Living or vacationing in Panama City Beach can be an experience of a lifetime; warm sand, crystal green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and fabulous daily and nightly entertainment. But living along the coast also comes with a small price; the chance of foul weather.
Atlantic hurricane weather is June through November and it’s important that everyone in your family knows about storms and hurricanes. Most of the time, people have far enough advance notice if hurricanes or tropical storms head this way. The most dangerous element of a hurricane is the storm surge, which determines how far inland the water will come. In Panama City Beach we get a lot of rainfall during hurricane season but not a lot of serious storms. Excess rainfall could cause flooding so if you live in the Panama City Beach area or you own a vacation home here it’s best to check with your insurance to make sure they cover flooding or any aftereffects from hurricane season. Many policies may not cover flood damage so you want to double check this with your homeowners insurance.
One of the best ways to stay current is by listening to the emergency broadcast television stations for evacuation instructions. There are two types of evacuations: a volunteer evacuation, which means it’s suggested that you leave for now or a mandatory evacuation, which means everyone must evacuate the area.
Hurricanes are categorized five different ways: category 1 could carry winds from about 75 to 95 mi./h. Category 2 can reach as high as hundred and 110 mi./h, category 3 is up to 129 mi./h, category 4 is up to 156 mi./h and category 5 exceeds wind speeds of 157 mi./h or greater. We rarely see storms more than a category three in this area but storms of category three or higher could cause excessive flooding so you want to be aware of the codes and evacuation routes. Most often we have simple tropical storms which are sustained winds from 39 to 73 mi./h. A warning is simply something to be aware of and is different than a watch. A hurricane watch means that sustained winds are possible in an area where as a warning means the conditions are expected.
We also have coastal flood watches and warnings. This means the possibility or the expectation of coastal flooding within the next 12 to 36 hours.
What you can do:
One of the best ways to be prepared is by simply acknowledging and adhering to any warnings and watches. It’s those that avoid listening to the news or suggestions that usually get in trouble. It’s a great idea to have at least three days of food and water on hand, flashlights, extra batteries, a first aid kit and a battery-powered radio just in case.
We hardly ever see any major storms in this area but it’s always a good idea to be prepared. Wherever your home or condo is make sure you understand the evacuation routes and the best way to meet with your family in case you are separated. We want your experience in Panama City Beach to be safe and fun and understanding all of the risks that could occur living in a beautiful coastal town set your mind at ease. Read more from the National Ocean Service