Hurricane Preparedness Week: May 15-21, 2016
Hurricanes are among nature’s most powerful and destructive phenomena. Hurricanes are giant, spiraling tropical storms that can pack wind speeds of over 160 miles an hour and unleash more than 2.4 trillion gallons of rain a day. In the northern Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal these tropical storms are known as cyclones, and in the western Pacific Ocean as typhoons.
The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 each year. On average, 12 tropical storms, 6 of which become hurricanes form over the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico, during this time. Over a typical 2-year period, the U.S. coastline is struck by an average of 3 hurricanes, 1 of which is classified as a major hurricane (with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater).
How do hurricanes begin? First, a tropical disturbances occurs in warm ocean waters with surface temperatures of at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The energy from the warm seas feed these low pressure systems. Then, if a storm manages to achieve wind speeds of 38 miles an hour, it becomes a tropical depression. A tropical depression turns into a tropical storm, and when sustained wind speeds top 39 miles an hour it is given a name. When a storm’s wind speeds reach 74 miles an hour it becomes a hurricane and earns a category rating of 1 to 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Hurricane Safety and Preparedness
One of the best defenses against a hurricane is an accurate forecast, which allows people the time to get out of its way. It only takes one storm to change ones life and that of a community. The National Hurricane Center issues hurricane watches for storms that may endanger communities, and hurricane warnings for storms that will make landfall within 24 hours. By knowing what actions to take before, during, and after a hurricane, you can increase your chance of survival. If you live in an area prone to hurricanes, you need to be prepared. Even areas that are far inland and well away from the coastline can be threatened by dangerous flooding, destructive winds and tornadoes spawned from these storms.
Hurricane Preparedness Week: Hurricane Preparedness Week (May 15-21, 2016) is your time to prepare for a potential land-falling tropical storm or hurricane. Learn how with the daily tips below and related links. Share these with your friends and family to ensure that they’re prepared: Sunday, May 15th Determine your risk, Monday, May 16th Develop an evacuation plan, Tuesday, May 17th Secure an insurance check-up, Wednesday, May 18th Assemble disaster supplies, Thursday, May 19th Strengthen your home, Friday, May 20th Identify your trusted sources of information for a hurricane event, Saturday, May 21st Complete your written hurricane plan.
