WOW Offers Annual Evacuation Map

In preparation for Florida’s storm season, which runs June through November, Westchase’s Hurricane Evacuation Zone Map appears here. Please note that this represents a change from what appeared in the June 2010 WOW. The county announced changes to the evacuation zone map after the June 2010 WOW went to print.

The county’s changes significantly affect Westchase evacuation zones. The villages of Glencliff, Woodbay, Wycliff, Bennington, Glenfield and Keswick Forest now lie entirely in Zone B. Zone B also encompasses two-thirds of Harbor Links/The Estates (the southwest portion of those neighborhoods) and all of Greenpointe within The Greens.

Zone C includes the villages of Berkeley Square, The Enclave, Radcliffe, Castleford, Chelmsford, all of The Greens except Greenpointe, and West Park Village west of Montague Street.

The balance of Westchase, including The Shires, The Fords (except Castleford and Chelmsford), The Bridges, West Park Village east of Montague Street and The Vineyards, all lie in Zone D.

WOW will publish the updated storm evacuation map in the July 2010 WOW. Please inform your neighbors of these changes.

Storm Surge Dangers

All Westchase villages lie within evacuation zones, which can experience hurricane storm surges. As storm surge is the biggest killer in hurricanes, residences should comply with all county evacuation notices. (Please note the storm surge photo to the right, which sits on Linebaugh Avenue just east of its intersection with Race Track Road.)

The map’s borders are based on the county’s online Hurricane Evaluation Assessment Tool, whose Web site appears among those mentioned below. The tool actually provides a house by house map of evacuation zones. The county, however, does not guarantee the map’s accuracy; storms, moreover, can unexpectedly and quickly strengthen. If in doubt, don’t hesitate; evacuate.

Make your hurricane evacuation plans early and find a nearby, safe location requiring minimal travel. If no better option exists, the nearest shelters to Westchase are Bryant Elementary School, 13910 Nine Eagles Blvd. – just off Race Track Road; Sickles High School, 7950 Gunn Hwy. – at its intersection with Ehrlich Road; and Walker Middle School, 8282 N. Mobley Rd. Check ahead, however, because not all shelters are open for Category 4 or 5 storms.

Shelter spaces are limited, fill up quickly and should be used as a last resort. Bring your living supplies, including sleeping bags and food; shelters may not provide such amenities and are usually quite austere. Therefore make every effort to find a safe, protected location with friends or family early. While the shelter at Sickles High School will allow you to bring your pets with their supplies, most shelters will not permit them; make early plans for their placement during evacuations.

During a storm, stay tuned to local television and radio stations for updated information regarding shelters.
Residents are also reminded to stock up on hurricane supplies before warnings make them scarce. You still need to be able to manage a week in your home without power – and that means without a refrigerator or stove.

Online Hurricane Links

National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov

The National Hurricane Center’s site has everything you ever wanted to know about hurricanes. It posts expected storm trajectories and updates that are used by all local weather forecasters. It’s updated at 5 a.m., 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily. Its graphics are impressive and downloaded by millions.

Weather Underground
www.wunderground.com/tropical

Click on the Weather Underground's links to computer models to view tracks of different computer models cited by the Hurricane Center's site. Click on the links to blogs on this page and you’ll find Dr. Jeff Masters’ fascinating, in-depth analysis of storm information and forecasting. A word of warning: once you read it, you’ll get hooked and quickly become your neighborhood’s Hurricane Supergeek.

Florida Division of Emergency Management
www.floridadisaster.org

The Florida Division of Emergency Management offers a helpful site to aid you in the development of a hurricane plan.

Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool
http://gisweb.hillsboroughcounty.org/heat/

The county’s Hurricane Evacuation Assessment Tool allows you to plug in your street address to determine your home’s specific evacuation zone and the nearest shelters. This county site also provides a detailed interactive evacuation level map that will allow you to make sense of boundary zones on a street by street basis.

St. Petersburg Times’ Online Hurricane Guide
http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2010/reports/hurricane-guide/

St. Petersburg Times’ Online Hurricane Guide has useful preparation information. One particularly helpful link on the site takes you to information on dealing with your pets before the storms start whirling.

Tampa Tribune/TBO’s Online Hurricane Guide
http://www2.tbo.com/hurricane-guide/

The Tampa Tribune/TBO’s Online Hurricane Guide has useful FAQs covering before, during and after the storm.

By Chris Barrett, Publisher/Managing Editor