CLOSEST POINT OF APPROACH (CPA)
Point where hurricane eye makes closest contact to shore without actually making landfall.

COASTAL FLOOD WARNING
A warning that significant wind-forced flooding is to be expected along low-lying coastal areas if weather patterns develop as forecast.

COASTAL FLOOD WATCH
An alert that significant wind-forced flooding is to be expected along low-lying coastal areas if weather patterns develop as forecast.

COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Local government organization created in accordance with the provision of Florida Statutes 252.31-252.60 to discharge emergency management responsibilities and functions of the County.

COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC)
The county facility that serves as a central location for the coordination and control of all emergency preparedness and response activities.

EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM (EAS)
A system designed to permit government officials to issue up-to-date and continuous emergency information and instructions to the public in case of a threatened or actual emergency.

EMERGENCY PUBLIC INFORMATION
Information which is disseminated primarily, but not unconditionally, at the actual time of an emergency; and in addition to providing information as such, frequently directs actions, instructions, and transmits direct orders.

EMERGENCY PUBLIC SHELTER
Generally a public school or other such structure designated by County officials as a place of shelter.

EVACUATION TIME
The lead time that a populated coastal jurisdiction must have to safely relocate all residents of vulnerable areas from an approaching hurricane. This time can also be perceived as the necessary amount of time between the issuance of the local official evacuation order and the arrival of sustained tropical storm winds (40 mph) and/or flooding.

EXTENT OF EVACUATION
The identification of vulnerable people who must evacuate as a result of various hurricane scenarios, based on estimated inundation areas and/or dwelling units susceptible to hurricane force winds.

FLOOD WARNING
Indicates the expected severity of flooding (minor, moderate, or major), as well as where and when the flooding will begin.

FORWARD SPEED (HURRICANE)
The rate of movement (propagation) of the hurricane eye in miles per hour or knots.

HURRICANE
The term is used when winds reach constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more. These winds blow in a large spiral around a relatively calm center of extremely low pressure known as the eye of the hurricane. Around the rim of the eye, winds may gust to more than 200 miles per hour. The entire storm dominates the ocean surface and lower atmosphere over tens of thousands of square miles.

HURRICANE ADVISORIES
Notices numbered consecutively for each storm, describing the present and forecasted position and intensity of the storm. Advisories are issued at six-hour intervals. Bulletins provide additional information. Each message gives the name, eye position, intensity, and forecast movement of the storm.

HURRICANE EYE
The relatively calm area near the center of the storm. In this area winds are light and the sky is often partly covered by clouds.

HURRICANE EYE LANDFALL
The point in time when the eye, or physical center of the hurricane reaches the coastline from the hurricane’s approach over water.

HURRICANE PATH OR TRACK
Line of movement (propagation) of the eye through an area.

HURRICANE SEASON
The portion of the year having relatively high incidence of hurricanes. In the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, it is usually regarded as the period from June 1st through November 30th.