Overview: The FEMA IS 324.A course was published on 10/31/2013. This is on a non-federal government website operated by the Cooperative Program for Operational Meteorology, Education, and Training (COMET).
Primary audience: Emergency managers in communities threatened by tropical cyclones
FEMA IS-324.A test answers
Each time that this test is loaded, you will receive a unique set of questions and answers. The test questions are scrambled to protect the integrity of the exam.
Question 1. A typical hurricane can bring:
A. Trace of rain
B. 1-3 inches of rain
C. 3-6 inches of rain
D. More than 6 inches of rain✅
Question 2. Which quadrant of a hurricane typically has the strongest winds?
A. Left-front
B. Right-front✅
C. Left-rear
D. Right-rear
Question 3. Hurricane watch and warning areas usually are larger than the expected damage swath to account for possible changes in track and intensity and possible forecast errors.
A. True✅
B. False
Question 4. The eye of a Category 2 hurricane is 450 nautical miles away and forecast to come ashore at your coastal location. The tropical-storm-force winds extend 150 nautical miles. The hurricane is moving at 15 knots. If it maintains forward speed, how long before tropical-storm-force winds begin to affect your community?
A. 10 hours
B. 20 hours
C. 24 hours✅
D. 30 hours
Question 5. To get more detailed information about the current and predicted effects of the hurricane on your local area, you should?
A. Read the latest tropical cyclone forecast discussions
B. Talk with the Hurricane Liaison Team at the National Hurricane Center✅
C. Read the latest tropical cyclone public advisory
D. Read the latest hurricane local statement
Question 6. If a hurricane is on course for your community, and it suddenly intensifies and gains forward speed, what are the results?
A. More time to complete evacuations
B. Decision arc shrinks✅
C. Decision arc expands
D. Fewer people must be evacuated
Question 7. Which is NOT a source of forecast error in NWP?
A. Observation inaccuracies✅
B. Not enough observations
C. Incomplete understanding of atmospheric physics
D. Lack of radar data off the coast
Question 8. What is significant about the right-front quadrant of a hurricane?
A. That quadrant has more rainbands
B. Storm surge is enhanced in that quadrant✅
C. That quadrant appears on Doppler radar
D. Fewer tornadoes occur in that quadrant
Question 9. If HURREVAC indicates that your community has a 15% probability of having hurricane winds when landfall is expected 72 hours from now, you can be reasonably confident that you will probably only have tropical-storm-force winds.
A. False, because the probabilities may increase as the storm comes closer✅
B. True, because the chances are well below 50% that the community will have hurricane-force winds
Question 10. In order to assure there is enough time to evacuate a community, the evacuation should start when:
A. The tropical storm-force winds intersect the HURREVAC decision arc✅
B. Tropical-storm-force winds are 36 hours from your location
C. The hurricane is predicted to intensify
D. Hurricane-force winds are 48 hours from your location
Question 11. Which statement about the official NHC track and intensity forecasts is correct?
A. The intensity errors for the 24-hour forecast are about the same as the errors for the 120 hr forecast
B. Errors in forecasting hurricane intensity have improved faster than errors in forecasting tracks
C. Errors in forecasting track and intensity are generally greater for forecast times farther in the future✅
D. The track errors for the 24-hour forecast are about the same as the errors for the 120 hr forecast
Question 12. What tool is used to assess how high a storm surge might be?
A. HURRTRACK
B. Saffir-Simpson scale✅
C. HURREVAC
D. SLOSH
Question 13. A tropical storm watch means tropical-storm-force winds are:
A. Expected within 36 hours
B. Expected within 48 hours
C. Possible within 36 hours
D. Possible within 48 hours✅
Question 14. Once a hurricane or tropical cyclone moves over land, the threat from flooding and tornadoes can continue for days.
A. True✅
B. False
Question 15. What is the main instrument for taking measurements of a tropical cyclone far out at sea?
A. Ship reports
B. Radar
C. ASOS
D. Satellite✅
Question 16. What hazard associated with a hurricane generally causes the most deaths in inland areas?
A. Heavy rain
B. Tornadoes
C. High winds
D. Storm surge✅
Question 17. What does the track forecast cone signify?
A. The tropical cyclone’s eye will broaden to the size of the cone within 48 hours✅
B. Only citizens within this cone should be concerned with hurricane-force wind speeds
C. The maximum error in NHC’s tropical cyclone forecasts in the last five years
D. Track forecast uncertainty
Question 18. When should you be most alert for hurricanes?
A. July 1 – September 1
B. June 1 – September 30
C. May 1 – October 31
D. June 1 – November 30✅
Question 19. Hurricane evacuation zones are primarily designed to move people out of areas vulnerable to:
A. Traffic jams
B. High winds
C. Storm surge✅
D. Hazardous chemicals and ruptured gas lines
Question 20. The eye of a Category 2 hurricane is 450 nautical miles away and forecast to come ashore at your coastal location. The tropical storm-force winds extend 150 nautical miles. If the hurricane’s forward speed is 20 knots, how long before tropical storm-force winds begin to affect your community?
A. 10 hours
B. 15 hours
C. 20 hours
D. 30 hours✅
Question 21. Who coordinates information requests between emergency managers and the National Hurricane Center?
A. Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch
B. The Weather Channel
C. Hurricane Liaison Team✅
D. Hurricane Specialists Unit
Question 22. A Hurricane Evacuation Study collects data on community characteristics, vulnerabilities, transportation, and hazards
A. True✅
B. False
Question 23. What is storm tide?
A. The storm surge + astronomical tide + wind surge
B. The storm surge + astronomical tide✅
C. The astronomical tide level occurring when the storm makes landfall
D. The storm surge + astronomical tide + waves
Question 24. The expected inundation from storm surge is the main consideration in determining what coastal areas should be evacuated.
A. True✅
B. False
Question 25. You explain to an official that a hurricane’s forward speed and path can change considerably. She asks why and you respond:
A. Speed and path change as the hurricane moves through various origination zones
B. Different ocean surface temperatures change a hurricane’s speed and path
C. Hurricanes are steered by other changing weather features around the storm✅
D. Hurricanes tend to slow down and change direction at night
Question 26. Within a few hours of making landfall, high winds from a hurricane or tropical storm are no longer dangerous.
A. True✅
B. False
Question 27. The bigger the hurricane, the more intense it is.
A. True
B. False✅
Question 28. Why is the United States becoming more vulnerable to hurricanes?
A. Increasing population in coastal areas makes it more difficult to evacuate for a hurricane
B. Hurricanes are becoming larger and more frequent.✅
C. More hurricanes are traveling farther inland
D. Our ability to forecast has been declining
Question 29. If you wanted to get a sense of the forecaster’s confidence in the models, which product would you read?
A. Hurricane local statements
B. Tropical cyclone forecast discussions✅
C. Tropical cyclone public advisories
D. Local NWS forecasts
Question 30. At 0900Z on the 24th, a tropical cyclone forecast/advisory contains the following information:
FORECAST VALID 24/1800Z 21.9N 78.1W
MAX WIND 90 KT…GUSTS 110 KT.
64 KT… 30NE 0SE 0SW 0NW
50 KT…100NE 100SE 30SW 30NW
34 KT…135NE 125SE 75SW 125NW
What does this information tell you?
A. The maximum radial extent of the wind fields at 18Z✅
B. The past intensity of the hurricane at various times
C. The current and forecast wind speed until 18Z
D. The predicted speed of the hurricane at 18Z
Question 31. A hurricane warning means hurricane-force winds are generally:
A. Expected within 36 hours✅
B. Expected within 48 hours
C. Possible within 36 hours
D. Possible within 48 hours
Question 32. The storm surge atlas provides information on:
A. The maximum storm surge flooding expected from any category hurricane✅
B. A map of the evacuation zones
C. The worst-case storm surge associated with a Category 5 hurricane
D. The average extent of storm surge flooding from any category hurricane
Question 33. Errors in forecasting the forward speed of the hurricane can affect:
A. The size of the rainbands
B. The time available before the onset of tropical-storm-force winds
C. The expected category of hurricane intensity✅
D. The radius of the tropical-storm-force winds
Question 34. Which product tells when tropical-storm-force winds (greater than 39 mph) can be expected to subside?
A. Hurricane local statements
B. Surface wind field
C. Track forecast cone
D. Wind speed probability forecasts✅
Question 35. The tropical-storm-force winds of a Category 3 hurricane are forecast to intersect the decision arc for your community in 36 hours. For a hurricane of Category 4 intensity, it is estimated that your community will need 20 hours to evacuate to safety. How much time is there before the evacuation should be started?
A. 16 hours✅
B. 20 hours
C. 36 hours
D. 56 hours
Question 36. If you wanted to determine where you were in relation to the current wind fields, which product would you look at?
A. Surface wind field✅
B. Tropical cyclone forecast discussions
C. Special tropical cyclone public advisories
D. Wind speed probability forecasts
Question 37. Of the following, which is the advantage of geostationary satellite imagery?
A. It can be used to estimate storm surge
B. It can accurately predict the forward speed
C. It can be used to monitor the hurricane almost continuously✅
D. It can accurately predict the intensity and movement of the storm
Question 38. What does the Saffir-Simpson scale describe?
A. Potential damage expected with different wind speed ranges✅
B. Number of tornadoes expected with different wind speed ranges
C. Potential surge heights expected with different categories of storm intensity
D. Potential damage expected from different storm surge levels
Question 39. HURREVAC is used to
A. Apply for a federal disaster declaration
B. Help make decisions about who should evacuate and when✅
C. Predict where and when a hurricane will make landfall
D. Collect community characteristics data used in Hurricane Evacuation Studies
Question 40. As long as your community is outside the track forecast cone, it is safe from hazards associated with a hurricane or tropical storm.
A. True
B. False✅
Question 41. What is a critical source of information about community resources, behavior, and hazards that go into the hurricane sections of a community’s Emergency Operations Plan?
A. National Weather Service
B. National Hurricane Center
C. HURREVAC✅
D. Hurricane Evacuation Study
Question 42. The area of the track forecast cone is drawn so that the actual position of the storm will be within the cone approximately?
A. 10-25% of the time
B. 30-40% of the time
C. 60-70% of the time✅
D. 80-90% of the time
Question 43. As a hurricane or tropical storm approaches your location, its forward speed decreases from 20 kt to 10 kt. How might that affect rainfall?
A. Shorter period under the rainbands
B. Less total rainfall from a weakening system
C. Less flooding because rain will have more time to soak into the ground
D. More total rainfall from a slower-moving storm✅
44. When should you aim to have an evacuation be completed?
A. Before the arrival of hurricane-force winds
B. After the arrival of tropical storm-force winds but before hurricane-force winds
C. When the tropical storm-force winds intersect the HURREVAC decision arc.✅
D. By the time tropical storm-force winds arrive
Question 45. The eye of a Category 2 hurricane is 450 nautical miles away and forecast to come ashore at your coastal location. The tropical storm-force winds extend 150 nautical miles. The hurricane is moving at 15 knots. Assuming it takes 18 hours to evacuate your jurisdiction, when is the best time to call for an evacuation?
A. Now✅
B. 4 hours
C. 5 hours
D. 15 hours
Question 46. How far out from a hurricane’s center would you generally expect to find tropical storm-force winds?
A. 50 miles✅
B. 150 miles
C. 500 miles
D. 600 miles
Question 47. Which agency disseminates warnings for an inland tropical storm or hurricane-force winds?
A. Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch
B. Local NWS Weather Forecast Offices✅
C. The Weather Channel
D. National Hurricane Center
Question 48. A steep continental shelf offshore of a coastal community will likely result in worse storm surge impacts than if the shelf were shallow.
A. True
B. False✅
Question 49. Which agency disseminates coastal watches and warnings for tropical storms and hurricanes?
A. Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch
B. The Weather Channel
C. Local NWS Weather Forecast Offices✅
D. National Hurricane Center
Question 50. Winds circulate around a tropical storm or hurricane in which direction in the Northern Hemisphere?
A. Counter-clockwise✅
B. Clockwise