Hurricane Research Project
Name:
Hurricane: _____________________
Dates of your storm: _______________________
Part I: The following questions relate specifically to your own hurricane.
1. What “category” was your hurricane?
2. What was your hurricane’s maximum wind speed and minimum air pressure? (If you can’t locate exact
numbers, just use the general ranges given by the Saffir-Simpson hurricane intensity scale).
3. Describe the path that your hurricane traveled. Also, be sure to mention if your hurricane made landfall
anywhere in the United States? If so, what place(s) did it hit?
4. How many people were killed/injured/evacuated?
5. How much damage (in dollar value) did the hurricane cause?
6. Was your hurricane an:
- Early season storm (June, July)
- Middle (peak season) storm- (August, September)
- Late season storm (October, November)
7. Where did your hurricane form?
- Atlantic Ocean
- Gulf of Mexico
- Caribbean
- Pacific Ocean
8. Was your hurricane’s name retired? (This only occurs for very destructive hurricanes.)
9. What are three interesting, unique factoids about your hurricane?
10. What number of the year was your storm in the Atlantic Basin? What number Hurricane of the year was
your storm?
11. Did your hurricane create a recorded storm surge? If so, describe.
12. Was there a mandatory or voluntary evacuation instituted for your hurricane?
Hurricanes List
1. Andrew (1992)
31. Betsy (1965)
2. Hugo (1989)
32. Connie (1955)
3. Camille (1969)
33. Tropical Storm Alberto (1994)
4. Agnes (1972)
34. Carla (1961)
5. Hazel (1954)
35. Dennis (1999)
6. Isabel (2003)
36. Florida- Lake Okeechobee (1928)
7. Gilbert (1988)
37. Fran (1996)
8. Mitch (1998)
38. Erin (1995)
9. Elena (1985)
39. Irene (1999)
10. Audrey (1957)
40. Isidore (2002)
11. Galveston, Texas (1900)
41. Lili (2002)
12. New England (1938)
42. Gustav (2008)
13. Bob (1991)
43. Opal (1995)
14. Carol (1954)
44. Celia (1970)
15. Gloria (1985)
45. Frances (2004)
16. Donna (1960)
46. Ivan (2004)
17. Gracie (1959)
47. Charley (2004)
18. Diane (1955)
48. Katrina (2005)
19. Alicia (1983)
49. Rita (2005)
20. Allen (1980)
50. Ike (2008)
21. David (1979)
51. Igor (2010)
22. Frederick (1979)
52. Irene (2011)
23. Joan (1988)
53. Sandy (2012)
24. Iniki (1992)
25. Georges (1998)
26. Bonnie (1998)
27. Floyd (1999)
28. Beulah (1967)
29. Labor Day Storm- Florida Keys (1935)
30. Eloise (1975)
MultiMedia Project Requirements:
Task: to write a “script” by using the requirements below, which you will use to create a podcast.
Date: your hurricane research and script, which you will use/read to create your presentation is due Friday April
19th
Role: you will play the role of chief meteorologist for a local weather station who is warning citizens in his/her
viewing area of the dangers of an oncoming hurricane, and covering the daily path, damage and progression of
that hurricane. You will have to decide in which city you will be a meteorologist and create a fictional TV
alias to be used during your evening news updates. (Obviously, the city you choose will have to have been
affected by the hurricane which you chose to research).
Specifics: create a four-day coverage (not necessarily four consecutive days) of a specific, historic hurricane as
though you are a meteorologist forecasting, covering and then summarizing a hurricane’s progression as it
actually occurred in the past.
Description of your daily forecast: each day you design your evening forecast, you should include the
following information: (this information will all be found on the Hurricane Tracking website:
http://csc.noaa.gov/hurricanes/#
-
Current wind speeds
Current pressure
Current category
Location – absolute and in relation to last update
At lease once during your audio recording, you will describe the following details of your
hurricane (you may mention the following during any evening update you feel appropriate):
Before the hurricane arrives at your coastal city:
- In an evening update before your storm hits landfall, you should mention to your listeners what
safeguards should be taken to protect their lives and their property.
- Also, you should obviously mention if there was a mandatory/voluntary evacuation
- Where did your hurricane originate/form?
As the hurricane is approaching/affecting your coastal city:
-
What number of the Atlantic Basin storms was this hurricane?
What part of hurricane season is this storm forming?
At what time and location did your hurricane make landfall?
Is there a storm surge created by the hurricane?
After the hurricane has passed your location and is dissipating:
- What is your prediction of whether this hurricane will be retired?
- What were the total cost and number of casualties associated with your storm?
- What were the maximum wind speed and classification of your storm, and what was the
minimum air pressure?
- If there was an evacuation, is it safe/recommended for citizens to return?