Photo courtesy of CEMA

Helpful Websites

www.chathamemergency.org (contains evacuation planning guides and checklists, storm plotting charts and more)
www.nhc.noaa.gov (latest updates on storm tracking
www.fema.gov
www.cdc.gov

STORM CAT WIND SCALE
MPH KNOTS KM/HR
LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH
1 74 95 64 82 119 153
2 96 110 83 95 154 177
3 111 130 96 113 178 209
4 131 155 114 135 210 249
5 >155 >135 >249
Chatham County's topography is strikingly similar to that of Gulfport and Pass Christian, Mississippi where the continental shelf goes up for miles, leaving the area very susceptible to storm surge. New evacuation guidelines

Storm Names
For 2011

Arlene
(June)
Bret
Cindy
Don
Emily
Franklin
Gert
Harvey
Irene
Jose
Katia
Lee
Maria
Nate
Ophelia
Philippe
Rina
Sean
Tammy
Vince
Whitney
prepared by Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) are based on up-to-date data of water depth due to topographical changes. The storm surge map has also been updated.

In an example on the CEMA website, a categoy three storm is used as an example for understanding the For a Category Three storm heading towards Chatham County a mandatory evacuation of the entire county would begin 30 hours from the forecast arrival of tropical storm force winds. Nursing homes and special needs resident evacuations will begin 48 hours out; voluntary evacuations of islands and low-lying areas will begin 6-12 hours prior to the mandatory evacuation.  
 
STORM CAT WIND SCALE MPH SURGE HEIGHTS
LOW HIGH LOW* HIGH**
17495411
2961101117
31111301721.5
413115521.526
5>1552630.5
 
 
Photo courtesy of CEMA