Oxford County
Emergency Management Agency
PO Box 179, 26 Western Avenue
South Paris ME 04281
Ph 207-743-6336 FAX 207-743-7346
oxctyema@megalink.net
Office hours: Monday through Friday 8am-4pm
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HurricanesProbably the hurricane that sticks out in the minds of most people today is Katrina. The Category 5 hurricane battered the Gulf Coast leaving incredible amounts of disaster and destruction in its wake. An average of 18 hurricanes make landfall along the US every year and although the Gulf Coast and Mid-Atlantic States get more than their fair share of them, Maine has experienced powerful hurricanes as well. The last serious hurricane to strike the state of Maine was Hurricane Bob in 1991. This was a Category 2 hurricane with wind gusts of up to 138 mph when it moved into New England. The city of Portland received 7 ˝ inches of rain from the storm. It weakened to a tropical storm near Bangor with winds around 70 mph. You may wonder why Oxford County should be concerned about the arrival of a hurricane. Well, when a hurricane moves over land it may weaken or become a tropical storm, but a it is still is capable of having strong winds! Heavy rainfall is also possible, so just because you do not live in a coastal county does not mean you shouldn’t be prepared. In a report from the National Hurricane Center (April 2007) it mentions “One of the greatest concerns of the National Weather Service’s (NWS) hurricane preparedness officials is that people will think that no more large loss of life will occur in a hurricane because of our advanced technology and improved hurricane forecasts.” (http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/Deadliest_Costliest.shtml)
For up to date information on tropical cyclones and hurricanes, visit the National Hurricane Center at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ For information on being prepared for the next hurricane visit http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml Also check out the Hurricane Hunters! http://www.hurricanehunters.com/ |
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Hurricane
Bob