HURRICANE GUIDE 2005
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Test your knowledge

By Times Staff Writer
Published May 29, 2005

Here's a sampling of the quiz questions asked in the Mason-Dixon poll on hurricane preparedness.

1. The biggest potential threat to human life from a land-falling hurricane is:

A - Wind

B - Tornadoes

C - Storm surge

D - Inland flooding

2. The structural component that most often fails during hurricane force winds is:

A - Garage door

B - A windward-facing wall

C - Roof

D - Windows

3. During an approaching major hurricane, low-lying escape routes are usually cut off:

A - At landfall

B - Near the eye of the storm

C - 30 minutes to one hour before landfall

D - At least three hours before landfall and much earlier than that in vulnerable areas

4. For those ordered to evacuate, the best option is to:

A - Travel as far inland as possible as fast as possible

B - Choose a route at right angles to the projected path of the storm

C - Drive immediately to the nearest designated shelter

D - Arrange in advance to stay with a nearby friend whose home is outside the evacuation zone

5. One item your Disaster Preparation Kit should not contain is:

A - Cash

B - Candles

C - Keys

D - Important documents

6. Geographically, the majority of hurricane fatalities from drowning in the past 33 years have occurred:

A - On the open water

B - Within 2 miles of the coast

C - In inland counties

D - In coastal counties

7. If you are not ordered to evacuate, the safest place in a home to ride out a hurricane is:

A - Inside your car in the garage

B - The exterior room farthest away from the direction of the strongest wind

C - The most interior room of the house

D - The basement

8. What type of hazard during a hurricane does standard homeowners insurance not cover?

A - Lightning

B - Flooding

C - Wind

D - Falling trees

9. Most tornadoes associated with land-falling hurricanes are spawned:

A - In rain bands that can occur hundreds of miles from the eye of the storm

B - In the eye wall

C - Within 1 mile of the eye of the storm

D - Within 3 miles of the eye of the storm

10. Where should you take your pets if you must evacuate?

A - To a safe location that has agreed or been designated to accept pets during a storm

B - To the shelter where you'll be staying

C - To the local animal shelter

D - To your veterinarians office

E - Leave them in your home with a three-day supply of food and water.

11. True or false? Masking tape will help prevent windows from shattering. 12. True or false? Opening a window on the sheltered side of house lessens the potential for wind damage.

- www.hurricanesafety.org/index.shtml

* * *

THE ANSWERS

Here are responses, with correct answers in bold, to the hurricane quiz with the percentage of responses each question got in the Mason-Dixon poll on hurricane preparedness.

A - Wind 32%

B - Tornadoes 24%

- Storm Surge 20%

D - Inland flooding 24%

A - Garage door 4%

B - A windward-facing wall 1%

C - Roof 49%

D - Windows 46%

A - At landfall 9%

B - Near the eye of the storm 6%

C - 30 minutes to one hour before landfall 24%

D - At least three hours before landfall and much earlier than that in vulnerable areas 61%

A - Travel as far inland as possible as fast as possible 24%

B - Choose a route at right angles to the projected path of the storm 12%

C - Drive immediately to the nearest designated shelter 30%

D - Arrange in advance to stay with a nearby friend whose home is outside the evacuation zone 34%

A - Cash 19%

B - Candles 22%

C - Keys 26%

D - Important documents 33%

A - On the open water 7%

B - Within 2 miles of the coast 19%

C - In inland counties 15%

D - In coastal counties 59%

A - Inside your car in the garage - 0%

B - The exterior room farthest away from the direction of the strongest wind 8%

C - The most interior room of the house 42%

D - The basement 50%

A - Lightning 17%

B - Flooding 60%

C - Wind 8%

D - Falling trees 15%

A - In rain bands that can occur hundreds of miles from the eye of the storm 29%

B - In the eye wall 12%

C - Within 1 mile of the eye of the storm 22%

D - Within 3 miles of the eye of the storm 37%

A - To a safe location that has agreed or been designated to accept pets during a storm 36%

B - To the shelter where you'll be staying 35%

C - To the local animal shelter 7%

D - To your veterinarian's office 7%

E - Leave them in your home with a 3-day supply of food and water 15%

True 54%

False 46%

True 38%

False 62%

[Last modified May 24, 2005, 10:54:03]


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