FEMA Continues to Monitor Hurricane Earl, Encourages Everyone to be Prepared

Washington D.C.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Families Should Visit Ready.gov (other languages available) to Prepare for Hurricanes and Severe Weather

WASHINGTON - As Hurricane Earl moves toward Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is closely monitoring the storm and stands ready to support commonwealth and territorial officials in the region to ensure they have the resources to respond if needed.  According to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), Earl is now a Category 3 hurricane.  FEMA continues to urge everyone in the region to take steps now to ensure they are prepared for possible severe weather, and remember that hurricanes and tropical storms frequently bring flash flooding as well.  Anyone can visit www.ready.gov learn more about how to prepare for an emergency.  A Spanish version of the website is available at www.listo.gov.

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The NHC has issued a hurricane warning for the U.S. Virgin Islands, including the islands of Culebra and Vieques, which means that hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area in the next 12 hours. The NHC has issued a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch for Puerto Rico. A hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A hurricane watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical storm force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous.  A tropical storm warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within 36 hours.

According to the National Hurricane Center, the center of Earl will pass near or over the northernmost part of the U.S. Virgin Islands this afternoon and evening.  Hurricane conditions will be spreading across the northern U.S. Virgin Islands during the next few hours and over portions of Puerto Rico this afternoon.  Rainfall is expected to produce total accumulations of 4 to 8 inches with possible isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches.  These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

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While there currently are no coastal watches or warnings in effect for the United States mainland, history has shown that storm tracks can change quickly and unexpectedly, and FEMA has been coordinating through its regional offices along the East Coast to aggressively prepare should the region experience severe weather.
 
The National Weather Service remains the source of official severe weather watches and warnings, including flash flooding which can take only a few minutes to develop in the case of heavy rains.

FEMA encourages all individuals in the region to listen to NOAA Weather Radio and their local news to monitor for severe weather updates, and to follow the directions provided by their local officials.

Ready Campaign . U.S. Department of Homeland Security . Washington, DC 20528