Season 2009 - June 1st - Nov 30th

For the latest updates & evacuations visit the Horry County Government Emergency Management Department website here.

For Hurricane Shelters list click here.

For Evacuation Map click here.

“Be Neighborly, Be Responsible”

Avalon homeowners need to be responsible and remove any items in their yards which could potentially become a hazard. It doesn’t take a major hurricane to blow yard décor, a lawn chair, umbrella, etc. onto someone’s property, into a parked car, or even worse through a neighbor’s window.

Some items to remember to bring inside: potted plants, lawn chairs and tables, flags, solar walkway lighting, trash cans, hose reel and bird feeders.   You wouldn’t want to be held responsible for damages because you forgot to bring your grill in.

Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale:
Hurricanes are categorized according to the strength of their winds using the Saffir/Simpson Hurricane Scale:

• Category 1:  Winds: 74-95 mph    Pressure:  >28.94    Storm Surge:4-5 feet
• Category 2:  Winds: 96-110 mph    Pressure:  28.50-28.91    Storm Surge:6-8 feet
• Category 3:  Winds: 111-130    Pressure:  27.91-28.47    Storm Surge:9-12 feet
• Category 4:  Winds: 131-155 mph    Pressure:   27.17-27.88    Storm Surge:13-18 feet
• Category 5:  Winds:  >155    Pressure:  <27.17    Storm Surge: 18 + feet

Hurricane Names:

Definitions:

• Tropical Wave: A trough of low pressure in the trade-wind easterlies.
• Tropical Disturbance: A moving area of thunderstorms in the Tropics that maintains its identity for 24 hours or more. A common phenomenon.
• Tropical Depression: An organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds* of 38 mph (33 kt**) or less
• Tropical Storm: An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39-73 mph (34-63 kt)
• Hurricane: An intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a well-defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 kt) or higher .
• Tropical Storm Watch: Issued for a coastal area when there is the threat of tropical storm conditions within 36 hours.
• Tropical Storm Warning: A warning for tropical storm conditions including sustained winds within the range of 39 to 73mph (34 to 63 knots) which are expected in a specified area within 24 hours.
• Hurricane Watch: An announcement that hurricane conditions pose a possible threat to a specified coastal area within 36 hours.
• Hurricane Warning: A warning that sustained winds of 74 mph(64kts) or higher are expected in a specified coastal area within 24 hours.
• Storm Surge: An abnormal rise of the sea along a shore as the result, primarily, of the winds of a storm.
• Flash Flood Watch: Means that flash flood conditions are possible within the designated watch area.
• Flash Flood Warning: Means a flash flood has been reported or is imminent.

* Sustained winds are defined as a 1-minute average wind measured at about 33 ft (10 meters) above the surface. ** 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour or 1.15 statute miles per hour. Abbreviated as "kt"

eb Design by Christine Potter