IMPORTANT 2011 HURRICANE SEASON INFORMATION
National Weather Service
Tropics Watch
NATIONAL HURRICANE
CENTER
During an emergency, you may hear rumors. Please don't accept rumor as fact. Special telephone hotlines will provide the latest official information. However, use telephones only when absolutely necessary so telephone circuits will remain clear for emergency workers. |
Levy County
(352)486-5155
after hours -
(352)486-5111
or(352)486-5576
Citrus County
(352)746-6555
after hours - 911
Citizen Information Line
(352)746-5470
or(352)527-2106
State of Florida
1-800-342-3557 |
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Local Emergency Alert System
(EAS) Stations
WXCV - 95.3
WXOF - 96.3
WSKY - 97.3
WKTK - 98.5
WTRS - 102.3
WRGO - 102.7
WRUF - 103.7
WIFL - 104.3
WRZN - 720AM
WUFT-TV - Ch. 5
WFLA-TV - Ch. 8
WTSP-TV - Ch. 10
WTVT-TV - Ch. 13
WCJB-TV - Ch. 20
WFTS-TV - Ch. 28
WTOG-TV - Ch. 44
Adelphia Cable
Brighthouse Cable
NOAA Radio - 162.400 Mhz
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2011 Storm Names
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Arlene,
Bret,
Cindy,
Don,
Emily,
Franklin,
Gert,
Harvey,
Irene,
Jose,
Katia,
Lee,
Maria,
Nate,
Ophelia,
Philippe,
Rina,
Sean,
Tammy,
Vince,
Whitney
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FLORIDA SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK JANUARY 30TH TO FEBRUARY 3RD 2012
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The focus on Monday, January 30 is Lightning
With an average of 1.4 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes each year, no other state in the country experiences more lightning strikes than Florida. Lightning is very dangerous and can travel as far as 10 miles from a thunderstorm! So while it may not be raining at your location, lightning can still reach you. The key to remaining safe from a lightning strike is to keep an eye to the sky and watch for darkening skies on the horizon along with distant rumbles of thunder. The two main tips to remember about lightning safety are: being outside is never safe during a thunderstorm and if you can hear thunder, then you are close enough to be struck by lightning! Always remember the 30/30 rule: Go inside if you hear thunder within 30 seconds of a lightning flash. Wait at least 30 minutes after you hear thunder before going back outside.
The focus on Tuesday, January 31 is Marine Hazards and Rip Currents
Year-round warm weather and abundant sunshine attract millions of people to Florida to dive, snorkel, swim, ski, fish, cruise, or sail each year. Fair weather and fine seas treat Florida beachgoers to very agreeable conditions most of the time. However, weather and water can change rapidly. Dangerous rip currents, waves, lightning, and waterspouts are among the marine hazards facing anyone who enjoys Florida’s beaches. Rip currents are especially dangerous to swimmers because they can pull unprepared swimmers away from shore and into deeper offshore waters.
The focus on Wednesday, February 1 is Tornadoes and Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are one of the most exciting types of weather and Florida has more of them than anywhere else in the United States and North America. All thunderstorms are considered dangerous because they contain lightning and can also produce damaging winds, heavy rain which may cause flooding, tornadoes and hail. Florida tornadoes come in all shapes and sizes, and can occur year-round, although most occur in the summer during the afternoon. Florida is also home to nearly 300 waterspouts each year, which are tornadoes that occur over water.
The National Weather Service and the Florida Division of Emergency Management will conduct the statewide Tornado Drill at 10:10 a.m. Eastern Time (9:10 a.m. Central Time), on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Floridians are asked to consider themselves under a tornado watch during the morning of February 1, 2012. A Tornado Watch means that you should closely monitor the weather and be prepared to go to a safe place in the event of a tornado warning. Once the drill begins you should consider yourself in a Tornado Warning. A Tornado Warning means that a tornado has been sighted or has been picked up on radar in your area. This means that you need to take shelter immediately in a safe sturdy structure. Even if you do not participate in the morning drill, all schools, families and businesses are encouraged to talk about their tornado safety plan that day.
The focus on Thursday, February 2 is Hurricanes and Flooding
The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1st and continues through November 30th. Although the number of tropical storms and hurricanes typically peaks during August and September, it is important to remember that Florida can be impacted by tropical weather systems any time during the six-month-long season. Hurricanes and tropical storms can bring very dangerous weather to areas near the coast, including strong winds, storm surge and coastal flooding, flooding from heavy rain, and tornadoes. For those away from the immediate coastline, inland flooding and tornadoes are often the most hazardous impacts from these systems.
The focus on Friday, February 3 is Temperature Extremes and Wildfires
While wildfires can start at any time of the year, Florida sees a peak of activity during the early part of the year – beginning in January and continuing until the onset of more frequent rain during the wet season, usually in early to mid-June. A typical year in Florida will see over 4,600 fires burn nearly 110,000 acres of land. Florida is also home to a wide variety of temperatures that can reach dangerous levels. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida was 109 degrees Fahrenheit and the coldest temperature recorded in Florida was minus 2 degrees Fahrenheit.
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NOAA WEATHER RADIO PROGRAMMING CODE
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The NOAA Weather Radio Programming Code for LEVY County is: 012075
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ATTENTION!! YOUR COMMUNITY MAY NEED YOU! VOLUNTEER NOW FOR THE NEW LEVY COUNTY MEDICAL RESERVE CORP!
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Levy County is establishing a new Volunteer Medical Reserve Corp!
The Medical Reserve Corp is a formal group of volunteers who are able and willing to assist in an emergency that could overwhelm our local medical capabilities.
This new program is in need of both medical and non-medical volunteers.
To learn more about the Levy MRC, go to:
www.MedicalReserveCorp.gov/about
If you are ready to volunteer, please call;
FRED EICHLER, MRC COORDINATOR at:
352-334-8821 OR E-mail Mr. Eichler at:
fred_eichler@DOH.state.fl.us
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Welcome
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Levy County Emergency Management hopes this website provides the citizens of Levy County with the proper information that is needed to make informed decisions and preparations regarding your disaster preparedness plans for the Hurricane season.
During a storm event, it is our goal to provide the latest emergency information available regarding protective action decisions and safety information.
Our normal office hours are Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm. If you have any questions or comments regarding disaster planning for yourself, your family, your home or business, please contact Levy County Emergency Management at 352-486-5213.
For non-emergency inquiries after normal business hours or on weekends, please call the Levy County Sheriff's Office at 352-486-5111.
To report EMERGENCIES during after hours and weekends contact the Levy County Sheriff's Office emergency 911 phone number.
Also keep an eye on our Current Events section which will give you upcoming event and course locations.
Thank you and we hope you find our website useful.
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Disaster Prevention
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Historic Storm Surge Reality
In late 2004, The Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council located in Ocala, Fl. serving Levy, Marion, Citrus, Sumter and Hernando Counties completed the WITHLACOOCHEE HURRICANE EVACUATION STUDY. This study was presented to Levy County Emergency Management during last years historic Hurricane season.
One section of the Levy County portion of the study produced a storm surge vulnerability assessment. The following pictures illustrate historical flood level data over the past 100 years for the municipalities of Inglis, Yankeetown, and Cedar Key, Fl. These high water levels are identical to the storm surge levels that destroyed the coastlines and backwater areas in Mississippi and Louisiana. |
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"Storm Surge" is a MAJOR INGREDIENT of a hurricane. What is a storm surge? Storm surge is water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around the storm. This advancing surge combines with the normal tides to create the hurricane storm tide, which can increase the mean water level 15 feet or more. Additionally, wind driven waves are superimposed on the storm tide. This rise in water level can cause severe flooding in coastal areas, particularly when the storm tide coincides with the normal high tides and the “spring tides” found along the Levy County Coastline. Because much of the densely populated Atlantic and Gulf Coast coastlines lie less that 10 feet above mean sea level, THE DANGER FROM STORM TIDES IS TREMENDOUS.
The level of surge in a particular area is also determined by the slope of the continental shelf. A shallow slope off the coast will allow a greater surge to inundate coastal communities. Levy County coastline has a very shallow slope leading out to the continental shelf. Communities with a steeper continental shelf will not see as much surge inundation, although large breaking waves can still present major problems. Storm tides, waves, and currents in confined harbors severely damage ships, marinas, and pleasure boats. |
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Levy County Storm Surge Boundaries by Storm Category
Tropical Storm - Dark Red
Category 1 - Red
Category 2 - Orange
Category 3 - Yellow
Category 4 - Green
Category 5 - Light Blue
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Wave and current action associated with the tide also causes extensive damage. Water weighs approximately 1,700 pounds per cubic yard; extended pounding by frequent waves can demolish any structure not specifically designed to withstand these forces. The currents created by the tide combine with the action of the waves to severely erode beaches and coastal highways. Many buildings withstand hurricane force winds until their foundations, undermined by erosion, are weakened and fail. Storm surge also affects rivers and inland lakes, potentially increasing the area that must be evacuated.
The more intense the storm, and the closer a community is to the right-front quadrant, the larger the area that must be evacuated. The problem is always the uncertainty about how intense the storm will be when it finally makes landfall.
Emergency managers and local officials balance that uncertainty with the human and economic risks to their communities. This is why a rule of thumb for emergency managers is to plan for a storm one category higher than what is forecast. This is a reasonable precaution to help minimize the loss of life from hurricanes.
Having said this, Government can only do so much in helping a population to prepare for a Hurricane. Residents and business must take “ownership” for their own safety by preparing, planning and being ready to execute your emergency plans when the Emergency Management authorities issue protective action decisions.
For help and assistance in preparing your Disaster Evacuation Plans contact Levy County Emergency Management. |
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