speeds of 16 to 32 km/h over the open ocean. In the centre of the hurricane, called the eye, there is often a calm area of blue sky. Tese storms can last for over a week before they begin to dissipate. Hurricanes and tropical storms often cause extensive dam-
age to infrastructure, telecommunications, power systems, health care, water damage and travel disruptions. Coastlines are usually the most severely affected areas, but flash flood- ing, landslides and storm surges can continue to cause prob- lems inland.
What to do when a hurricane watch or warning is issued
Hurricanes can often be predicted one or two days in ad- vance of their landfall. Te key to hurricane protection is preparation. By taking precautions before, during and after a hurricane, lives can be saved and property damage averted. It is important to stay informed by listening to the latest
warnings and advisories on radio, television or web sites. If a major weather event takes place while you are abroad,
remember these three basic preparations that are important in the threat of any severe weather event: • Know the risks • Make a plan • Get an emergency kit. What you need to do if a severe weather event is predicted:
• Travellers may be evacuated from their hotels and placed in emergency shelters. If you are advised to evacuate, do so. Know that it may take days for roads to reopen or flights to resume. Te government of Canada may be unable to help you in these circumstances, especially if communications are disrupted. • Stock up on water, ready-to-eat food and heating fuel, as
well as battery-powered or wind-up flashlights, radios and extra batteries. Make sure that there is gasoline in the car if you have one and prepare an emergency kit. • If you are on the coast or in a low-lying area near the
coast, be prepared to move inland and to higher ground. Te high winds can create large waves at sea which may become storm surges when they reach the shore. During a hurricane
• Always check the marine forecast from the weather office
website before going boating and listen to weather reports during your cruise. Never go out in a boat during a storm. If you are on the water and you see bad weather approaching, head for shore immediately. • Do not go down to the water to watch the storm. Most people who are killed during hurricanes are caught in large waves, storm surges or flood waters. • If the eye of the hurricane passes over, there will be a
lull in the wind lasting from two or three minutes to half an hour. Stay in a safe place. Make emergency repairs only and remember that once the eye has passed over, the winds will return from the opposite direction, with possibly even greater force.
• Listen for reports from authorities on a portable radio. • If lightning is present, remember that you can use a cel-
lular telephone during a severe storm, but it's not safe to use a land-line telephone.
thehubwinnipeg.com Hurricane season runs from June to November. Fall 2016 • 63
Hurricane Irene (2011) as seen from the International Space Station.
Tips for travelling during hurricane season
If you choose to travel to a hurricane-prone destination during hurricane season, taking the following steps can help reduce your personal risk:
• Check
travel.gc.ca Travel Advice and Advisories for up-to- the-minute information on your destination.
• Confirm your travel arrangements before you leave home and make sure your travel insurance covers trip cancellation or interruption in the event of a hurricane.
• Leave copies of your travel documents and detailed infor- mation on your itinerary, tour operation, flights, hotels, cruise ships, telephone numbers and email addresses with family or friends at home.
• Stay informed by listening to the latest warnings and advi- sories on local radio, television or websites. Hurricane centres will issue and update them when necessary. Follow the advice of local authorities and emergency response personnel. Main- tain close contact with your family to keep them informed of your situation.
• Know how to contact the Canadian government office near- est to your destination. The Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa is also available 24/7 for emergency consul- ar services and can be reached by email at sos@international.
gc.ca.
• Sign up for Registration of Canadians Abroad so that the government of Canada can contact you if necessary. Stay connected to Canada through the government’s Travel Advice and Advisories, Travel Smart mobile web app, email updates and RSS feeds, and Twitter and Facebook channels.
Information is provided by
travel.gc.ca and
getprepared.gc.ca. Please visit either website for more detailed information.
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