Running head: THE HARSH REALITY
The Harsh Reality of Hurricanes
Sepna Jadavia
AIU Online
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THE HARSH REALITY
Abstract
Among many people, hurricanes are a fascinating force of nature to watch. But beyond the fascination, hurricanes are considered a devastating natural disaster that effects the environment, the human life and the economy.

THE HARSH REALITY
The Harsh Reality of Hurricanes
There is no way to control Mother Nature. When disaster hits, such as a category five hurricane, which is the strongest classification of hurricanes, the devastation is felt by many.
Hurricanes are one of the most dangerous natural disasters that have many negative effects.
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The first negative effect that hurricanes have is on the environment. The most devastating effect from a hurricane is the storm surge and tidal flooding. Storm surge is the rising wall of water that the hurricane brings ashore, and is responsible for ninety percent of hurricane related deaths (http://www.hurricaneville.com). High winds are the most important factor in a hurricane since they are measured by wind speed. Tornadoes are probably the least expected occurrence accompanied by a hurricane. They do not happen that often and usually occur in hurricanes that have minimal strength. One effect that is least thought about when hurricanes make landfall is that there can be a tremendous amount of rainfall and they can cause significant amount of flooding.
The second significant effect hurricanes have is on human life. During hurricanes, many lives are lost and more are disrupted. They leave people without access to their homes and jobs, and have separated people from their loved ones. Five to ten percent of people suffer from PTSD
(Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). Some symptoms include insomnia, nightmares, hyper vigilance and physical problems (Siebert). Besides the lack of water, food, shelter and sanitation facilities, health issues are also a big fear. There is big concern for dehydration, food poisoning, disease outbreaks and respiratory illnesses.
The third effect that hurricanes have is on the economy. For example, hurricane Katrina, a category five hurricane that hit the gulf coast in August of 2005, was the costliest natural

THE HARSH REALITY disaster in U.S. history (www.wikipedia.org). Residents were left unemployed, no money was
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In conclusion, hurricanes have a negative impact on both the physical and human environment. Natural disasters cannot be prevented or stopped from happening.
References
Economic Effects of Hurricanes . (2010). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/economic_effects_of_hurricane_katrina
Hurricane Effects . (N.D.). Retrieved from http://www.hurricaneville.com/effects.html
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Siebert, A. (N.D.). Psychological Effects of Hurricanes . Retrieved from http://www.thrivenet.com/articles/sieb13katrina.html
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THE HARSH REALITY
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