Gulf Storms
NOAA Coastal Storms Program
NOAA Regional Team
Gulf of Mexico Alliance

No current threats

Current Weather | Preparation | Short-Term Recovery
State-Specific Information: Texas | Louisiana | Mississippi | Alabama | Florida

Weather, Tides, Surge, and Buoys
Weather | Tides | Surge | Buoys | Maps

Weather

• National Hurricane Center
• Text Only Link
• PDA Link
• NOAA Storm Prediction Center
• National Weather Service, Southern Region
• Accuweather - forecast
• Weather Underground - forecast
• Stormpulse
• NOAA nowCOAST - GIS mapping of real-time observations

Tides

• NOAA Tide Predictions and Observations
• RodnReel.com Tide Prediction Server
  

Surge

• NOAA Storm Surge Predictions
• Storm Surge
• Experiemental Storm Surge Probabilities
• Coastal Change Impact Studies

Buoy Reports

• NOAA National Data Buoy Center
• Western Gulf
• Eastern Gulf
• Stormsurf

Hurricane Tracking Maps

• WX4NHC, Amateur Radio Station at the NOAA National Hurricane Center, official tracking maps
• Accuweather, blank maps for printing
• BoatUS Tracking Site

Preparation
First Aid | Home Preparedness | Families | Boats | Evacuation | Emergency Phone Numbers | Gulfwide Information | Health | Business | Mitigation | Technical Information

First Aid and Survival Kit

• Hurricane Survival Kit
• Disaster Supply Kit (including First Aid)
• First Aid Kit

Home Preparedness

• Federal Alliance for Safe Homes
  This page has some videos that might be useful in preparing homes for a storm. Look in the menu bar to the left below "Hurricanes."
• Some information is available in Spanish
• Weather Radio Use
• How to Use a NOAA Weather Radio
• USA Today article: “Protect your home against a hurricane, without wasting time”
• Disaster safety website for hurricanes
• National Flood Insurance Program
• National Hurricane Center Preparedness
• FEMA utility shut off page
• Protecting Valuables
• Flood Fighting: How to Use Sandbags
• How to Tarp a Roof
• Window and Door Protection

Families

• General Planning
• FEMA Checklist
• National Hurricane Center Family Disaster Plan
  How to prepare for home evacuation and disaster planning
• Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness Page
• Preparación para hurcán - Cruz Roja Americana (Spanish-language version)
• Kids
• FEMA for Kids
• Children's health after a flood
• Talking with Children When the Talking Gets Tough
• Gender & Disaster Network
  Helpful information for all states in regards to gender issues and issues of age/children both in preparation and in response. Supported by the United Nations Disaster Reduction Office and by the Natural Hazards Center of the University of Colorado.
• Elderly & Disabled
• Disaster Preparation for the Elderly
• National Organization on Disability Interactive Map of Disability and Emergency Preparedness Resources
• Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Disabilities
• Disability Preparedness
• Disaster Planning Tips for Caregivers of the Elderly and People with Disabilities
• Pets
• Preparing Pets for Emergencies
• Disaster Preparedness for Pets
• Evacuating with Pets

Boats

• Hurricane and Severe Weather Checklist for Boaters
• Boat U.S.-Hurricane Resource Center Information on hurricane preparation, strapping down boats, canals, chafe protection, moorings, marina security, hurricane prep sheet
• United States Coast Guard: Storm Warning Flags and their meanings, advisories, how to prepare your boat, trailer, what to do if you get “caught” in a storm
• Boat Checklist
• Protecting Your Boat Against Severe Weather

Evacuation

• Evacuation Routes
• Evacuation Plans
• The National Hurricane Program (NHP)-developing evacuation plans
• Evacuation Shelter Items-what to bring with you to a shelter
• Information on Road Closures (by state)
• Texas Road Conditions
• Louisiana Road Closures-Louisiana DOTD
• Louisiana State Police- State and Federal Highway Road Closures
• Mississippi Road Alerts
• Alabama Emergency Road Closures
• Florida Traffic Conditions
• Hotels
• AAA (American Automobile Association) – Reservations 1-866-222-7283
• Best Western – Reservations – 1-800-780-7234
• Choice Hotels International – Reservations 1-877-424-6423
  Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, Main Stay Suites, Suburban, EconoLodge, Rodeway Inn
• Hilton Family of Brands – Reservations 1-800-491-6864
  Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton and The Waldorf-Astoria Collection
• InterContinental Hotel Group – Reservations 1-800-315-2621
  InterContinental; Crowne Plaza; Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites
• Marriott Hotels & Resorts – Reservations 1-888-236-2427
  Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites, SpringHill Suites
• Starwood Hotel Groups – Reservations 1-888-625-5144
  Westin, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Le Méridien, St. Regis, Luxury Collection, W Hotels
• Wyndham Hotel Group – Reservations 1-800-347-7559
  Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Ramada Worldwide, Days Inn, Super 8, Wingate by Wyndham, Baymont Inn & Suites, Howard Johnson, Travelodge, Knights Inn, AmeriHost Inn

Emergency Phone Numbers

• Main site for National Coastal Data Development Center contains many useful emergency numbers for each Gulf state

Gulfwide Information Sites

• FEMA-Hurricane 08 Season Information
  Information on hurricane hazards, what to do before a hurricane, during a hurricane, and after a hurricane.
• FEMA: Individuals
  This site allows you to search for various information based on individual needs (homeowner, parent, special needs, animals)
• C-SIDE (Coastal Science, Information and Data for the Ecosystem)
  Find information by state on evacuation routes, state resources, marine conditions, and services. Provides all the necessary contact info for the coastal counties with regards to government services. This type of information is essential following an evacuation to be able to determine when it is safety to return and what services will be available upon return.
• Disaster Safety.org
  A useful site with information for homeowners and businesses. It allows you to enter your zip code and view common disasters for you area.
• Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN)
• Mississippi State University Extension Service
• NOAA Tides and Currents Homepage-CO-OPS Storm QuickLook (more technical)
• NOAA Weather Radio
  It is always a good idea to have a NOAA weather radio - and some spare batteries.
• NOAAWatch - NOAA's all-hazard monitor
• Homeland Security’s Ready Website
• Page with the downloadable publications
  (these publications have checklists and forms that can be used to make emergency plans).
• FloodSmart.gov-The official site of the National Flood Insurance Program
• Coastal Risk Atlas
• Hurricane section of USA.gov
• Real time evacuation routes
• Hazard Vulnerability layers from the Coastal Risk Atlas

Physical and Mental Health

• Department of Health Boil Water Notices
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDS) - Emergency Preparedness and Response
• PSAs for Hurricanes
• PSAs for Floods
• Hurricane Preparedness by US Health and Human Services

Business/Workplace Preparedness

• Protect Your Business
• FEMA-Protect Your Property or Business from Disaster
• Louisiana Sea Grant Law and Policy Program
  Louisiana Coastal Hazard Mitigation Guidebook, May 2008 for recovery

Mitigation & Other Resources

• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) status of all participating communities
• Texas
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Alabama
• Florida
• NFIP Bureau - One-stop shop for FEMA, NFIP Bureau, WYO company, flood vendor and state NFIP needs, which includes access NFIP IT applications, forms, information and much more
• All FEMA grant programs including disaster and non-disaster mitigation grant programs
• Hurricane Katrina Flood Recovery Maps for Louisiana and Mississippi

Technical Information

• USGS Coastal Change Hazards
  Access Damages to Your Home via Real Time Aerial Photography
• Another satellite image site

Short-Term Recovery
Business/Workforce Recovery | Debris Removal | Government Organizations | Grant Programs | Health & Recovery | Home Recovery | Insurance | Law | Non-Profit Organizations | Volunteers

Business/Workforce Recovery

• Small Business Administration Disaster Assistance
• Agency for Workforce Innovation

Debris Removal

• NOAA's Gulf of Mexico Marine Debris Program
• FEMA Debris Removal site (useful for government officials)
• Chainsaw Safety: No Tricks
• Fact Sheet: Using a Chainsaw Safely

Government Organizations

• U.S. Coast Guard Storm Center
• Federal Emergency Management Agency

Grant Programs

• FEMA's mitigation grant programs (these are open to communities, not individuals)

Health & Recovery

• Kids-American Academy of Pediatrics
• How to Care for Major and Minor Wounds
• E.coli Infection
• Managing a Traumatic Event
• Helping to Prevent Infection in Community Shelters
• Preventing Infection - Tetanus
• When Should I Call 9-1-1?
• Disaster Relief

Home Recovery

• Choosing a Roof Contractor
• Opportunities for Reducing Wind Damage Vulnerability When You Re-Roof
• How to know if your septic system is safe to use after a flood

Insurance

• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) status of all participating communities
  • Texas
  • Louisiana
  • Mississippi
  • Alabama
  • Florida
• NFIP Bureau - One-stop shop for FEMA, NFIP Bureau, WYO company, flood vendor and state NFIP needs, which includes access NFIP IT applications, forms, information and much more

Law

• Katrina Legal Relief-University of Mississippi School of Law
  This site provides information on common legal issues affecting victims of hurricanes

Non Profit Organizations

• American Red Cross
• Red Cross Hurricane Preparedness site
  Provides several links such as how to be financially prepared for a hurricane, safety and evacuation tips and checklists, and all the way down to chainsaw safety after the storm.
• American Red Cross Disaster Education, Preparedness, Planning and Mitigation Library
  This comprehensive on-line library of disaster education, preparedness, planning and mitigation articles, brochures, fact sheets, checklists and publications was compiled from a wide variety of sources to support disaster preparedness, planning and mitigation activities in the home, neighborhood, workplace, school and community.

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

• Ideas about volunteering and donating after a disaster
• Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

Disclaimer: To the best of our ability, the materials on this site are correct and up to date. Please send your comments and questions about this site to: tracie.sempier@usm.edu.