The key to survival in a hurricane disaster is to know about the timing, and characteristics of these dangerous storms.
A hurricane is a tropical storm with sustained winds of seventy-four miles per hour or more. There is an eye at the center of a circular pattern that rotates, measuring four hundred miles in breadth. Hurricanes have a "season". In the Atlantic Ocean, this begins on June 1st, and ends on November 30, annually.
Hurricanes are characterized by torrential rains, high winds and storm surges. A hurricane will draw its energy over a warm ocean, persists for two or more weeks, and can travel along a varying path. Those at risk from a hurricane live along the east coast, and inland, of the North American continent.
Recipe for a Hurricane:
Dangers of a Hurricane:
The Primary Hazards of a Hurricane are: Storm Surge, High sustained winds or powerful gusts, airborne and floating debris, tornadoes, and flooding from heavy rain.
Sustained winds of seventy-four to one hundred-sixty mile per hour can extend inland after a hurricane makes landfall.
Hurricanes are known to spawn tornadoes, adding to the disaster. Torrential rains cause flash floods, causing additional damage. Streams and rivers can go into flood, causing loss of life and property.
A storm surge is a "dome" of ocean water. This is up to twenty feet high at its peak, and approximately fifty to one hundred miles wide. As a storm surge comes ashore, coastal communities are devastated with loss of property, and life.
Preparing for a Hurricane:
A hurricane warning means that your residence or business is inside a hurricane's track. Protect your best interests and board up windows, bringing in, or securing outside items that may become airborne, and prepared to evacuate when officials advise.
