Living in an area susceptible to hurricanes is an interesting study in human nature. As the storm draws near, newspapers and the media shift into full-frenzy, broadcasting the chances of impending doom with almost a note of glee in their stories, while life itself seems to take on a hurried, hasty tone. Suddenly, what seems most important is getting to the store on time to get extra batteries for the flashlights or making sure you have enough water stored to last you through until service is restored. The funny part is that no matter how many times they've been through a hurricane before, most people still don't seem any more prepared for this one than they were for the last one.
Hurricanes in Florida are a regular part life, part of the cost of living in what is otherwise typically a warm, sunny paradise. Although modern meteorology and technology allows us to have much more advance notice of the possibility of a hurricane than ever before, it is human nature to think that, "it can't happen to us." In Florida, the regularity of hurricanes also means that the novelty wears off, and locals can begin to underestimate the ability of these storms to do damage - which can be deadly.
What Are Hurricanes?
A hurricane (also known as a cyclone or typhoon, depending on where it is located) is a convolution of several seemingly innocent factors which combine to produce a massive storm. Take the gentle ocean breezes typical of tropical climates, add shallow surrounding ocean waters, and toss in an otherwise normal rainstorm, and you have the ingredients for a hurricane. The warm, moist air over shallower ocean waters feeds the hurricane by spiraling upward in the "eye" of the storm. This is why hurricanes in Florida (and elsewhere) tend to form first at sea, and then drift in towards land.
Some Basic Information About Hurricanes
A hurricane is classified by weather scientists depending on how strong their sustained wind strength is—meaning that they have a continuous wind force for a minimum of minute at this speed. A category 1 hurricane will have continuous winds of between 74 and 95 mph, while a category 5 hurricane will have continuous winds of more than 155 mph. Hurricane Katrina, which remains the most costly natural disaster ever to strike the U.S., was a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 175 mph.
Other Hurricanes Facts
At the center of every hurricane is the eye. Due to the cyclical nature of a hurricane, the winds must always rotate around a center, where there is no wind or clouds whatsoever. Often people make the mistake of thinking that the hurricane is over when the eye passes directly over them, because suddenly the skies clear and the sun comes out. This can be a deadly mistake, however, because once the eye passes the hurricane force winds and rain return to full strength. If you happen to be caught in a hurricane and find yourself in a sudden calm, check your radio for local news on the storm and see if the storm has truly passed.
Preparing For A Hurricane
Just knowing about what are hurricanes won't help you to be any more prepared for the next one, however. One thing anyone who's been through a hurricane will tell you is that the first thing you miss is having an abundant supply of water. We use water in modern society for everything: cooking, cleaning, bathing, even flushing away our sewage. Without it the cramped conditions of city life can quickly become unbearable. Filling the bathtub up with water is a common preparation for a hurricane, but even that much water won't last very long for a family of four. For that reason, it's good to have water purification tablets or a portable water filtration system as part of your emergency kit.
Little-Known Hurricanes Facts
• Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones all refer to the same type of storm. However, in the Atlantic and Northeast Pacific region they are called hurricanes; in the northwest they are called typhoons; and in the South Pacific they are called cyclones.
• Atlantic storms have been named in alphabetical order since 1953. They were initially given female names, after the fashion of naming boats with ladies' names as well. In 1979, when the women's liberation movement managed to score a victory when they convinced the National Weather Service to include men's and women's names.
Can Hurricanes Be Predicted?
In spite of all the information about hurricanes modern science is able to gather, the path of a hurricane cannot be predicted with certainty. Weathermen are able to track a likely path for any given storm based on current prevailing conditions, instrument readings, and past history of similar storms; but in the end hurricanes keep no one's counsel but their own.
