Hurricanes are very violent and strong storms. An average hurricane
is as powerful as a half a million atomic bombs. Most hurricanes form in the
Atlantic or East Pacific Oceans. Hurricanes are the only natural disasters to
have there own names. The number 1 cause of dying during a hurricane is
fresh water flooding. A hurricane goes through 4 stages before it is
classified as a hurricane.
Hurricane Categories
Meteorologists categorize hurricanes into five categories. They vary
in intensity according to the category with a one being the least dangerous
and a category five being the most harmful. Hurricane categories are based
on the type of destruction they are predicted to do.
A category one hurricane does very little destruction. Minimal
damage. Usually they are four to five feet long and winds are about 74-95
miles per hour.They can produce days without power.Houses with well
consturuted frames could experience damge to the roof,gutters,vinyl
sliding,and shigles.
A category two hurricane may mess up mobile homes and cause
flooding. In this category there may be moderate damage. They are about
six to eight feet in size and winds are most likely to be 96-110 miles per
hour.Power outages can last for sevral days or even weeks.Shallow
roooted tress may be uproooted.A catergory two can cause extensive
damage.
Category three hurricane are very devistating.They can mess up
small buildings.A catergory three has winds at 111-130mles per hour.Their
storm surge is 9-12ft.long.They are the first catergory to be named
major.Power outages will last for several weeks and water will be lost.They
can cut off roads and low lying buildings.Larger stuctures are stuck by
floating debris,while small stuctures are completely destroyed.Most terrain
that is inland is partly flooded.
Category four hurricanes are very dangerous. They are the second
catergory to be named major.Their wind speed ranges anywhere from 131155.They are about 13-18ft in size.Mobile homes and manufactured homes
are often flattened.Most beach homes are flooded.Electrical and water
losses are exspected for several weeks.Catergory 4’s can achecive horrific
damage.Terrain may be flooded far inland.Most trees except the heartiest
are uprooted or snapped isolating many areas.
Category five hurricanes are catastrophic. Their winds range from
155-+. This is the last category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. This
is the last hurricane to be named major. Their storm surge is anything
greater than 18ft.Major roads are cut off and homes are flooded. This
category of hurricanes is so strong, only few types of structures are
capable of surviving intact with theses types of storms.
Hurricane Stages
Hurricanes develop in six stages; Tropical Wave, Tropical
Disturbance, Tropical Cyclone, Tropical Depression, Tropical Storm, and
finally hurricane. For a hurricane to develop, ocean water temperature
must be at least 80.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tropical Wave ….
Tropical Disturbance…
Tropical Cyclone …
Tropical Depression…
Tropical storm…
Hurricane Emergency Preparedness
You have just a little more. Did you learn anything in Huntsville that
could help you with your paper?
Paragraph about places of historic hurricanes… you need a
paragraph telling about the naming of hurricanes and about the
development of names for hurricanes. (Look at the advice I gave you on
your outline about this part.)
Paragraph about each one… with details. Your outline indicates that
you need at least six paragraphs.
Next, you need four paragraphs about Emergency preparedness.
One to Introduce topic, one for “what to do before”, one for “what to do
during”, and last you need one to tell about “after a hurricane.”
Once you finish this, then you need a closing paragraph.