New warning system with catchy acronymn.

[OuterBanker]

For years it has bothered me that we really don’t have a warning system based on the individual characteristics of a land falling hurricane. Sure, we have Saffir-Simpson, but that only deals with the pressure and strength of that storm. The Saffir-Simpson scale is probably the most misinterpreted and misunderstood system ever written. Here on the Outer Banks I refer to local interpretation as the three pigs attitude. In other words, the general consensus is that category 3 and above were out of here. But anything less and we stay. No one ever takes the individual characteristics of the storm into consideration. This attitude has been prevalent ever since the Saffir-Simpson scale has been used. The latest example is Irene, it was only a category one so no one on Hatteras Island left. Irene was just a minimal hurricane yet the winds extended a good distance from the center, pushed waters up into the rivers and the tributaries and came back with such force a carved a new inlet on Hatteras Island. This isolated the residents of Hatteras Island which presented Dare County EOC with several logistical nightmares. They had to develop an emergency ferry system, prioritize use, supplies, clean up, food, etc. The ultimate question is would the residents have left if a different warning system, one that took into consideration the possible hazards and threats were used.
Another misconception is where the storm makes landfall. The attitude of its making landfall 150 miles from us so we need not make any preps. Not taking in consideration the future path. Well, Ocracoke NC is about 150 miles from Hampton Roads VA, the Outer Banks offers little resistance to any storm and in fact if it comes up the sounds it can increase in strength. Consequently Isabel should have taught us a lesson. It caused millions to lose power in Virginia and Maryland. As well as billions in damage. Isabel was a large Cat 2 with hurricane winds extending hundreds of miles from its center. It was also a wet storm, so you had extended periods of high winds, water laden ground, and extensive flooding. Eastern Virginia is a densely populated area with old growth hardwoods that were fully foliated so millions of trees fell downing power lines, blocking interstates, etc. All of this could have been foreseen and predicted. We know the demographics and topography of the areas in the path of a land falling storm. We also know the particular characteristics of a land falling storm and histories of similar storms. So why not come up with a new system that takes all this into consideration.
Finally, we must come up with a new catchy acronym. One that everyone will recognize and remember. Now I must admit that the one I’m suggesting is mostly in jest, with maybe just a sight dig at NOAA and their aversion toward acronyms. How about “Potential Hazards And Real Threats” A new attitude might just be “It’s only a Cat 1, but it’s also a PHART 5, so I’m outta here.”