COUNTDOWN TO HURRICANE SEASON 2002

National Hurricane Awareness Week, 2002 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation

Hurricanes can devastate our communities, endangering thousands of human lives and causing billions of dollars in property damage. Stemming from the ocean, the atmosphere, and heat from the sea, hurricanes bring with them the potential for high winds, tornadoes, torrential rains, flooding, and ocean water storm surges. Their fierce and destructive power requires that we all take steps to reduce our vulnerability to this natural hazard.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an average of ten tropical storms develop annually over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. Every year, an average of six of these storms grow strong enough to become hurricanes. Approximately five hurricanes strike the United States coastline every 3 years. Out of these, two will have winds above 111 miles per hour, qualifying them as major hurricanes. The resulting high winds and high waves can seriously damage homes, businesses, public buildings, and critical infrastructure, and ultimately have the potential to injure people and claim lives.

To help avoid damage and help ensure the public's safety from hurricane hazards, FEMA recommends a variety of preventative steps for both individuals and communities. For example, construction measures can help minimize property destruction. These include installing storm shutters over exposed glass and adding hurricane straps to hold the roof of a structure to its walls and foundation. More complex measures, such as elevating coastal homes and businesses, can further reduce a property's susceptibility. In addition, communities can reduce their vulnerability by adopting wind- and flood-resistant building codes and by implementing sound land-use planning.

More than 50 million people live along hurricane-prone coastlines in the United States, with millions of tourists visiting these areas annually. During National Hurricane Awareness Week, I encourage those who live in coastal areas, as well as all concerned Americans, to be more vigilant in preparing for hurricanes and other natural disasters before they occur. By promoting awareness of hurricane hazards and helping with relief efforts when these powerful storms strike, we can reduce the risks of hurricane damage and help our neighbors recover more quickly from their devastating effects. With preparation, forecasting, and coordination, we can save lives and improve our Nation's ability to withstand the impact of hurricanes.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 19 through May 25, 2002, as National Hurricane Awareness Week. I call on government agencies, private organizations, schools, news media, and residents in hurricane-prone areas to share information about hurricane preparedness and response in order to help prevent storm damage and save lives.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-sixth.

Here on the South Coast I'm ready.

Hurricane supplies are as follows: 30 gallons of water; an entire truckload of sand bags; 10 sheets of 3/4" plywood; case of duct tape; a pallet of toilet paper and paper towels; a pallet of varied canned goods; mostly beans, rice, vienna sausage, spam, bread, powdered milk; plenty of home-grown veggies that most likely will not be blown away in a storm; 4 45# forklift propane tanks with appropriate adaptor for outdoor grill; 45kw Diesel generator; 150 gallons of No. 2 Diesel fuel; 55 gallons 100 octane unleaded gasoline in sealed drum; a case of vodka and half a dozen bottles of bloody mary mix; 12 cases of beer; 100 lbs of dogfood, 50 lbs of cat food; all our combined rifles, shotguns and pistols and lots of ammo for each; numerous extra pairs of glasses; prescriptions fully refilled each month on the first; a dozen rosaries, Bibles, prayer books; couple boxes of assorted AAA through D cell batteries and extras for cameras, hearing aids, laptops and cell phones; 2 radios including one shortwave; 3 CO2 bottles and dry ice making apparatus; 5 32 qt ice chests.

We stay in our warehouse/shop with built in living quarters. I don't believe that much can happen to collapsing the building by way of tearing down the structural support beams; it'd just tear the tin off, and the inside structure is iron beamed with insides just like a house, except no windows. A house inside a way bigger building, basically. There's enough here to support 15 people (all my immediate family) for 30 days. More people can be supported if they add their supplies too. The day before a 'cane is definitely going to hit, we cook most of all the meat in the reefers and deep freezes and keep it good with the dry ice. It doesn't go uneaten. This area hasn't been hit by a really bad one since '57 (Aubrey) so the infrastructure and buildings will go to the drink when one does. If we survive it, we will be able to support ourselves. Evacuation is not an option. Our entire family lives here as well is our business. We will all die together/survive together and we have to protect ourselves and life investment as well as others who can't protect themselves or those who have left town during a post-disaster situation. Last time a tornado touched down and caused damage it promoted looting and rioting, including the theft of about $75k in equipment and product from our business alone. We ride the 'canes out. Either it gets us or it doesn't.

In San Diego, it's always earthquake season.

Yeah, they do give us time to evacuate. Of course, for Floyd, we spent hours packing our stuff & boarding up (we were living in a mobile home at the coast at the time, didn't expect to have anything left there if it hit as predicted), hours in a traffic jam evacuating, and then could have stayed home as what actually made landfall was equivalent to your average summer storm. Then had to make up the 'storm days' at the end of the school year.

OTOH, I saw what HUGO did, and there's no way I want to try riding out a big storm! :)

And anyone who has lived on the coast long enough knows the ones to worry about. E-x-a-c-t-l-y. Have lived in a hurricane zone for a substantial part of my life, and what's certain is that there is plenty of advance notice, so if anyone has any sense at all, they should not be injured (property damage is, well, not something you can do a whole lot about, short of battening down the hatches and taping the windows). I wish, for the benefit of our folks in the midwest and panhandle, especially, that they'd channel their hysterical energy into finding ways to provide better advance notification of those truly horrifying and deadly tornadoes!

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