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
constructed frames could experience damage to the roof, gutters, vinyl
sliding, and shingles.
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 several days or even weeks. Shallow
rooted tress may be uprooted category 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
A Tropical Wave is a low pressure trough moving generally westward
with the trade winds. Tropical Waves are also known as easterly waves.
They have a wavelength of 2000-2500km.They last from several days to
one week.
A Tropical Disturbance is a discrete weather system. They are
originated in the tropics or subtropics. They maintain there identity for 24
hour
s. It may or may not be associated with wind.
Disturbances associated winds and progressing through the tropics from
east to west are also known as easterly waves.
A Tropical Cyclone is the generic term for a non-frontal synoptic scale
low-pressure system over tropical or subtropical waters. Tropical
depessions,tropical storms,and hurricanes are all examples of tropical
cyclones.A tropical cyclone feeds on the heat released and moist air rises
and the vapor it contains condenses.While cyclones can produce torental
rain and heavy winds ,the can also produce high waves that can damage
the storm surge.They form over huge bodies of water and loose their
strenghth as they move closer to land
A tropical depression occurs when winds inside the cloud mass
reach between 25 and 38 mph.The wind speeds get this fast because of air
molecules.The constant motin os pushing and pulling when striking
objects.This push or pull force is called air pressure.The higher it is the less
molecules and the air pressure diminshes.This area of low pressure draws
more and more warm air up to it.
Tropical Storms form when wind speeds reach 39 mph.This occurs
when the winds move faster and begin twisting and turning around the eye
or calm center
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.