CEMA Explains New Evacuation Process and New Flooding Maps
By Lou Phelps
CF Staff
The Weather Channel says Savannah is “overdue” for a direct hurricane hit. And the Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA has released new flooding maps that show that even the lowest level hurricane leaves most of Chatham County under water. Literally.
So, it’s the time of year to review your family’s evacuation plan and think about at age is it appropriate to engage your children in the process? How many boxes will actually fit in your car beyond your family and essential food and water supplies? What can they each take of their important memories – a memory box.
According to CEMA, the longer a person has lived in a coastal area, the less likely it is that they will evacuate. And, if you and your family evacuated in 1999 for Hurricane Floyd, the memory of that horrible two days on I-16 may still haunt.
Add to the fact that a hurricane's path is difficult to predict. They provide advance warning time compared to most disasters we experience, but that means that officials must make decisions in sometimes sunny weather conditions. If evacuation orders are given too early, the hurricane can change course and leave the evacuated area unscathed – and local residents questioning CEMA’s call to leave.
So this year CEMA has developed new evacuation guidelines that explain more about the process they will go through to call for ‘recommended’ or ‘mandatory’ evacuations. And they have released new maps that provide significant new detail on how much of Chatham will be underwater even at a Level 1 hurricane due to storm surge data. Unfortunately, the coast off of Savannah is flat and shallow which means that the storm surge will be significant and will push water inland many miles including up all of the Coastal Georgia rivers. Even portions of Effingham County will be underwater as marshes, rivers and storm drain systems fill up and back up.
For a Category Three storm heading towards Chatham County, a mandatory evacuation of the entire county would begin 30 hours from the forecast arrival of tropical storm force winds. Nursing homes and special needs resident evacuations will begin 48 hours out; voluntary evacuations of islands and low-lying areas will begin six to 12 hours prior to the mandatory evacuation.
Also in new information just released, CEMA will evacuate their own facility and go inland to Georgia Southern University in Statesboro from a Level 2 or higher storm. This includes police, fire and department of public works leaders. The roof on CEMA’s new command center on Chatham Parkway will not survive a Category 3 storm. The roof on the Old Court House that used to serve as the command center will not survive a Level 1, though shutters have been added to that building in recent years to try to minimize wind damage to the building that serves as the heart of the Chatham County Commission and county management team.
The bottomline according to Clayton Scott, director of CEMA, is to leave early and to have done individual family planning well in advance. Start now scanning and making CD’s of family photo albums. Do tests of how many plastic containers and suitcase will actually fit in your car. Buy your containers in advance – there will be a complete run on all storage containers at local stores.
Residents need to make sure they bring vital documents with them, including birth certificates, marriage licenses, wills, credit card information and passports. They must also remember to bring medications. If residents have pets, they must bring provisions for them as well, including food, water and any medications the pet needs.
All families should bring an emergency supply kit when they evacuate that includes food, water, a first aid kit, flashlights and extra batteries.
WHEN A WATCH IS POSTED
When a Hurricane Watch is issued conditions pose a possible threat to a specific area within 48 hours. Recommended actions to take:
• Monitor radio, TV, NOAA weather radios for information on storm progression.
• Fuel and service family vehicles.
• Inspect and secure mobile home tie-downs.
• Determine your evacuation destination.
• Prepare to cover window and door openings with shutters or other protective materials. If you have not precut plywood for your windows, do it now.
• Check food and water supplies. Have clean airtight containers on hand to store water.
• Keep a small cooler with frozen jell packs for refrigerated items.
• Check supplies of prescription medicine.
• Check and stock up on radio, flashlight and lantern batteries.
• Secure outdoor lawn furniture and other loose, lightweight objects such as garbage cans, garden tools, potted plants, etc.
• Check and replenish first aid supplies.
• Have an extra supply of cash.
WHEN A WARNING IS POSTED
When a Hurricane Warning is issued, winds of 74 mph or higher are expected to affect a specified area within 36 hours. This warning is the signal to take immediate action to prepare for the full impact of a hurricane. The consequences for coastal communities could be devastating if proper emergency actions are not taken.
CEMA Student Essay Contest
One of the Chatham Emergency Management Agency's (CEMA) goals is to educate residents and make sure they are prepared should they ever face a disaster. CEMA targets the entire Chatham County population, including children.
This year during Severe Weather Awareness Week, CEMA encouraged Chatham County schools to become involved by participating in an essay contest. The contest was open to all 5th graders in Chatham County and must follow the theme "Plan Now, Stay Safe.”
You can read some of the best essays at www.coastalfamily.com to get a sense of how kids understand preparedness.
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