Hurricanes are products of the tropical ocean and atmosphere. Powered by heat from the sea, they are steered erratically by the easterly trade winds and the temperate westerly winds, as well as by their own energy. As they move ashore, they bring with them a storm surge of ocean water along the coastline, high winds, tornadoes, torrential rains, and flooding.

Hurricanes are particularly damaging because of a multitude of associated storm hazards. Debris can break windows and doors, allowing high winds and rain inside the home. In extreme storms, the force of the wind alone can cause tremendous devastation, as trees and power lines topple and weak elements of homes and buildings fail. Roads and bridges can be washed away and homes saturated by flooding. Destructive tornadoes can also be present well away from the storms center during landfall. Yet, storm surge alone poses the highest threat to life and destruction in many coastal areas throughout the United States and territories. And these threats are not limited to the coastline -- they can extend hundreds of miles inland, under the right conditions.

2010 City of Warwick Hurricane Resources

1. Download the City of Warwick's Hurricane Preparedness Guide.
2. Find out if your property is subject to storm surge or inland flooding.
   
   • CLICK HERE for the Warwick Inundation Matrix.
   • CLICK HERE for Rhode Island Hurricane Evacuation Study Hurricane Surge Inundation Mapping (May 2009)
3. Determine the safest and most efficient evacuation route.
   
   • CLICK HERE for the City of Warwick Evacuation Map.

ADDITIONAL ONLINE INFORMATION