Hurricanes in Port St. Lucie, FL

Hurricane season may not officially start until June, but that doesn’t mean you should wait to begin preparing. Preparation is key to keeping yourself, your family, and your home safe. If you live in Port St. Lucie, Florida, you can call All Dry USA any time you need professional assistance cleaning up a storm’s wreckage.

There are three periods you need to be prepared for: before the storm, during the storm, and after the storm. Take these steps to minimize the catastrophic damage an Atlantic hurricane can wreak.

Does Port St. Lucie Get Hurricanes?

Port St. Lucie lies halfway between Orlando and Miami on Florida’s Atlantic coast. Given that those cities are two of the most hurricane-prone cities in the entire country, it’d be a safe assumption that you’re going to experience a hurricane sooner or later in Port St. Lucie.

Despite topping that list, Miami has only a 16% chance each year of being rocked by a hurricane. But that percentage is increasing with each passing year as climate change exacerbates both the intensity and frequency of hurricanes and tropical storms. Neighboring Port St. Lucie lies in the same danger zone as Miami.

Another thing about Port St. Lucie and the broader Miami-Palm Beach metro area? Its high population density. When a hurricane strikes, the intensity and duration of the storm are only two factors, however important they are in how devastating it will be. Another decisive factor is the population density and urban geography of the afflicted area.

Port St. Lucie has an estimated 1,820 people per square mile population density. That’s far fewer than, say, New York City, which has a whopping 27,000+ people per square mile. Miami has a far higher pack density, too, at 12,000+ per square mile. So, while you’re surely safer in Port St. Lucie than in a more densely populated city, because people live in close proximity with buildings hedged up against one another, you’re still at risk.

When powerlines go down, water levels rise, and debris gets thrown about, the safest place you can be is an open space. The tight corridors that cities pack their residents into make escaping from raging storms difficult and dangerous, leading to people being stranded without help.

Storm and hurricane season, however, arrives at the same time every year. That gives you an advantage in the preparation game.

What Are the Hazards Associated With Hurricanes in Port St. Lucie?

We’ll state the obvious first: hurricanes are quite different from earthquakes. They spawn from different geological sources and demand their own safety precautions from the people they threaten. But one thing about them is strikingly similar: what you have to worry about in the event of a hurricane or earthquake is not the hurricane or earthquake itself, but everything around you – the buildings, the trees, all the debris, that the natural disasters will pick up and turn into deadly weapons.

Hurricanes combine rain, sleet, gale-force winds, and sometimes lighting into a fearsome phenomenon. Here is a complete breakdown of all the attendant concerns that hurricanes bring up:

Storm Surge

A storm surge refers to a brief period of intense activity amid an already raging storm. These surges are usually associated with steep and sudden water-level rises.

When in a hurricane, listen to the emergency channel on your radio closely. You can download an AM/FM tuner on your smartphone if you don’t own a radio. Storm surges can be predicted, and thus prepared for. Listen closely to discover if a storm surge is coming, and take the necessary precautions.

High Winds

The National Hurricane Center has a scale called the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, categorizing wind strength between 1 and 5. When you hear that a hurricane is a “Category 1” or a “Category 5,” that’s a Saffir-Simpson rating, and it’s exclusively a wind speed measurement.

Hurricanes bring rainfall, lightning, and sometimes sleet and ice, too. But there’s a reason hurricane strength is measured only in terms of wind speed – wind is the deadliest part of any tropical storm. Hurricane-force winds clock in around 74 mph and can get faster. They can tear down entire buildings, pick up debris, and turn it into lighting-fast shrapnel.

Flooding

Flooding is dangerous in two ways. First, in the moment, flooding can level houses, pick up debris, conduct electric current, and lead to drowning deaths. Flash flooding can come fast and furious, leaving little time to react. In a more enduring sense, houses that survive hurricanes can remain permanently scarred by floods.

Flooding can damage the foundation of a home or building, cause mold, and compromise the integrity of its baseboards.

Rip Currents

The sudden infusion of a downpour of cold rainwater into the warm salt water of the ocean that lies just beyond the shore of a town like Port St. Lucie can lead to the creation of nasty rip tides.

Rip currents pull you away from shore, and though they aren’t the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths, they are certainly scary and worth being aware of.

Tornadoes

Hurricanes don’t often produce tornadoes, but they’re still a danger you should prepare for. Usually, hurricane-induced tornadoes will spawn far offshore, embedded in rain bands near the eyewall. But every once in a while, you’ll need to seek the safety of a storm shelter to evade a touched-down tornado.

Lighting and Downed Powerlines

Always keep your wits about you concerning powerlines. Before you set foot in any standing water, survey your surroundings. Are the electrical towers all standing up? Have any power lines snapped or touched the water?

Hurricanes can produce lighting and down powerlines, leading to the danger of electrocution.

What Should You Do Before a Hurricane?

• Monitor: Keep your radio dial set to the emergency station to make sure you catch developments in the storm before they make land.
• Stock up: This process can start long before storm season. Make sure to stock your pantry with canned and jarred items like beans, peanut butter, and nuts – things you can eat without cooking that don’t go bad quickly.
• Itemize: Make a list of all the essentials you’d need to bring in case you need to evacuate.
• Strategize: Most people stay put when hurricanes hit. So it’s vital to have all safe places demarcated and an emergency evacuation route clearly outlined.

What Should You Do During a Hurricane?

• Power: Consider cutting off your power if you see flooding or downed powerlines.
• Clean Water: Make sure to keep clean water on hand in case the water supply becomes contaminated. Don’t keep the water in the bathtub – like you’ve seen in movies – because that’s one of the best places to take shelter.
• CO2 & Smoke Alarms: Ensure your CO2 and smoke alarms are working. Even if you’re safe from the storm, CO2 can be just as dangerous in a confined space.
• Don’t Go Outside: Whatever you do, don’t go outside unless absolutely necessary. As we mentioned above, airborne debris is more dangerous than anything.

What Should You Do After a Hurricane?

• Stay Dry: Stay out of the floodwater. It can be electrified, contaminated, or full of nasty critters.
• Don’t Touch Electronics: You may not even be able to tell if a power outlet is wet, so avoid touching them altogether.
• Avoid Large Buildings: If you can walk outside, avoid larger buildings. You never know when siding or shingles might come whizzing off.
• Send in Reports: As soon as possible, call in emergency reports of downed powerlines, people in trouble, and dead animals to authorities.

Types of Property Damage Caused by Port St. Lucie Hurricanes

Roof Damage

Shingles, sheathing, and framing are all common damage sites during hurricanes. Category 3-strength winds and above can tear entire roofs right off.

Structural Damage

Structural damage may not always be the easiest to see, but it’s the worst damage a building can incur. Gale-force winds can cause buildings to shift off their foundations, permanently altering their structure. That can lead to cracks, fissures, and costly foundational repairs.

Interior Damage

From the rain to the wind, to flooding and electrical damage, hurricanes can wreak severe havoc on the interior of your home or property. Roofs can be torn open, doors yanked off their hinges, and debris can shatter windows. Once the storm is “inside” a home, furniture, documents, electronics, carpeting, paint – just about anything can suffer damage.

Infrastructure Damage

This refers to damage done to powerlines, water systems, and anything else related to the power grid. Unlike interior damage, these can be the most frustrating because the repairs are largely out of your hands.

Suffering From Hurricane Damage in Port St. Lucie? ADU Can Help

If your home has sustained damage after a hurricane in Port St. Lucie, don’t panic. Call All Dry USA to learn about our various storm damage restoration services, from property drying and dehumidifying to water damage restoration and mold remediation.