• Weather forecasting usually provides advance warning of approaching weather fronts & storms

• Hurricane tidal fronts can extend 50 to 75 miles on both sides of storm eye

• Storms can suddenly change course & are potentially dangerous until eye is over 100 miles away

• Hurricanes can contain "Tornado" force winds, so attempting to "ride them out" is dangerous

• Damage or Casualties in Chesapeake Bay coastal regions, adjacent rivers & tributaries are most likely to result from high winds & flooding due to abnormally high tides & runoff from heavy rainfall

• Major hurricanes impacting our area are usually declared Federal Disaster with FEMA involved in response

• Category I - sustained winds of 74-95 MPH, storm surge 4-5 ft above normal, low-lying coastal roads inundated, minor pier damage, some small craft in exposed anchorages may break moorings, no real damage to building structures, some damage to poorly constructed signs

• Category II - sustained winds of 96-110 MPH, storm surge of 6-8 ft above normal, coastal roads & low-lying escape routes cutoff by rising water 2 to 4 hrs before arrival of storm center, considerable pier damage, marinas flooded, some trees down, major structural damage to exposed mobile homes, minor but not major structural damage to buildings

• Category III - sustained winds of 111-130 MPH, storm surge of 9-12 ft above normal, serious coastal flooding cutting off low-lying escape routes 3 to 5 hrs in advance of storm center arrival, mobile homes destroyed, some structural damage to small residential & utility buildings

• Category IV - sustained winds of 131-155 MPH, storm surge of 13-18 ft above normal, major damage to lower levels of structures due to flooding & battering by storm debris, low-lying inland escape routes inundated 3 to 5 hrs before storm center arrival, extensive roof damage & complete roofing failure on small residences

• Category V - sustained winds of > 155 MPH can produce a storm surge > 18 ft above normal, downed trees & signs, extensive window & door damage, complete failure of roof structures on residential & industrial buildings, extensive glass failures, some complete building failures, complete destruction of mobile homes

75 to 100 miles away

1. Gentle off shore breezes

2. Clouds gathering off shore

3. Possible light rain

4. Undercutting along coastal shorelines

1. Gale & tropical force winds

2. Cloudy with fast moving rain clouds

3. Heavy rain, which combined with wind gusts, could be vertical

4. Thunderstorms & tornadoes are possible

5. High seas will usually prevent Auxiliary Facilities from operating

1. Intense, sustained hurricane force winds

2. Possible strong & severe thunderstorms

3. Possible tornadoes

4. Heavy, sustained rains

5. Storm surge causing severe & extensive flooding

1. Winds & rain slowly diminishing

2. Flooding conditions subside

3. There is still a possibility of thunderstorms

4. Weather eventually returns to normal

• Decision to use Auxiliary Resources, Assets & Personnel to assist with disaster related missions within Fifth District Southern Region (5SR) rests with Commander, USCG Fifth District herein after referred to as Commander & 5SR Vice Commodore or Readiness Coordinator (D-RC)

• Prior specific approval must be received through Chain of Leadership from the Commander or D-RC before Auxiliary Resources, Assets & Personnel can be used to support requests or missions from other organizations

• Under all circumstances & conditions, Auxiliary Resources, Assets & Personnel will remain under direct Operational Control (OPCON) of Commander or a designated authorized representative such as local USCG Unit (Station Annapolis) or on-scene USCG commander

• Condition 5 - Preparedness: set annually from 1 June through 30 November or when an alert received from a designated authority

• Condition 4 - Alert: set when hurricane winds are expected within seventy-two (72) hours

• Condition 3 - Readiness: set when hurricane winds are expected within forty-eight (48) hours

• Condition 2 - Warning: set when hurricane winds are expected with twenty-four (24) hours

• Condition 1 - Danger: set when hurricane winds are expected within twelve (12) hours

  See D5SR Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) & Flotilla Emergency Response Plan (FL-ERP) for
  detail information & required actions associated with each Condition or Alert Level

  Hurricane has left area (eye at least 100 miles away):

• Post Hurricane Recovery: set when storm is no longer a threat & recovery operations can be safely initiated