will then track NE just inland up the NC coast before exiting back over water near the NC/VA border making CPA [closest point of approach] to NAVSTA Norfolk Tuesday morning around 8am. We remain on the left side of the track which has the lower winds and as such, the Destructive Winds forecast is showing maximum winds on station of [69mph], with onset of [39mph / tropical storm force] winds beginning around 3am Tuesday morning.  Onset of [57mph] winds will begin at 8am Tuesday morning. Current forecast is showing a storm surge of 5-7ft.

The period after storm passage is expected to bring the highest storm tides for Norfolk as winds shift out of the NE. Based on a storm surge of 5-7 ft, we could see a storm tide of 8-10 ft based on storm passage and timing of hi/lo tides.  [Again, this is more than what was experienced during Hurricane Isabel and the 1933 Hurricane.]

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With weekend pause in exercise play, we pick back up Monday so for this update we’re considering ourselves approximately 72-48 hours before landfall.  The Norfolk EOC is in Readiness Condition 3 at 72 hours before landfall, and Condition 2 at T-48.

Remember, at this point we’re already at a partial Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Joint Information Center (JIC) activation with a local emergency declared.  There is a steady stream of communication and information sharing among Team Norfolk Emergency Operations, our partners throughout the region and the State, and most certainly throughout our community.  Volunteer organizations alerted and on stand-by.  State resources have been requested.  Communications are in place.  Shelters are ready.  Venues / special events identified and ready for closure.  Parking safe havens in municipal garages, school parking lots and other venues have been identified.  Efforts have been made with a strategy in place to ensure communication with, and sustenance for, our residents who may be vulnerable due to access and functional needs or poverty / hunger.  (See previous update). 

In advance of actual landfall, Economic Development has identified potential sites which may be used for post-storm recovery centers (where, if FEMA Individual Assistance is made available folks could go and receive help from FEMA, the Small Business Administration and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) and if needed a Joint Field Office (a coordination site among local, regional, state and Federal stakeholders).

Messages to the community:

• Folks can view potential flooding scenarios using Norfolk TITAN.  Sample graphic provided below.  NOTE 1: for the appropriate conversion, use 1-1.5’ less in the flood layer than what is displayed in the tide chart.  With a forecast of 10’, select 9’ or 8.5’ in the TITAN flood layer.  Note 2: this shows flooding from inundation only; additional flooding from rainfall or wave activity are not reflected.
• Make sure you have the necessary supplies for whether you stay in place or evacuate.  More information available at http://www.norfolk.gov/index.aspx?NID=658.
• Be prepared to evacuate if ordered!  You will be notified via Norfolk Alert (you must subscribe) and other means such as Norfolk.gov, social media and TV48.  Information will also include which shelters are to be opened and at what time.  Know what to expect in a city shelter! (website and video).
• Be sure to inventory and document important paperwork and valuables!  Review your insurance to find out what you might need on hand to file a claim.  Remember – flood damage is not included in a homeowner policy and it takes 30 days for a flood insurance policy to go into effect! 
• While taking steps to protect your home, make sure they’re effective!  Taping windows is not effective!  If resources permit, information on how to board up windows with plywood can be found here.  

NOTE: AT THIS POINT THE EXERCISE IS PAUSED FOR THE WEEKEND AND WILL RESUME NEXT WEEK.  THANKS FOR FOLLOWING ALONG AND BE SURE TO CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE!

Thank you and have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Jim
Director, Norfolk EOC
james.redick@norfolk.gov

 

THIS IS AN EXERCISE… EXERCISE… EXERCISE…