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

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

Storms can suddenly change course & are potentially dangerous until eye is at least 100 miles away

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

Damage or Casualties in the Chesapeake Bay coastal regions, adjacent rivers and 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 a Federal Disaster with FEMA involved in response efforts

Category I - sustained winds of 64-82 knots (74-95 MPH), storm surge 4-5 feet 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 83-95 knots (96-110 MPH), storm surge of 6-8 feet above normal, coastal roads and low-lying escape routes inland cut by rising water 2 to 4 hours before arrival of the storm center, considerable pier damage, marinas flooded, some trees down, major structural damage to exposed mobile homes, minor but not major structural damage to building structures.

Category III - sustained winds of 96-113 knots (111-130 MPH), storm surge of 9-12 feet above normal, serious coastal flooding cutting low-lying inland escape routes 3 to 5 hours in advance of storm center's arrival, mobile homes destroyed, some structural damage to small residential and utility buildings.

Category IV - sustained winds of 114-135 knots (131-155 MPH), storm surge of 13-18 feet above normal, major damage to lower levels of structures due to flooding and battering by storm debris, low-lying inland escape routes inundated 3 to 5 hours before storm center's arrival, extensive roof damage and complete roofing failure on small residences.

Category V - sustained winds of > 135 knots (155 MPH) can produce a storm surge > 18 feet above normal, downed trees and signs, extensive window and door damage, complete failure of roof structures on residential and industrial buildings, extensive glass failures, some complete building failures, complete destruction of mobile homes.

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

Prior specific approval must be received through the Chain of Leadership from the Commander and/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 the direct Operational Control (OPCON) of the Commander or a designated authorized representative such as the local USCG Unit (Station Annapolis) or the 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 Flotilla Emergency Response Plan (FL-ERP) on "Member's Only Deck" 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