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A dreaded thought for anyone who happens to live on the coast, hurricanes have immense destructive power and have shown it throughout history. Communities have been wiped out and people have lost everything they own – even their lives – to the powerful force of nature. There is much, though, that a person who may be affected by hurricanes can use to mitigate damage to themselves and their property. While hurricanes are unstoppable, they never have to cause death, and as long as people heed the warning signs and get away as fast as possible, after making the appropriate precautions at their property, the destruction that these storms cause can be drastically lessened.
The word “hurricane” is actually the regional variant that we use to refer to these storms. Depending on the location of the storm and the people that it affects, it may be referred to as a tropical cyclone, a tropical storm, a tropical depression, a typhoon, or any other local variant of the term. Hurricanes occur when high pressure systems of air meet with lower pressure systems over the ocean. The high pressure air becomes warm and moist, rising to the top of the storm system, where it then cools, forming clouds. When the warm air has vacated its location, more air rushes into the center, where it then undergoes the same process. Because of the heat of the ocean, the evaporating water, and the differences in air pressure, the storm starts to spin and grow. As it grows and begins to spin faster and faster, an eye forms in the center, where the wind is very calm and the air is not very pressurized. As far as naming the storm is concerned, winds of 39 miles per hour classify it as a tropical storm, and when the winds speeds reach 74 miles per hour, the storm is classified as a tropical cyclone, or hurricane.
Hurricanes generally do not just appear at random throughout the year. The storms tend to fall in during the “hurricane seasons”. There is nothing actually significant about the beginning and end date of the different hurricane seasons; rather, it is the span of time when most hurricanes form, allowing a pattern to be drawn. Hurricanes can form outside of hurricane season, but it is much rarer. On the Atlantic coast, hurricane season is officially from June 1 to November 30. In this span of time, September is by far the most active month as far as storm systems are concerned. If a tropical storm is to strike outside of this length of time, it would most likely be in May or December, which is reasonable given that those are the two months that are at the beginning and the end of the hurricane season. Tropical storm activity, though, is not frequent enough in these months to classify them as part of the hurricane season.
In the Northeast Pacific region, tropical storm activity begins in late May or early June and extends all the way to late October and early November. Once again, the peak in tropical activity is in late August and early September. The official dates for the beginning and end of the hurricane seasons in this region are May 15 to November 30, but these are just approximations given the patterns of tropical storms in the past. In the Northwest Pacific, however, storms occur all year regularly, with a drop in activity in February and early March. The Indian Ocean, located in the southern hemisphere, see severe tropical storms from April to June, and late September to early December, with a peak in May and November. As far as the ocean around Australia is concerned, tropical storm activity begins in late October and early November, reaching a peak in late February and early March and dissipating by May. Around the world, September is the month to watch out for hurricanes, while May is usually a time to not have to worry.
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While the exact hurricane season is most important to know for your region, it is also important to understand that there are hurricanes happening year-round all across the world. For that reason, plenty of hurricane safety techniques have evolved over time. Firstly, if you live in an area that is prone to hurricanes, you must know the evacuation routes. Listening to the television and radio, especially the weather forecasts, is very important in order to have a grip on whatever situation may be brewing off the coast. Before the hurricane even occurs, there are plenty of things you can do once you are certain that a hurricane is coming in the near future. Have plans for disaster as well as for any pets that you may have. Objects that could blow away under the high winds should be brought inside, and your windows should be securely boarded with sturdy wood. A disaster kit should be prepared far in advance, one for your home and one for any of your cars. This should contain food and water for at least three days, a standard first aid kit, a can opener for canned food, bottled water, a battery-operated radio, a flashlight, protective clothing, and a written reminder how to shut off gas, electricity, and water.
A good investment to make is a water-resistant weather radio so that you may listen to storm advisories even without electricity. Before the storm hits, you will want to have plenty of cash handy, since banks and ATM machines may not be available during or directly after the hurricane, when you will certainly want to be far away. Fill your car with gasoline in advance so that you can avert any such emergencies. If you are stuck in the area during a hurricane, make sure to evacuate and head to a shelter if you live in a mobile park or if your home is not on high ground. Always stay indoors, and heed the evacuation orders from any emergency managers. When the hurricane passes, stay indoors until it is safe. Do not attempt to drive in floodwater, and do watch for floods. Do not drink tap water or go near standing water, which could be electrically charged, until it is deemed safe.
As far as hurricane information resources are involved, there are plenty online that you should be aware of when keeping an eye on any weather situations that may be brewing off the coast. Hurricanetrack.com is a good place to start, as it provides information regarding current storm systems, as well as containing safety information and readiness tips. You can find many questions that you should ask yourself before a hurricane hits. The National Hurricane Center website features a map showing Atlantic and Eastern Pacific storm systems and is updated frequently. You can sign up for email advisories, allowing you to be even more prepared in the event that a tropical storm should come your way. The National Weather Service website contains information on weather situations all across the country, allowing you to chart inland and coastal weather with one resource.
With all of the resources that are available to amply predict when a hurricane may come your way, you should be able to prepare your home and your family suitably. Safety tips are readily available, and you should be willing to cooperate with any local, state, or national officials, should they tell you to evacuate. Hurricanes are certainly a dreadful and destructive event, but they do not have to cause you the pain and suffering that they would otherwise if you were not prepared.
