Things you should know about hurricanes and tropical storms

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Tropical storms and hurricanes do happen in Georgia and South Carolina, so it’s important to prepare ahead of time.

Here’s what you should know about what to do before a strong storm in the CSRA.

Understand storm

Storms are categorized based on their wind speeds. A tropical storm is a cyclone, or a warm core low-pressure system, with wind speeds from 39 to 73 miles per hour. This is also the stage where the storm is given a name.

Meanwhile, the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale rates hurricanes from 1 to 5. Those wind speeds include:

• Category 1: 74-95 mph
• Category 2: 96-110 mph
• Category 3: 111-129 mph
• Category 4: 130-156
• Category 5: 157+

What helps tropical storms and hurricanes form?

The Gulf and Atlantic Ocean can get extremely warm, especially during hurricane season (May-November), which is fuel for hurricanes as heat helps the water evaporate faster. The phase change of liquid water to gas (water vapor) leads to latent heat release and energy being added to the atmosphere. This leads to storm growth and development. The overall temperature in the Gulf or Atlantic needs to be at least 80° F for tropical cyclogenesis to occur.

The lower a storm’s pressure, the stronger the storm. When Hurricane Helene hit the CSRA September 27th, 2024 - the second lowest barometric pressure on record in Augusta was recorded at 978 millibars.

Additional factors that influence tropical cyclogenesis are wind shear and Saharan dust. Wind shear is a change in wind speed and/or direction as you go up in the atmosphere. Tropical storms and hurricanes thrive in calm environments. When wind shear is present, it’s much harder for tropical development to begin. Shear will impact the structure of the tropical cyclone and cause the vortex to tilt. Think of a dreidel - while it’s upright, it can spin and maintain it’s motion, but if it gets tilted then the dreidel loses it’s balance and can no longer continue spinning. Dry air is also an inhibitor to tropical development. Dry air often comes in the way of Saharan dust traveling across the Atlantic Ocean from the western coast of Africa. When tropical cyclones ingest dry air, they lose their ability to add energy to the atmosphere through latent heat release discussed earlier.

TRACKING TROPICAL WEATHER:

• Latest forecast from the News 12 First Alert team
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• What Ga., S.C. agencies want you to know ahead of Helene
• Impending weather changes high school football kick-off
• Disaster loans available for S.C. victims of Tropical Storm Debby

Have an emergency kit handy

An emergency kit is something you can make at any time and keep handy for a weather emergency. The Georgia and South Carolina Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency recommends you carry the following items in your kit:

• At least one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days
• A three-day supply of non-perishable food, plus a can opener
• Radio
• Emergency charger for mobile devices
• Flashlight
• Batteries
• First aid kit
• Whistle
• Disinfectant wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Moist towelettes
• Garbage bags
• Wrench or pliers
• Local maps

Prepare for a power outage

With large storms come high wind speeds, which can knock down trees and take out power.

Georgia Power gives the following tips in the case of an outage:

• If the weather is warm, turn your air conditioning down. If it’s cold, turn the heat up. You’ll want to keep doors and windows closed after the storm, as you can keep the inside temperature stable for up to 48 hours.
• Charge your cell phone and other electronics ahead of time
• Keep your freezer doors closed. Frozen food will stay good for two to three days in a well-filled freezer.
• To avoid overloading the circuits, disconnect or turn off any appliances that will start automatically when power is restored. These may include electric space heaters, stoves, washers and dryers, TVs, microwave ovens, computers, and refrigerators and freezers.

In case you even need to, you can manually flush a toilet by pouring in a bucket of water. Fill your bathtub and sinks with water for easy access.

Have an emergency communication plan

When a storm hits, your family may be in different places. That’s why the Georgia and South Carolina Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency recommends drafting a family communications plan, including meet-up spots and important phone numbers.

Click here to see a family communications plan template.

the WRDW First Alert weather app

• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wrdw.android.weather&hl=en_US
• iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wrdw-weather/id1356247299

Likely impacts

Hurricanes bring high winds, as we saw with Hurricane Helene last year. NEVER SLEEP UPSTAIRS WHEN A HURRICANE IS EXPECTED TO HIT OVERNIGHT. Helene was a testament to the deadly nature of these storms and the vulnerability of many locations next to tall trees. An additional threat is flooding. More people die from flooding than from wind in hurricanes most years.

Storm surge is only a concern near the coast, but inland flooding is also a major hazard from tropical cyclones. Debby and Helene brought once in 500 year flood events to the CSRA. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODED ROAD. Many roads get washed out during these events. Driving through flooded roads put you and first responders at risk of being submerged in a washed out road.

Government steps

President Donald Trumps recently released this statement on Hurricane Preparedness Week this year,

“Every year, hurricanes destroy lives, striking some of our Nation’s most beautiful regions and leaving devastation in their wake. National Hurricane Preparedness Week is a time to raise awareness about the dangers of these storms and encourage citizens in coastal areas and inland communities to be vigilant in emergency planning and preparation.

Hurricanes, storm surges, and flooding can wash away homes and properties, but the greatest threat is the loss of life, making readiness paramount. Those living in at-risk areas should have a family evacuation plan and a supply of non-perishable food, water, medicine, batteries, and other essential items.

This August marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which caused widespread destruction and loss of life, leaving an indelible impact on the Louisiana Delta and Mississippi Coast. Tragically, in the decades since, other catastrophic hurricanes — most recently Helene and Milton — have devastated communities and shattered lives throughout our Nation.

In the aftermath of each storm, the intrepid American spirit emerged. It was evident in the professionalism and comion of volunteers and organizations offering aid, comfort, and temporary shelter — and in the extraordinary resilience and strength of those left to rebuild their lives. I witnessed this firsthand in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, where I met with survivors and local leaders working tirelessly to restore their communities.

I remain steadfastly committed to ing hurricane recovery efforts and ensuring that Federal resources and tax dollars are allocated to American citizens in need. I signed an Executive Order giving State and local authorities a more significant role in resilience, preparedness, and rapid-response efforts. Local officials have the insight to make risk-informed decisions, deploy resources, manage operations, and eliminate ineffective bureaucracy so we can better serve affected communities.

As hurricane season approaches, I urge every household to recognize the dangers of severe weather, assess their risk, and develop a comprehensive plan to ensure disaster preparedness.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 4 through May 10, 2025, as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. I call upon Americans living in hurricane-prone areas to safeguard their families, homes, and businesses from the dangers of hurricanes.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth. DONALD J. TRUMP”

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