Advisory: Hurricane and storm information delivered to the public every six hours.

“Eye” of the Hurricane: The relatively calm area near the center of the storm where winds are light, and the sky often is partly cloudy. The calm area is deceptive because it is bordered by maximum-force winds and torrential rains; it can last from several minutes to more than an hour.

Gale Warning: An advisory that 39-54 mph sustained winds and strong wave action are expected.

Hurricane: A tropical storm with wind speeds of 74 miles per hour or more, and dangerously high water and waves.

Hurricane Warning: An advisory that a hurricane is expected to strike a specified area within 24 hours or less.

Hurricane Watch: An announcement of possible hurricane conditions for a particular area within 36 hours.

Intermediate Advisory: Hurricane and storm information updated every two to three hours, or as necessary.

Special Advisory: Hurricane and storm information delivered when there is a significant change in storm-related weather conditions or warnings.

Storm Surge: An abnormal rise in sea level produced by the strong winds and low pressure within a hurricane. The storm surge occurs in the right half of the storm as it makes landfall. The storm surge potentially could elevate sea level from 2 to 20 feet. (9 out of 10 hurricane-related deaths occur as a result of storm surge, rather than winds.)

Storm Warning: An advisory that 55-73 mph sustained winds and strong wave action are expected.

Tropical Depression: An area of low pressure, rotary circulation of clouds and winds up to 38 miles per hour.

Tropical Disturbance: A moving area of thunderstorms in the tropics.

Tropical Storm: Counterclockwise circulation of clouds and winds (develops over warm tropical waters) with wind speeds ranging from 39-73 miles per hour. At this stage, the storm is assigned a name.

Tropical Wave: A westward-moving, low-pressure trough in the deep easterly current that tends to organize low-level circulation. It sometimes travels thousands of miles with little change in shape, producing showers and thunderstorms along its path.

What to Do After a Hurricane

This material is provided as a public service. Its purpose is to increase hurricane awareness. The key to survival is advance preparation!

Generator Safety

Portable generators are a good source of alternative power if an outage occurs, but they should only be used in emergency situations. An improperly installed or operated generator can be deadly! Click here for more information on safely operating a generator.

Only domestic cats and dogs are permitted in public shelters. You are responsible for finding accommodations for other types of pets in the event of a hurricane.

Pets are only allowed in specific, designated public shelters for health and space reasons, and are housed in separate locations at those shelters.

In the event of a disaster, if you must evacuate, the most important thing you can do for your pets is to evacuate them too. Pets are not allowed at most hotels and motels in North Carolina, so emergency arrangements for them may require careful planning.

• Keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date. Pet shelters may require proof of vaccines.
• Keep your pet on a leash with proper identification.
• Have a properly-sized pet carrier for each animal, large enough for the animal to stand an turn around.

Animals brought to a pet shelter are required to have:

• Proper identification, including collar and rabies tag
• Proper identification on all belongings
• A carrier
• A leash
• An ample supply of food, water and food bowls
• Any necessary medications
• Specific care instructions
• Newspapers or trash bags for clean-up

If you must leave your pet behind, prepare an appropriate area for it. Put the pet in a carrier in an interior closet or bathroom with plenty of water, food, toys and blankets.

For more information about how to prepare your pets for disasters, visit ready.gov/pets.

You know what to do when a dangerous storm hits, but what about afterwards? Cooperation and proper clean-up procedures can go a long way toward regaining our way of life.

Please be sure to separate your debris into the following categories:

• Yard Debris – including trees and brush
• Building Debris – including construction materials, carpet and furniture
• Bulky Metal Items – including appliances and bikes
• Household Garbage – including food and paper waste
• Household Hazardous Materials – paint, solvents, cleaners, fertilizers and insecticides should be separated with extreme care

And, as you clear debris from your yard and home, please be careful not to block:

• Roadways
• Fire hydrants
• Utility boxes

Do your part to help speed up the recovery process!

What to do if your car has flood damage

If floodwaters partially or fully submerge your car, it can mean extensive damage and costly repairs. Here’s what to do after the waters recede:

Don’t start your car! Starting a flooded car will cause more damage if there is water in the engine.

Survey potential damage. Note the depth of the floodwaters in relation to your car.

Act quickly. Submersion of a vehicle in salt water — which is more damaging than fresh water — makes the chances of corrosion much higher. Start drying out your vehicle as quickly as possible, and contact a towing service to get it back to higher ground. Oil, transmission fluid and lube may need draining before a tow.

File a claim. Your insurance company, along with a qualified mechanic, will uncover how extensive the problems caused by flood damage may be.

Check the interior of your car. If floodwaters were more than a few feet deep, water probably made it to the inside of your car. Check your floor mats, carpets, upholstery, and inner door panels as they all absorb water and could encourage the growth of mildew and mold. If the components have started to mold, you will most likely have to replace them.

Start cleaning. Use a wet/dry vacuum to collect standing water in your vehicle, cloth towels to absorb water that has soaked into the seats and carpet, and fans and dehumidifiers to accelerate the drying process. Deodorize your car with baking soda and a sponge before putting any of its components back inside. 

Check the oil and other fluids. Check the oil dipstick for water droplets — this indicates that it’s likely there is water in your engine. Have your car towed to a mechanic who can remove the water from the engine.

Remove damaged cylinders. If water is in your engine, your cylinders may be broken or corroded.

Check electrical components. Try the headlights, power locks, turn signals, windows and seats, air conditioning, interior lights, stereo, brakes, power steering, coolant reservoirs, and clutch. Any part that seems to function differently than it did before the flood indicates potential electrical trouble. A mechanic might need to replace your electrical components.

Check the fuel tank and line. A siphon pump might be used to remove some fuel in order to see if water is present. If water is found in the fuel (which would naturally separate from the fuel), they will empty the fuel tank completely.

Once the extent of your vehicle’s flood damage is determined, your insurance company will weigh the costs to repair the vehicle against the cost of replacing it. If your car is totaled (considered a total loss) by the insurance company, be sure to review what that means with your insurance agent.