Hurricanes are one of the most violent extreme weather occurrences that nature has to offer. These terrifying storm systems may begin anywhere in the world’s oceans and have very high wind speeds.
And when they make landfall, they may generate tornadoes, tropical storms, heavy rain, floods, landslides, and general havoc.
Hurricanes cause so much destruction in the affected areas, below are the top ten costliest hurricanes that have affected America.
Hurricanes are a subfamily of tropical cyclones that occur in the North Atlantic Ocean and the easternmost sections of the Northeast and South Pacific Oceans. Their sibling storm, dubbed the “typhoon,” is a tropical cyclone that forms west of the dateline in the Northwest Pacific Ocean.
Hurricanes impose a serious hazard to coastal communities because to their formation over warm ocean waters near the equator.
Hurricanes And Related Deaths In The United States, 2000-2020
Hurricanes cause deaths among people in the areas they affect. Below are number of deaths caused by hurricanes from the year 2000 to 2020. The year with the highest death rate was 2005 that had a death rate of 1518 people.
As hot, moist air rises, pressure zones between ocean water and clouds form circular currents that spin and develop. When a storm makes its way inland, coastal communities are often the first targets.
The degree of a hurricane’s devastation is determined by the storm’s power, as well as a variety of other elements, such as the efficiency of advance warnings, the existence of protective barriers such as seawalls or mangroves, and the surrounding buildings.
Read on to find 20 useful tips about dealing with a hurricane as well as what to do before and after!
Verify that your house complies with or surpasses latest model building regulations for hurricane-prone zones. Here are some additional tips you can follow.
- Have a plan defining a safe location to gather
Discuss with members of the family what to do in the event of a hurricane. You should have a fixed location where everyone can gather safely as well as a place for your pets in you have any.
- Everyone should know where the main utility switches are located
Demonstrate to adult and adolescent household members where the three main utility shut-off switches are located and how to use them. Try to ensure that the necessary tools are handy.
- Have a first-aid kit with flashlights
You should have a complete first aid kit ready to go, as well as flashlights and a sufficient supply of batteries.
- Install windows that are resistant to impact
- Reinforce your garage door permanently
You can use wood or metal stiffeners. Alternatively, contact the door maker for temporary supports that are simple to mount and remove.
- Make sure the roof can withstand heavy winds
Assess that the roof covering and sheathing under it are capable of withstanding heavy winds. Straps or extra clips should be used to attach your roof to the frame’s foundation
- Garden maintenance prevention
You should try to cut down your trees or plants if you think they’re going to be a problem.
- Determine the best method and location for securing your boat if you have one.
- Determine your property’s height to anticipate flooding risk
If it is above or below sea level, and if the terrain is susceptible to flooding. This provides you a better understanding of how a hurricane storm or tidal flooding can effect your home.
- Consider if levees and dams in your region constitute a threat to you.
- Acquaint yourself with storm evacuation routes.
Determine ahead of time where you would go and how you would get there in the event of an evacuation.
Prior to the onset of a hurricane
If the circumstances are looking likely for a hurricane in your location, you should take the following precautions.
- Keep an eye out for warnings
safety alerts, and directions on regional radio and television.
- Spend on a battery-operated or hand-cranked portable radio.
- All utilities, particularly propane tanks, should be turned off.
- Use storm shutters or marine plywood to secure you home’s windows.
- Bring garden furniture and barbecues inside if it is safe to do so. They have the potential to be lethal flying debris.
- If emergency authorities have not ordered you to a public shelter, evacuate your familyto the basement, a closet, a tiny room, or a corridor that is not exposed to windows. The more barriers that separate you from the outside world, the greater your chances of getting by unscathed.
- Close your windows. Keep the wind and rain away from your home.
- Distribute flashlights. Electrical service will almost certainly be disrupted by the storm.
Following the passage of a hurricane
In case you had to evacuate your house due to the storm, or if it sustained significant damage, allow time for law enforcement agencies to give the signal before trying to go back to your property. Here are some more suggestions for coping with the aftermath of a storm.
- Keep an eye out for floods in the aftermath of a storm.
Hours or even days later, rising water might create perilous circumstances.
- Before entering, inspect for structural failure.
- Use a flashlight in the dark
do not use an open flame source as this might ignite gas that is leaking.
- Check for water damage and drinking water
Try contacting an expert water damage cleanup service if there is water damage. Also, keep an eye out for news indicating when drinking water is safe.
- Clean up as much as possible
Alternatively, begin cleaning immediately washing and sanitizing objects that have been in contact with floodwater and discarding those that cannot be preserved.
- Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment
When repairing your home, use the appropriate protective equipment to minimize exposure to harmful materials.
- Take photographs of the damage
Use your mobile phone or camera to help record your insurance claim.
- Contact your insurance
Get in touch with them after you’ve acquired the relevant documentation and proof for your claim.
How to Prepare Your Home for a Hurricane
- Determine the best rooms or locations of your house in the event of a hurricane.
2. Discuss potential dangers with your family and get familiar with your home’s responsiveness to tropical storms, floods, and winds. Pack sealed containers with non-perishable foodstuffs, water bottles, and other essential items.
3. Refrigerator settings should be adjusted to the coldest level possible to avoid food spoilage in the event of a power outage. Maintain a non-electric analog phone or a full battery cellular device in case an emergency call is required during a blackout.
4. Fill tubs and faucets with plenty of water to flush the toilet, prepare food, and so on in the event of a power failure. Before leaving your house if an evacuation is required, disconnect any appliances, televisions, and laptops.
5. If feasible, relocate valuable goods to a higher level or surface, such as a countertop or shelf, to avoid flooding. To avoid damage, disconnect fuses from the AC system.
6. Turn off the water to avoid floods caused by damaged pipes. Turn off gas to avoid leaks. Ascertain that your vehicle is in good working order and that you have a full tank of gas, additional emergency supplies, and spare clothes.
7. Plan escape routes from your house and a nearby meeting location for family members.
8. If you own a shed, ensure that its doors are securely closed; otherwise, they may blow off their frames and become deadly projectiles. Bring in decorative items for the home, such as decorations, wind chimes, and statues.
9. Place potted plants in your garage. These might also develop into destructive objects. Leave no automobiles parked underneath trees, even if you are in the vehicle at the time of the storm! Verify that pool coverings are secure. Keep an eye out for cyclones.
10. Take caution while dealing with storm surge flooding. These big waves have the potential to be more lethal than hurricane winds. Avoid the seashore and low-lying regions.
11. In the event of floods, save vital papers such as passports, mortgages, and insurance details in a stormproof box. Back up critical electronic assets and save them on a Hard disk or other handheld device that you can take with you if you need to escape fast.
How to Handle Your Pets in a Hurricane
As a measure, verify that your dogs are microchip and wearing appropriate collar tags in event of separation.
Prepare a survival kit with required prescriptions, medical documents, cleaning supplies, leashes, and meals, and keep it nearby or inside a sling for evacuations.
How to Survive during an Ongoing Hurricane
If you’re staying in, here are some things you should do. Keep an eye on the television or radio for weather reports and predictions.
During an ongoing hurricane, keep all windows and outside doors closed and take refuge in a bathroom or basement. Bathtubs may give some protection if they are lined with plywood or other items. Leave the area to a sanctuary or a neighbor’s house if your house is destroyed or if emergency authorities direct you to do so.
If power is interrupted, switch off all important appliances to avoid harm during a power surge. If water threatens your house, switch off the main breaker.
What to Do in the Aftermath of a Hurricane
When electricity is restored to your house, avoid starting any main appliances simultaneously. Start turning them on to avoid causing harm to delicate equipment.
Avoid fallen, damaged, or dangling power wires and notify the local police and fire departments immediately. Don’t use a generator inside, even if you have airflow. Exhaust fumes include a high concentration of carbon monoxide, which is very toxic if inhaled.
How to Protect Your Car in a Hurricane
To keep safe and secure in hurricane weather, it is essential to be aware of a major storm’s development, to obey local and federal authorities’ instructions, and to be familiar with emergency escape routes.
If you find yourself at home and in the route of an approaching storm, the following techniques might help you secure your vehicle.
Prior to a storm hitting, it may be wise to have evidence of your car’s status for private and potentially insurance considerations. Therefore, you may want to consider photographing the inside and outside of your automobile while you undertake preventative measures well in advance of a storm’s arrival.
Maintain duplicates of your vehicle’s registration and insurance documents in a dry location, such as a zip-top plastic container. Share extra copies of this documents, as well as your vehicle key or fob, to each competent driver in your household.
This manner, if you get isolated from your car or household, you or a friend or family member will be capable of driving your automobile. Never forget to have several emergency assembly locations on hand, one near to your house and another farther away in the event of an evacuation.
Be sure to fill up your automobile with gas before to a storm. A critical component of disaster planning is having a strategy in place for obtaining assistance after bad weather passes. With a filled tank of petrol, you’re more likely to reach your destination without stopping for refueling.
Normally, safeguarding your automobile against a storm entails shielding it from strong winds and water. If feasible, store your automobile in a garage. If you do not have a garage, try parking your vehicle near a structure that may provide some shelter from heavy winds. Another strategy to safeguard your car is to avoid parking next to trees or power wires that might fall.
When the storm has passed and all members of your household have been looked after, fully inspect your automobile to determine its condition. If there is damage, photograph the vehicle and correlate the severity of the damage.
And if you’re forced to drive after a tropical storm or hurricane that has raced through your area, take this advice into consideration. Travel only when absolutely needed.
Avoid waterlogged highways and infrastructure that has been swept away. Keep an eye out for falling debris, fallen power lines, and compromised walls, bridges, roads, and walkways.
While encountering a hurricane may be a trying journey, preparing beforehand may provide you with some added security for your vehicle, allowing you to concentrate on keeping safe.
What You Need to Know About Hurricanes
Hurricanes are very powerful, turbulent storms. They generate winds of up to 119 km/h (74 mph). Winds from a storm may cause significant damage to structures and vegetation.
Hurricanes originate in the warm waters of the ocean. They sometimes make landfall. When a storm makes landfall, it ejects a barrage of ocean water onto the land. A storm surge is the term used to describe this torrent of water. Flooding may occur as a result of heavy rain and storm surge caused by a hurricane.
Once a storm has formed, experts can predict its course. Additionally, they forecast how powerful it will become. This information assists residents in preparing for the storm.
Hurricanes are classified into five kinds, or categories. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is used to classify hurricanes.
The classifications are determined by the speed of the wind. Winds in Category 1 range from 119 to 153 kilometers per hour (74-95 mph). Winds in Category 2 range between 154 and 177 kilometers per hour (96-110 mph).
Winds in Category 3 range between 178 and 208 kilometers per hour (111-129 mph). Winds in Category 4 range from 209 to 251 kilometers per hour (130-156 mph). Category 5 winds exceed 252 kilometers per hour (157 mph)
How are Hurricanes Studied?
Hurricanes are photographed from orbit by NASA satellites. These images are shown on television. They are also available online.
Certain satellite equipment are capable of determining the temperatures of clouds and the ocean. Others determine the height of clouds and the rate at which rain falls. Others determine the direction and speed of wind.
NASA scientists collect data, or information, on storms from satellites and other sources. The data enables them to comprehend how storms originate and strengthen. Additionally, the data assists forecasters in predicting the route and intensity of storms.
NASA also conducts hurricane research by flying aircraft into and above storms. Onboard devices collect data about the storm. Certain areas of a storm are too risky to fly into. NASA conducts research in these regions using unmanned aircraft.
NASA also conducts unique programs to have a better understanding of storms. These initiatives make use of a variety of equipment mounted on satellites, planes, and the ground.