Hurricane Safety Booklet
Natural Disaster
Amber McKenzie
2012
Hurricanes are large tropical
storms with heavy winds. By definition, they contain winds in excess of
74 miles per hour and large areas of rainfall. In addition, they have the
potential to spawn dangerous tornadoes. The strong winds and excessive
rainfall also produce intense rises in sea levels and flooding.
The ocean-water temperature has to be above 79 degrees in order for a
hurricane to be generated, so they normally form in late summer and
early fall when the conditions are right. Meteorologists use the term
tropical storm when a storm's winds are less than 74 miles per hour, and
hurricane when the wind speed rises. A hurricane has a peaceful center
called the eye that is often distinctive in satellite images.
For a hurricane to happen 3 steps are included:
• The first is that the water must be above 80 degrees. This warm
water can help create strong updrafts. As the hot, moist air
rises, it releases the heat into the clouds. The clouds then
begin to form with light winds in the upper regions.
• Second The combination of strong winds moving up from the
ocean surface, will create lots of moist air being taken into
the clouds from the ocean and light winds will start to occur,
the clouds are three of the major components required to
start a hurricane.
• The final ingredient is a large amount of convergence zones
present in the area. These are places where air currents come
together in one place. If there are many convergence zones,
this can cause a low-pressure system to develop.
The above conditions are all likely to cause the formation of a
number of thunderstorms.
The official Caribbean hurricane season runs from the 1st June
through to 30th November but the hurricanes are not evenly
distributed across the region during this time.
Hurricanes occasionally form in May so don't be fooled into
believing that they can't form outside of these dates they could
form at any time at all these are just approximate dates.
Even though some hurricanes are large in size, they cannot pass
over every Caribbean island.
Hurricanes prefer to follow a path that takes them away from the
equator. So that's why Dutch Caribbean islands like Aruba,
Bonaire and Curacao rarely get hit by hurricanes.
Even though the Caribbean hurricane season is from June to
November, there are still times when hurricanes are almost nonexistent.
As shown by the graph below, October has the most frequent
occurrence of hurricanes (in the Caribbean basin), while the
second most frequent occurrence is in June.
There is a shelter in each parish
Most governments provide emergency shelters before, during and
after natural disasters. These are usually schools, churches or
government buildings. Don't expect to be treated like royalty at
these shelters. They are not private, are usually uncomfortable and
often overcrowded.
Bring water, some food and several changes of clothing with you
when you must go to a shelter. Let someone know which one you
are going to in case of urgency. Find out where the nearest shelter
is to your home should you need to evacuate suddenly - you don't
want to be wandering around during a hurricane, for example,
looking for a safe place to stay.
Pets are not allowed in shelters. In the case of hurricanes, it is best
to leave dogs and cats to fend for themselves, perhaps in a safe,
windowless room in the house.
They don't mind getting soaked if the roof blows off. Do not tether
domestic animals, since they might have to find high ground in
case of flooding. Leave them plenty of food and water.
1. Develop a family disaster plan. This will show all the
instructions for family members in the event.
2. Trim garden trees with long branches. In a hurricane long
branches can be torn easily.
3. Know how to track a hurricane and keep a track of where it
is.
4. Fasten roof shingles, or galvanized sheeting and fasten out
houses and fences.
5. Start collecting water in plastic bottles in case of a water and
power caught.
Begin putting together an emergency supply kit.
Checklist
Checklist Baby
Water
Food
Cooking
matches
Drinking
pillows
Washing
sleeping bags
Eating and drinking
utensils
Bottle and can openers
Battery operated radio
Extra batteries
Lantern and fuel
Entertainment
Clothes for everyone
First aid kit
Wash cloth and small
towel
Soap
Toothbrush/toothpaste
Mirror
Napkins and tissues
clothes
pampers
milk or formula
Powder and cream
Bottles and nipples
Food
toys
Portable crib
Check for injuries
Not talk on the phone unless emergency
Look for damage on houses etc..
Volunteer to help clear roads in your neighborhood
Watch for loose power lines and gas lines
Make sure electrical outlets are dry before using them
Use your stored water
Check food in refrigerator
Watch for snakes animals and insects
Avoid driving and sight seeing
Keep listening to the radio for instructions
1.stay inside your house.
2.If you think part of your house is breaking up get under a table to
protect your head
3.The center of the storm is the calmest place so if you think the
hurricane is over it might not be because you are probably just in
the eye of the storm.
4.If possible board up windows to prevent broken glass if they
shatter.
1.Up to eleven hurricanes can form during the Caribbean hurricane season
each year but normally it is around eight.
2.in August, hurricanes form once every 22 years approximately in the
southwestern Caribbean region.
3.Ninety nine percent of hurricanes in the Caribbean move from east to west.
4.Only one hurricane has travelled from west to east in the last 113 years. So
if a hurricane is west of your location, it will most likely be moving away from
you.
5.Other Caribbean islands that are not normally in the path of hurricanes
during the hurricane season are Trinidad, Tobago, Grenada and Barbados.
6.Barbados is rarely influenced by hurricanes, as they tend to pass to the
north closer to Guadeloupe and Dominica, this is true even for October.
7. Barabdos only gets hit by I to 3 hurricanes every 20 years approximately
they are no expected
hurricanes today or the next 48 hours we are November 2nd 2011.
As you can see in the diagram above there are no signs of any formation of a
tropical storm or hurricane.
book: The children’s handbook for disaster preparedness
Website: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/