• 18
  • Nov
How To Prepare For a Hurricane
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If you reside in a landlocked part of the world, this article may not mean much to you, However, if you and your family live on or near the cost, the threat of hurricanes and tropical storms can mean much to you. Hurricanes and tropical storms can pose a great threat to your life and property. The best thing to do whenever the period of hurricane approaches is to prepare ahead for the worst. In this article, we shall briefly discuss how to prepare for a hurricane.

Home supplies

Stock up essential home supplies like a battery, water, and non-perishable food items in advance. You don’t need to wait until the arrival of a hurricane before you start to prepare. Things may become scarce and more expensive by then.

Credentials and documents

Gather your documents and credentials in a plastic waterproof bag and keep them close. Make sure this bag is always ready for you to grab and run in case of emergency.

Electricity alternative

One of the commonest effects of hurricanes is general blackout which may last for days depending on the kind of storm. Therefore, you should consider having batteries or solar-operated devices as a backup. Also, make sure you have a regular corded phone in case there isn’t electricity to charge your mobile phone.

Cash, cash, cash!!!

It is a must to have enough cash with you. You will definitely need some money during and immediately after the storm. If you rely on ATMs or other electronic money media, you may end up in disappointment.

Trim the trees surrounding your home

You have to protect your properties also. Check the trees in your yard and those surrounding you and ensure they do not extend to your property. Remember that heavy storm can fall those trees thereby causing a great damage to any property in their way.

Hurricane tape

One of the most effective ways to protect your home is cover all opening. You should cover your windows, doors, and other openings with hurricane tapes. Hurricane tapes are multi-purpose utility tapes that are much more durable and weather resistant. They have a high tensile strength and does not stretch. Hurricane tapes do not only minimize injuries to your properties, but it also minimizes damage to property by keeping debris and water from penetrating into the property.

Relocate fragile items

It is also important to assess your living spaces before the hurricane finally approach. If you have furniture or any other property that is vulnerable to water or wind, make sure you move them to a safer place. Remove items that can be easily moved by wind also. Likewise, you may consider relocating your mailbox, electrical fixtures and other aesthetics from your outdoor.

Get your vehicle in a good working condition

Before the hurricane finally starts, make sure your vehicle is filled and in a good working condition. Note that you may need to evacuate your home on an emergency basis and your car shouldn’t be lagging. If you are leaving home, make sure you go with vital data and documents regarding your home just in case.

Bottom line

Hurricane and tropical storms are not usually a palatable event. The government of the affected regions usually value millions of dollars for clean up while several hundred properties are usually affected. If your area will be affected by a hurricane, the authorities must have informed you ahead of time. Upon this, the next step is not to run away. Even if you will do, make sure you put into consideration all the factors listed above.

 

  • 18
  • Nov
Hurricane Sarasota – History and Damages
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Hurricanes are a common occurrence in Florida. Hurricane season starts June 1 and ends officially on November 30 every year. Sarasota is a vulnerable city located in the South of Tampa Bay, bordering the Gulf of Mexico, Manatee River, Little Sarasota Bay, and inter-coastal waterways. Statistics show that Sarasota has been affected directly or indirectly 36 times in the last 146 years including the Storm Emily and Hurricane Irma of 2017.

Some of the popular storms that hit Sarasota in the past few years include Donna, Judith, Charley, and Barry. In August 2004, Hurricane Charley was close to the western Sarasota County. A wind recorded to be about 145mph hit Punta Gorda which is just 40 miles away from the south. In 2007 also, A Tropical Storm Barry passed on the west of Sarasota with winds at about 40mph.

How often is Sarasota prone to Hurricanes?

Sarasota is located in a vulnerable part of Florida. Although the major parts of this city are not always affected, some parts of Sarasota are often touched during storms. Theoretically, Hurricane Sarasota usually occurs every 4 – 5 years. However, the tropical storm that affects the entire vicinity occurs every 23 – 24 years.

Sarasota Florida Hurricane damage of 2012

After the 2007 Hurricane Charley, Sarasota also suffered from the Tropical Storm Derby which occurred on June 23, 2012. Derby caused extensive flooding in North and Central Florida during this period. This fourth tropical cyclone developed from a trough of low pressure in the central Gulf of Mexico.

Sarasota Florida Hurricane damage of 2017

The 2017 Hurricane season brought two different storms to Sarasota. These are the Tropical Storm Emily and Hurricane Irma. The Tropical Storm Emily strikes the residents in the middle of the night and hit Anna islands in the morning of July 31, 2017. Emily didn’t hinder the residents from going to the beach. However, it allows the officials and residents to test-run their storm preparations.

One month later, the news of Hurricane Irma reach the people of Sarasota, leaving them with few weeks of preparation. Forecasters predicted Sarasota Florida Hurricane damage from a Category 4 storm with a storm surge of about 10 feet and winds of about 150mph. However, Irma erupted in the night of September 10 as a category 2 storm.

The Sarasota Florida Hurricane damage was not as widespread as anticipated. Power outage lasted for some days and many trees fell on homes and offices. Debris and damage cleanup reportedly cost $8.2 million while there was no significant infrastructure or property damage. Read about the biggest hurricanes in history

Safety precautions against the Tropical storm

Before a hurricane will occur in Sarasota, you will be aware of an impending storm far enough in advance. This will enable you to install your hurricane shutters and other preventive structures. This information will be communicated by the authorities via radio TV and the internet. If you find your home or business in a flood area, the best practice is to quit temporarily and seek alternative shelter in flood-free areas.

There are several churches, schools, and mosques that offer temporal shelter for people in the flood zone. In fact, some of these places are pet-friendly. However, make sure you inquire ahead before you arrive with your pets.

Driving in Sarasota

Some residents of Sarasota prefer to stay in their home during an intense storm and ride out the storm. As much as this is not recommended, you should prepare an interior room with your hurricane kit if you plan to do so.  When driving also, take note of evacuation route signs. Of course, preparedness is the key to safety during Hurricane Sarasota.

  • 04
  • Nov
Hurricane Fans – Types, Prices and Maintenance
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If you are looking to buy hurricane fans, then this article will help you make the right choice. Hurricane fans have modern designs for optimum performance. The brand name is Hurricane, so these fans have nothing to with the tropical cyclone or storms.

The reason we added this topic to our website is that we have made a list of products with the word Hurricane. Hurricane is a tropical storm that hits its target at maximum speed. The speed of a hurricane wind inspired the production of hurricane fans as they are a good source of ventilation.

 

Types of Hurricane Fans

For a fact, “not all fans are created equal.” Hurricane wall fans come in different sizes, shape, and color.

  • 12 Inch Hurricane Wall Mount Fan

Hurricane fan 20 inch

“It comes with 5-foot 120-volt power cord and covers 90 degrees of space. You can select from speed 1 to 3 depending on how much ventilation you need. 12-inch hurricane wall mount fan comes in different colors such as white, black and silver.

 

  • 16 Inch Hurricane Wall Mount Fan

hurricane 16 inch fan

Don’t buy a 12-Inch wall mount hurricane fan if you have the money and space for something bigger. A 16-inch fan wall mount fan has the same feature with the smaller one. Both are made of powder-coated steel grill with chemical resistant polypropylene fan blade.

These are the two types of hurricane fans – the difference is the size and color. The 16-inch hurricane wall mount fan is common compared to the 12-inch fan. You can find the 16-inch wall mount fan at Amazon and eBay.

 

Hurricane Fan Prices

The price of a hurricane fan is around $30 to $45 depending on the size. It is cheaper on Amazon and you can get good discount prices for hurricane fans. Here is a list of cheap hurricane fans at Amazon:

  • 20 Inch Hurricane Wall Mount fan – $50
  • 16 Inch Hurricane Wall Mount fan – $35
  • 4.5 Inch Hurricane Axial fan for Green House – $30

Click here to see more cheap wall hurricane mount fans on Amazon

8 Hurricane Fan Maintenance tips

  1. Clean the fan blades when there is too much dirt or dust.
  2. Remove the plug from the wall socket before attempting any maintenance.
  3. Use a soft brush or damp cloth to clean the blades and body.
  4. Use Warm water and mild detergent to clean the blades when necessary.
  5. Gasoline thinner and other chemicals should be avoided when cleaning the fan.
  6. Do not use a hurricane fan where there are explosives or flammable fumes
  7. Do not mount your hurricane wall mount fan on a ceiling.
  8. Do not use place the fan near your window to avoid exposure to rainwater.

 

 

 

  • 01
  • Nov
How do hurricanes form? A Better Understanding
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Hurricanes are cyclonic storms of the western, northern Atlantic. They belong to a family of storms called tropical cyclones. Tropical cyclones rotate around a low-pressure center, produce heavy rain, and they have winds of at least 72mph. Hurricane is the name given to the storms that form in the Atlantic or eastern North Pacific. Similar storms that form in the western North Pacific are called typhoons.

how hurricanes form

How does a hurricane Form? They form over the ocean, in places that have warm water. They grab the warm water energy and pull it into the atmosphere. Is this not how clouds are formed as well? What makes it a hurricane?

You can also learn more about Hurricane Vs Tornadoes 

Hurricanes need winds that blow gently high in the atmosphere and winds that blow more strongly near the surface of the earth. Here is an analogy;

Picture a hurricane like it is a bucket. It needs to stand straight up. If the wind blows stronger high in the atmosphere, the bucket will topple over. When a thunderstorm forms, it’s a result of a lot of vapor that accumulates in the air. This causes the cloud to be heavy, and then it rains.

How hurricanes form differs from how thunderstorms form. So, how does a hurricane form? They need warm water, winds that blow vertically straight inside a hypothetical bucket, and a lot of vapor in the air. The ingredients of a hurricane usually come together off the coast of Africa.

how do hurricanes form

When the sea surface temperature is greater than 26.5 degree celsius or 80 degrees Fahrenheit, water vapor condenses and releases heat. The heat rises and creates an inward movement of air and it spirals toward the middle of the disturbance. This is how a thunderstorm begins, creates a tropical depression and then a tropical storm.

When over one thunderstorm come together and move across the Atlantic Ocean where the water is warmer, adding more energy and vapor, a hurricane is formed. This becomes even more likely when the wind is favorable.

The only thing that can stop a hurricane in its track when it’s over water is a strong wind in the upper atmosphere. The reason why there have been hurricane formations lately is that the end of the summer brings favorable conditions.

Can we predict hurricanes? Not really. The only thing you can predict accurately is the path, not the intensity. The intensity of a hurricane is unpredictable. Once they are cut off from warm water, they weaken rapidly.

Rising sea temperature as a result of global warming is another reason why hurricanes are common lately. When the sea temperature rises due to a warmer climate, it will create more hurricanes and prolong them.

hurricanes how they form

It might interest you to read about the biggest hurricanes in history

Global climate models, which studies how the atmosphere behaves over hundreds of miles, aren’t able to show much about hurricanes. However, as technology improves, so will our ability to represent hurricanes accurately with models. Now that you understand how hurricanes form, it is wise to learn about hurricane categories.

 

References:

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/hurricanes-facts-storms-weather-science/

https://www.eartheclipse.com/natural-disaster/causes-and-effects-hurricanes.html

You may also read about: Hurricane Safety Facts and Hurricane Categories

 

  • 08
  • Oct
The Biggest Hurricanes in History
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One of the greatest display of raw power is in the form of a hurricane. These huge and often disastrous force are a well-known fact of life to sailors and coaster communities in the world.

What are other names for Hurricane?

We call them different names depending on where you are. In the Atlantic or northeastern Pacific, people call them hurricanes. In the northwestern Pacific, they call it typhoons, while in the South Pacific in Indian oceans, they are known as cyclones. Whatever name they go by, they are nothing to take for granted.

Effects of Hurricanes

But how large and how powerful can these storms get? Let’s start by explaining the Saffir Simpson scale, which you may already have seen used. It measures hurricane on a scale between category 1on a low end and category 5 on a high end. To help you understand what the scale means, let’s start with the smallest cyclone ever on record.

Tropical Storm Marco 2008

To be classified as a category 1 hurricane, a storm needs to have a wind speed of at least 74mph/119kmh. Since Tropical Storm Marco only had a wind speed of 65mph, it would not register on the scale. The storm was about the same size as Rhode Island, and the damaged it caused when it impacted Mexico was minimal. Actual hurricanes effects could get much nastier than this.

Hurricane Nate in 2017

Even on a low end at a category 1 storm, hurricane Nate in 2017, became the costliest natural disaster in the history of Costa Rica, causing $787,000,000 in damage and claiming the lives of 48 people. A category one storm has a wind speed ranging from 74 to 95mph. Hurricane Nate’s wind speed At 90mph easily made the mark. The further up the scale we go, the more ferocious the hurricane effects become.

Hurricane Arthur 2018

At Category 2, hurricane must have a wind speed between 96-110mph. This is fast enough to damage roofs and windows of homes, uproot trees and destroy mobile homes. Hurricane Arthur 2018 is a recent example of this size, which grew up to the size of Montenegro.

Category 3 hurricanes are considered the major hurricanes. To be considered a category three, a storm needs to have wind speed between 111-129mph. Even the most well-built homes and offices can suffer minor damages against this while it may destroy a building without a solid foundation.

Hurricane Otto in 2016

Hurricane Otto in 2016 was a good example of category 3, which grew to have a maximum wind speed of 115mph and became close in size to the Netherlands.

Hurricanes get extremely terrifying when they reach category 4. The deadliest natural disaster in America history caused by a category 4 hurricane. It struck the city of Galveston in 1900, with a wind speed approaching 145mph. The hurricane destroyed the entire city and killed about 12,000 people.

This is nowhere near the deadliest cyclone in history, the Bhola cyclone in 1970. It smashed into a place that used to be called East Pakistan, now known as Bangladesh. The storm was about the size of Albania and claimed the life of over 500,000 people. This was more than all American fatalities during the Second World War combined.

 

Hurricane Harvey in 2017

Another horrible record set by a category 4 hurricane was Harvey in 2017. Approaching the size of Hungary, it slammed into the coast of Texas in 2017. It became the costliest hurricane effect in history, damaging over $125,000,000,000 properties, which is also close to Hungary’s global GDP. We can as well call it the Hungary missile.

Hurricane Katrina 2005

Hurricane Katrina 2005 was another monster close in size to Poland with a wind speed of 175mph. It also caused 125 billion dollars in damage and claimed the lives of over 1000 people when it struck the southern U.S. This is America’s first category 5 hurricane. There are many more hurricanes that are bigger than hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane Patricia 1999

Hurricane Patricia in 1999 grew to the entire Iberian peninsula, Spain and Portugal combined. It is the highest hurricane with wind speed at 215mph; that is fast enough to probably destroy most building it will ever come across. There are still a few that have grown even bigger.

Hurricane John 1994

Another ferocious hurricane effect in history is hurricane John in the size of Iran. Hurricane John holds the record for the longest lasting hurricane at 31 days and the farthest distance traveled by one (11,530km/7,160ml). Only a handful of hurricanes have ever been bigger than this. One of them was Hurricane Sandy.

Hurricane Sandy 2012

Hurricane Sandy became the biggest hurricane to ever strike the U.S. It was about half the size of Australia, which looks horrific on a map by the east coast. It has a wind speed of only a 115mph, a category 3 storm. The damaged it caused was not as bad as it could have been if it upgraded itself

Typhoon Tip 1979

The biggest and most terrifying storm our planet has ever experienced was Typhoon Tip in 1979. Growing in the North Pacific, hurricane Tip, reached a size comparable to the entire country of India and maintained a wind speed of about 190mph. Thankfully, it weakened before it hit Japan, but imagine the damage it could have caused if it had hit somewhere at its peak strength. If the Hungary missile caused billions of dollars in damage, imagine what an Indian missile could have done to Japan.

Hurricanes effects will probably get much bigger later during the centuries because of global warming. The warmer the ocean waters get, the stronger hurricane will be. Experts estimate that because of global warming, hurricane sizes will increase by 2-11%. This does not sound like a lot until you remember that 2-11% of wind speed close to 200mph is close to 4-22 additional wind speed. This is fast enough to get you a speeding ticket anywhere in the world. Speed is important, or at least the illusion of it is.

References:

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/aboutsshws.php

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Marco_(2008)

You may also read about: Hurricane Safety Facts and Hurricane Categories

 

 

 

 

 

  • 23
  • May
Hurricane Facts For Kids
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Hurricane Facts for kids are interesting and a good read for teachers or students who want to learn more about hurricanes. If you are a teacher, student or hurricane enthusiast, you have come to the right page for hurricane facts.

You may visit the homepage of this website to find other interesting hurricane articles. Also, if there are inaccurate information on this page that you’ll like to report, kindly use the contact us page.

Now that you are here, find some good hurricane facts below.

18 Hurricane Facts for Kids

  1. Hurricanes are huge tropical storms that produce hefty rainfall and super-strong winds.

 

  1. Hurricanes form over warm ocean waters near the equator. The warm, moist air above the ocean surface rises, causing air from surrounding areas to be “sucked” in. This “new” air then turn into warm and moist, and also rise, starting a nonstop cycle that forms clouds. The clouds then rotate with the spin of the Earth. If there is enough warm water to feed the storm, a hurricane forms!

 

  1. Hurricanes revolve round a circular center called the “eye“, where it is generally calm with no clouds. The most dangerous part of the hurricane with the strongest winds, thickest clouds and heaviest rain is the eye wall (Surrounding the eye).

 

  1. The eye of a hurricane can be anywhere from 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) in diameter to over 200 miles (320 kilometers) but they are usually around 30 miles (48 kilometers). The winds around the eye of a hurricane are usually the strongest.

 

  1. Other names for a hurricane include cyclone, typhoon and tropical storm. While they are essentially the same thing, the different names usually indicate where the storm took place.

 

  1. Heavy rain as well as violent winds, hurricanes can also create tornadoes, high waves and widespread flooding.

 

  1. Hurricanes are regions of low atmospheric pressure (also known as a depression).
  2. The Bhola Cyclone, which struck Bangladesh in 1970, killed at least 300,000 people, and possibly up to a million (records were also destroyed, so it’s hard to know exact numbers).

 

  1. Hurricane Katrina, the storm that destroyed New Orleans, USA in 2005, killed over 1800 people and caused over 100 billion dollars in damages.
hurricane katrina
Hurricane Katrina 2005
  1. The hurricane with the highest ever recorded wind speeds was Super-Typhoon Tip that occurred in 1979, the great storm of over 2000km wide, winds clocked at 310 km/h (190 miles per hour) and affected Guam, Japan and Soviet Union (Russian federation).

 

  1. Tropical Storm Marco, which hit Veracruz, Mexico in 2008, was the smallest hurricane ever recorded, at only 37km in diameter.

 

  1. Most hurricanes occur harmlessly out at sea. However, while they move towards land they can be extremely hazardous and cause serious damages.

 

  1. The strong spiraling winds of a hurricane can reach speeds of up to 320kmph – strong enough to rip up entire trees and destroy buildings!

 

  1. Hurricanes rotate in a clockwise direction in the southern hemisphere, and rotate in an anti-clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere. This is due to what’s called the Coriolis Force, produced by the Earth’s rotation.

 

  1. When a hurricane reaches land it often produces a “storm surge“. This is when the great winds drive the sea toward the shore, causing water levels to rise and creating large crashing waves. Storm surges can also reach 6m high and extend to over 150km!

 

  1. Hurricanes usually form in tropical areas of the world.

 

  1. Hurricanes develop over warm water and use it as an energy source.

 

  1. The largest hurricane on record is Typhoon Tip, which occurred in 1979 in the northwest Pacific. With a diameter of around 2,220km, it was nearly half the size of the United States!

If you live in a region where a hurricane is likely to strike in its season, please read some hurricane safety tips on this website. Also find on our website the different categories of hurricanes and their meaning.

  • 20
  • May
Hurricane Vs Tornado
admin Hurricane Facts No Comments

Have you ever imagined how storm or wind could be so destructive as to cause death, loss of that very beautiful tree or flower which protects you from the rays of the sun, loss of your home, your school and even that pet uncle Joe got you on your seventh birthday?

how do hurricanes form

This is definitely not the usual wind or storm you see every day. This is the kind of wind which can separate you from all you have ever loved; it is a really unique kind of storm.

They are fierce, violent, and deadly and can leave you and your beautiful family homeless. They are known as hurricane and tornadoes.

When  they occur, houses are pulled out of its foundation and slid from one point to another, roofs  break off, buildings collapse, people are trapped under  objects and cannot save themselves, cars become hidden underwater, trees are uprooted, cars tumble, animals are lost, windows and doors are broken, they are highly destructive and the aftermath is economic loss.

No one ever dreams of experiencing such a dangerous event in his/her lifetime, because there is absolutely nothing funny about these two.

One very interesting thing to know about these two natural destructive agents is that they can be forecasted even before they occur, this is done through technology, and you can be warned to move from a location where it is likely to occur to a safer location where it is less severe or serious.

So this leaves you with an option to run, hide and take cover away from its destroying effects since you cannot control its effect on the environment once it hits. Let us look at hurricane vs tornadoes comparison

Hurricanes and tornadoes share similar features in that they are both destructive winds that occur when the atmosphere becomes unstable, which is followed by rain, thunder and lightning which moves in a rotating form. Note that they also differ in size and formation.

Hurricanes Vs Tornado Comparison For Kids

Firstly, hurricanes are usually larger in size than tornadoes.

Secondly, hurricanes occur over the ocean, while tornadoes usually occur over land.

Thirdly, hurricanes cover a wide area of destruction while tornadoes, on the other hand, cover a narrow path of destruction.

Fourthly, hurricanes can last up to three weeks while tornadoes can last for just an hour but trust me they can as well be as deadly as a hurricane which lasts even longer, and the damages it causes destroys nutrients in the soil and vegetation.

One may wonder, what could be the cause of these two deadly events which can go as far as lifting a very heavy large truck from its position, uprooting buildings from its foundation and destroying our favorite car? When and why does it ever occur? Can it be prevented?

Hurricanes which are also called typhoons occur when warm air is replaced by cooler air. At the center of a hurricane is an eye which usually has low air pressure it can become very tall and can reach up high into the sky.

Tornadoes too are called twisters and has a shape like a tunnel, it is formed as a result of the presence of warm and moist conditions in the lower atmosphere and cold and dry conditions in the upper atmosphere, as a result, the cold air starts sinking and warm air starts rising when the number of warm increases, it becomes stronger and can clear anything that it comes across.

One lesson you must learn from this is that ensure you always watch the news to know when a hurricane or tornado is possibly going to occur, so u can be prepared, gather your toys and secure them so they don’t get blown away, it is a monster and is not a friend to anyone, not even little children.

 

REFERENCE

Nelson, ken (2018). Earth science for kids: weather -hurricanes (tropical cyclones) Ducksters.

You may also want to read

Hurricane Meaning, Causes and Effect

Hurricane Categories and Their Meaning

Hurricane Safety Tips

  • 20
  • May
Hurricane: Meaning, Causes, and Effects of Hurricane
admin hurricane,Hurricane Facts No Comments

Hurricane Meaning

Hurricanes are also known as cyclones and typhoons. They are gigantic storms that occur in the tropical seas of the world. This means that they can only occur at the tropical areas, such as the South Atlantic Ocean, Eastern Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea.

Causes of Hurricanes

The key ingredients to the formation of tropical cyclones are warm water, upper-level winds, and moist warm air. Hurricanes are initiated when the warm, moist air from the surface of oceans begins to rise rapidly and collide with the mass of cooler air. This collision prompts the warm vapor to condense, transform into storm clouds, and returning as rain. Latent heat is evolved during this rainfall (condensation) process which warms the cool air above. This causes the cool air to rise and create the way for warmer, humid air from the ocean to rise.

how hurricanes form

As this cycle continues, warmer, moist air is getting involved in the mounting storm and more heat is transferred from the ocean surface to the atmosphere. The continuous exchange of heat develops a wind-like pattern that spins around.

This storm will continue as long as the condition remains the same and there is enough fuel to keep the storm going. The rotating storm will become more powerful and eventually become a hurricane. The hurricane continues to gather strength and momentum, an opening is formed at the center, known as the “eye”.

Consequently, the eye becomes the core center of the storm and the strongest wind occurs near the eye. This means that the wind gets stronger as you move closer to the eye. The area surrounding the eye is called the eyewall. A fully developed tropical storm can reach a speed of 200miles per hour. The speed of a hurricane is the major factor of classifying hurricanes into categories.

Eventually, if the tropical cyclone loses energy, which means that it has reached the cooler waters at the shores, they start to become wean and die off.

Stages of tropical cyclone

  1. Tropical depression: Wind speeds below 38 mph or 61.15 kph
  2. Tropical Storm: Winds speeds ranging from 39 mph to 73 mph or 62.76 kph to 117.48 kph
  3. Hurricane: Winds speed over 74 mph or 119.09 kph

Effects of hurricane

Storm surge and tidal flooding

Storm surge is a notable and the most devastating effect of hurricanes. Storm surge is the rising of the wall of water from the ashore together with the land-falling hurricane and is responsible for about 90% of all deaths during a hurricane.

High Winds

This is an obvious feature of a hurricane. It determines the category of and how strong a hurricane is and how much damage the storm can cause. There are 5 categories of hurricanes according to their speed.

Tornadoes

Probably, this is a rare event during hurricanes. Tornadoes occur during hurricanes due to the immense energy and instability initiated when a hurricane causes landfall. Notable, tornadoes formed during hurricanes are minimal in strength.

Heavy rain and flooding

Heavy rainfall is also an important effect of hurricanes. The rainfall from hurricanes is tremendous enough to make a major impact, such as a flood.

References:

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/10/hurricanes-facts-storms-weather-science/

https://www.eartheclipse.com/natural-disaster/causes-and-effects-hurricanes.html

You may also read about: Hurricane Safety Facts and Hurricane Categories

 

  • 17
  • May
Hurricane Safety Facts
admin hurricane Comments Off on Hurricane Safety Facts

Hurricanes can destroy everything that you have spent so many years to create. However, if you take some safety precautions and make a list of all things you need to do to escape a hurricane, you can manage to salvage things that can help you set up for life anew, just in case you lose your home. Read more about hurricane safety facts below.

Being prepared is extremely important and do not wait until a warning is issued to get ready. In fact be sure that you have everything that you need to evacuate much before the hurricane season is on the horizon.

7 Things you must do to protect yourself from Hurricanes

As part of the hurricane safety facts, Keeping as protected and comfortable as possible during this unforeseeable time is of the utmost importance. This entails being prepared, prepared, and prepared. This includes but is not limited to:

  1. Evacuate (knowing your evacuation zone)

Plan to relocate if you are in an evacuation zone or if you live in a mobile home.

The best way to escape from being damaged by hurricanes is by not being there. When the authorities issue a warning for a hurricane, make sure that you have your evacuation process mapped out and have contacted relatives in areas that are safe, so that you can move with bag ad baggage and move in with them until the situation in your home town has come back to normal.

You may lose your home, or the damage may escape it, you can never be too sure. So just make sure you have packed all that you need to relocate and start a fresh. Make sure your car is serviced and your tank is full of gas.

  1. Insurance

Ensure there is adequate insurance for all vehicles, personal property and real estate. If you rent or lease an apartment, make sure you have renter’s insurance.

  1. Identify your risk of flood damage

If your home is at risk of flooding, call your insurance company to review their flood policies. Many insurance companies require extra coverage for this.

 

  1. Prepare hurricane ready kits ( Hurricane safety facts)

Prepare yourself to be without food and water for minimum of 3 days or longer. A few things you will need are; canned and non-perishable foods, 1 gallon of water per day per person for 3-7days; cooking tools, camp stove and fuel, lantern, candles, lighters, and matches; flashlights and batteries, cell phone, cooler with ice, baby necessities and special items, elderly items, toiletries, tape, valuable documents, Id and records; games for children, blankets, towels, clothing and a first aid kit, keys, garbage bags, pet items, a fire extinguisher, chain saw, gas and oil, plywood, nails, rope and small tools. Please be aware this is a general list.

  1. Practice

When the hurricanes strike you do not want to waste time and you want to leave as soon as possible. Make sure that you and all the other members of your family have practiced how to get out of a sticky situation by performing drills of evacuation a few times.

  1. Electricity and Gas

It is going to be difficult to figure out how to turn off the gas and electricity supply when you are getting ready to evacuate your home. Therefore, make sure you have checked with companies in advance and are well aware of how you should turn the power off when you are getting out of the house.

7. Keep in Touch (Create a family household disaster plan)

In case the family gets separated, have an out-of-town relative you can call or a place to go to where each person can get shelter and safety. It is also smart to have a backup plan in case plan A goes wrong.

Your family and Friends may be worried and therefore you have to make an effort to stay in touch with them constantly. Make sure your kids have all numbers of people they can contact in case you are out of reach. Let others know of your whereabouts and plans.

By keeping a few hurricane safety facts and tips in mind, you can be prepared to get out safe and sound from the threat of an impending hurricane. Be alert and watch the news for any updates and make every effort you can to stay safe and keep your children away from harm’s way. It may also help to know what hurricane category is common in your region.

Images of Hurricane survival Kits

hurricane safety facts
hurricane survival First aid kit

 

hurricane survival kits
hurricane supplies
  • 17
  • May
Hurricane Categories and Their Meaning
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What are Hurricanes?

According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), “Hurricanes are large, swirling storms. They produce winds of 119 kilometers per hour (74 mph) or higher. That’s faster than a cheetah, the fastest animal on land. Winds from a hurricane can damage buildings and trees”.

Hurricanes are formed over warm ocean waters and they can sometimes strike on land. If a hurricane strikes the land, it forces a wall of ocean water away from the ocean to the land. This wall of ocean is referred to as a storm surge. Such a storm surge from hurricane with or without a heavy rainfall can cause flooding.

Categories of Hurricane

Basically, there are five categories of hurricanes. These categories are categorized based on their wind speed as recorded by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

Category 1 hurricane: Very dangerous winds, produces mild damage

The category 1 hurricane has a wind speed ranging between 74 and 95 mph. This speed is enough to strike people, animals, pets, and mobile home could as well be destroyed. Homes with protected glass windows will survive this category of hurricane without any major damage. Other frame homes and shops may suffer a mild damage and snapped power lines could cause a short-term power outage.

Previous events
1. 2008 Hurricane Dolly that whipped through southern Texas
2. 2012 Hurricane Sandy of Jamaica which became weakened before it reached the east coast of America.

Category 2 hurricane: Extremely dangerous winds, causes extensive damage

The category 2 hurricane has a wind speed ranging between 96 and 110mph. This poses a bigger risk of injury or even death to humans, animal and pets. It may likely affect both the older and newer mobile homes. Apartment buildings, frame homes, and shopping centers may experience a major roof and siding damage, and many trees may be uprooted. Hurricane category 2 can cause power outage for a considerable number of days.

Previous event:
1. 2004 hurricane Frances that hit the west coast of Florida
2. Category 3 hurricane: Devastating damage will occur

Category 3 hurricane: Aggressively dangerous winds, causes severe damage

The category 3 hurricane has a wind speed of between 111 to 129 mph. This is enough to cause injury or death to people, animals, and pets. Almost all older mobile homes will be destroyed and the new ones may not escape. In fact, well-built homes and industrial buildings may also suffer a significant damage and larger trees may be uprooted. Water and Electricity may be completely unavailable for weeks.

Previous events
1. 2005 hurricane Wilma that reaches Florida’s coast
2. Hurricane Katrina that hit Louisiana
3. Hurricane Irma started has a category 3 hurricane before escalating to category 5, the second strongest Atlantic hurricane known!

Category 4 hurricane: Catastrophic damage will occur

The category 4 hurricanes have a wind speed of between 130 to 156 mph. The falling and flying debris at this high wind speed carries a huge risk and can cause severe damage or death to people, livestock, and pets. Just like the previous, older mobile homes and even newer ones will be destroyed. Some frame home may collapse totally while well-built houses may experience severe damage to their roofs. Apartment houses can also experience severe damages to their upper floors.

Furthermore, the category 4 hurricanes will destroy most windows of high buildings, uproot larger trees, and destroy power lines. In the end, it can make the affected area totally inaccessible and inhabitable for weeks.

Previous events
1. August 2017 hurricane Harvey in Texas

Category 5 hurricane: Catastrophic damage will occur

The category 5 hurricane is the highest hurricane category known with a wind speed as high as 157 mph and above. Of course, people, livestock, and pets are at a higher risk of danger. If not all, most mobile homes will be destroyed and a higher percentage of frame homes will be affected. Commercial buildings with roofs made of wood will suffer severe damage while those made of metal may collapse. Tall buildings may also have their windows blown out! Generally, people should expect a long-term water and power outage.

Previous events
1. 1992 hurricane Andrew in Florida
2. 1969 hurricane Camille
3. 1935 “Labor Day” hurricane

Images of Hurricane Destruction

hurricane harvey
Hurricane Harvey
hurricane irma
hurricane irma
hurricane sandy
hurricane sandy

References:
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/what-are-hurricanes-k4.html
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2013/20130411_sandynameretiredt.html

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