Esta ley declara el mes de mayo de cada año como el "Mes de Orientación y Preparación para la Temporada de Huracanes" en Puerto Rico. Establece la importancia de la preparación ante huracanes, describe las categorías de huracanes y sus posibles daños, y exhorta al Gobernador a emitir una proclama anual para promover actividades de preparación.
(S. B. 813) (Reconsidered) (No. 57) (Approved April 19, 2002)
To declare the month of May of each year as the "Hurricane Season Orientation and Preparation Month".
The hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and ends on November 30 of each year. However, a hurricane may form in any month of the year. A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone. In scientific terms, a hurricane is a system of winds of spiral form that moves across the surface of the earth. According to the intensity of the winds, tropical cyclones are classified as a) tropical depression (maximum sustained winds of less than 39 mph ), b) tropical storm (maximum sustained winds from 39 to 73 mph ), c) hurricane (sustained winds reach or exceed 74 mph ).
Hurricane winds have a great potential of causing partial or total destruction to structures such as residences and buildings. Evidence of this is that when Hurricane Marilyn hit in 1995 on the isles of Vieques and Culebra and the Virgin Islands, hundreds of persons partially or totally lost their dwellings. The potential of damage is directly associated to the speed of the wind or its intensity in a scale known as the Saffir-Simpson Scale. This scale is divided in 5 categories.
As an example, we present the following data on some of the hurricanes that have hot our island:
| Category | Sustained Winds | Damages | Example of Hurricanes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $74-95 \mathrm{mph}$ | Minimum | Hortense (Sept. 1996) |
| 2 | $96-110 \mathrm{mph}$ | Moderate | Marilyn (Sept. 1995) |
| 3 | $111-130 \mathrm{mph}$ | Great | Hugo (Sept. 1989) |
| 4 | $131-155 \mathrm{mph}$ | Great | San Ciprian (Sept. 1932) |
| 5 | Over 155 mph | Catastrophic | San Felipe (Sept. 1928) |
Among the concerns of greater relevance to be taken into account when preparing to be hit by a hurricane, we must mention problems related to wind, rain, flooding, landslides, and cyclonic swells, among others. Therefore, it is important to prepare before the hurricane hits. In order to survive the impact of a hurricane it is important to take a series of measures before the season begins and some basic precautions to protect family and property. It is important to watch over safety in the home, as well as to protect doors and windows from the wind and rain by making an inventory of the different articles in the home, tying down that those that are loose and could become projectiles, as well as identifying the special needs of sick persons, elderly or disabled who are home, as well as the protection of domestic animals, motor vehicles, boats, among others. It is also important to identify the shelters, as well as the physical location and the telephone numbers of support agencies in emergency situations. In the case of businessmen, it is important to protect their businesses, since due to the passing of the hurricane, delinquents take advantage of the situation to commit crimes.
It is also important for the citizenry to be aware of how to act during a hurricane and its aftermath, be it in the assessment of damages, cleaning up debris, repairing and/or reconstructing property and/or documents.
Furthermore, it is extremely important for the citizenry to know the importance of buying insurance to indemnify the damages suffered by their properties.
Therefore, this Legislature recognizes the importance that the citizenry of Puerto Rico be kept informed and oriented as to the effects of the passing of a hurricane through our Island so that they may prevent its effects and be prepared adequately so that the lives and properties of our fellow Puerto Ricans are not jeopardized, at least not for lack of preparation.
Section 1.- The month of May of each year is hereby declared as the "Hurricane Season Preparation and Orientation Month".
Section 2.- Each year, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall issue a proclamation to such effect, at least ten (10) days before May 1, in which he/she shall exhort the people of Puerto Rico and direct the different agencies and entities in charge of emergency and disaster management to organize and sponsor the pertinent activities for the celebration of the "Hurricane Season Preparation and Orientation Month".
Section 3.- A copy of the annual proclamation shall be distributed to the news media of the Island for its diffusion.
Section 4.- This Act shall take effect immediately after its approval.
I hereby certify to the Secretary of State that the following Act No. 57 (S.B. 813) (Reconsidered) of the $3^{ ext {rd }}$ Session of the $14^{ ext {th }}$ Legislature of Puerto Rico:
AN ACT to declare the month of May of each year as the "Hurricane Season Orientation and Preparation Month", has been translated from Spanish to English and that the English version is correct.
In San Juan, Puerto Rico, today $8^{ ext {th }}$ of January of 2004.
Elba Rosa Rodríguez-Fuentes Director