Archive for the ‘Hurricane Season’ Category
Friday, August 26th, 2011
For the good folk of Broward County, hurricanes are a fact of life, they may not get a biggie for years but you don’t need a big one for branches to break, electric cables to snap, and general disruption of life to occur due to rains. In order to prevent your house from getting damaged you need hurricane shutters installed. But that is not sufficient, you need to have a plan for meeting the hurricane season head on.
To begin with, you and your family need to be on the same page when it comes to conducting oneself during the hurricane season. You have to know what to do and what not to do if evacuation orders are issued. Keep in touch with your insurance company to ask them about what to do so that you are on the right side of these organizations. Have a ration kit ready, you also need supplies for your pets, medical stuff, clean water, batteries, sources of light and such things that you may need if you have to go a day or two without food.
Do mock evacuation drills with family members, each person should carry adequate cash, phone numbers of one another, and ID proof. Your pets need to be properly tagged and their vaccination has to be up-to-date. If you stay in a low-lying area, then you run the risk of getting your vehicle damaged if you leave it behind. Park it upland so that it is out of the reach of storm waters should such a situation arise.
Tags: broward county, Hurricane Shutters
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Friday, August 5th, 2011
Hurricane Eugene has been downgraded to the level of a tropical storm and there are no longer and watches or warnings in effect with respect to this one. It has more or less fizzled out over the Pacific and there is no threat to land from it. It is presently located 935 miles west-southwest of the southern coast of Baja California and carries winds blowing at around 65 miles per hour. The downgrade is a bit of a fall for Eugene which for a brief period saw glory as a Category Four-Five hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale; five by the way is as high as you can go on this scale.
The Southeast coast of the country will not face a threat from Emily as the hurricane has been prevented from gathering momentum by the mountains of eastern Cuba. Yet, the National Hurricane Center in Miami states that this is going to be an active hurricane season with the waters of the Atlantic offering excellent conditions for hurricane development from August to October. Be prepared for between 14-19 storms and of these at least three could achieve strengths of three or higher. The remnants of Eugene may regroup but will not pose any danger to the South Carolina coastline.
Tags: emily, eugene
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Monday, July 25th, 2011
Hurricanes are categorized on the Saffir-Simpson scale and ranked from 1 to 5. Let us take a quick look at how different hurricanes compare on parameters such as wind speed, storm surges, etc. The figures mentioned here allow meteorologists to take call on the extent of evacuation necessary and infrastructure preparation to be done.
- Category One – Wind speeds in the range of 74-95 mph. The storm surge is around 4-5 feet above normal. In such a hurricane, coastal roads may flood and unanchored mobile homes close to the shore may suffer damage.
- Category Two – These hurricanes can touch wind speeds in the range of 96-110 mph. The storm surges can rise up to 8 feet above normal. These hurricanes are intense enough to cause structural damage to some buildings. Evacuate low-lying areas because these flood as much as four hours before the arrival of the hurricane centers; what’s more road signs can get knocked off and you won’t know which way to go in poor weather. Moorings can snap and small boats can drift away.
- Category Three – These hurricanes can whip up speeds of up to 130 mph and lead to a storm surge that is as much as 12 feet above normal. Even large trees can get blown down. Low-lying areas can get inundated as much as five hours before the actual hurricane arrives. If the land from shore onward is low-lying, it can get flooded as much as eight miles inland. Debris from damaged homes and trees can batter other constructions. Wind, door, and roof damage occurs with near total destruction of small construction near the shores can occur.
- Category Four – Such hurricanes are not very common but when they do happen they arrive with wind speeds in the range of 131-155 mph. The storm surge arrives with a wall of water that can be as much as 18 feet high. Trees and shrubs are uprooted. Mobile homes are completely destroyed. Low lying areas are inundated and even areas that are up to six miles inland have to be evacuated to higher ground. Houses near the shore suffer serious structural damages.
- Category Five – These are the severest of all hurricanes and winds can touch an astonishing 249 mph. Even areas located as high as 15 feet above the sea level and as much as 500 yards away from the shore suffer serious structural damage. If an evacuation order is issued for such hurricanes, follow it. Because when a wall of storm water more that eighteen feet high comes rushing in; you want to be totally out of its path.
Tags: hurrincae, saffir-simpson
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Saturday, July 23rd, 2011
Although damage from storm tides is the worst; fast winds originating in the sea contribute to almost all damage. They cause the water to pile up in the ocean and rush inwards as a huge wave. And on land they rush furiously with speeds of more than 100 mph. Their ability to devastate, cause damage, and grievous injury should never be underestimated. Furious winds can propel debris at great speeds. Even a 2 pound piece of wood rushing at you at 50 mph can be a rib-breaker. Wind therefore is one of the greatest threats to your life, property, and limbs. The Wind Engineering Research Center at Texas Tech University states that you are safe behind concrete walls. This means that you need take care of the exits to outside areas. Use sturdy hurricane shutters, because once the gusts of winds enter your house, not only will there be a mess with household items there is a chance the winds might blow your roof off!
Simulated hurricane conditions in a lab environment have revealed that everything including drywall, fiberglass, wood-stud walls, and lightweight steel will fall apart when assailed by debris – everything except concrete. If you are living in an area where hurricane wind speeds can go above 100 mph then you need to do all you can to protect yourself. Use storm-resistant building materials for construction. Check out the effectiveness of the shotcrete technique for building storm-resistant homes. Stay at home if there is no evacuation warning; the aftermath of a hurricane can leave the roads and surrounding areas in a mess with broken boughs, gutters overflowing, glass, nails, tin, and other sharp items hidden under debris or ankle deep water. Polluted and contaminated water is a health hazard and debris is a safety hazard. Stay stocked with essentials that will help you go through the 3-4 days of inconvenience in the aftermath of a hurricane.
Tags: Hurricane, wind
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Friday, July 22nd, 2011
Florida natives have to face the threat of hurricanes every year during the season which as you may know is already on. One of the first infrastructural casualties of a hurricane is power. And without power, the human race is handicapped. We need light and power. It’s hard to imagine to be without light during night even at the best of times, the situation becomes compounded many times over during a hurricane. Home-owners need to have a generator installed and see that it is in working condition, especially when hurricane season arrives. You will be using it for light, for cooking purposes, for running the refrigerator, and maybe the radio, charging mobile phones, and sundry other uses. A generator capable of keeping these gadgets running as and when you want them is very necessary.
A wall-mounted generator may serve you better than a portable generator. At this point it is worth mentioning that you should also have a supply of torches and batteries. Eat such that your use of the refrigerator is minimized; if you choose canned food your cooking needs will be minimized and you may have to use power only to boil water in order to purify it. When choosing a generator, add up the wattage of all the items to get an idea of energy required. If the startup wattage is higher than running wattage then consider that instead of running wattage. Portable generators too are not without their benefits; you can move them around; maybe even take them to a safe camping site to wait out the hurricane. Avoid using matches and using gas for cooking. Do not touch power lines and try to maintain hygiene. Non-electric can openers and chlorine bleach should be kept handy.
A $600 generator should be of immense help to see you through the hurricane season.
Tags: Florida, Hurricane
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Thursday, July 21st, 2011
Water contamination is a really serious health hazard that people living through a hurricane and its aftermath have to contend with. If bottled water runs out then you have to depend on cleaned tap water and here due diligence has to be maintained or you run the risk of serious water-borne disease. Use radio and TV to be in the know about the status of local water supply. Even if water is coming to your taps, burst lines can lead to contaminated water getting mixed with potable water. Water for consumption as well as that for cooking should be disinfected. Tap water should be boiled; in fact, local administration will most probably issue a directive that water be boiled before use. The last thing you want is to go down with something like diarrhea as it can spread fast to other people and leave the subject dehydrated and without salts in the body. If you have stored clean water then it should last you for six months. The correct way to store water is to fill bottles such that there is no air gap and then the bottles should be kept in a cool dark place.
Water not meant for consumption and cooking does not really have to be cleaned or disinfected. But if you shave using tap water and get a cut then make it a point to use a disinfectant to clean the cut area. Health hazards from dirty water are a very real risk and you shouldn’t be taking a drink from a well or a water pump in the aftermath of a hurricane; there is no telling what may have contaminated the ground water and to what extent. Boil the water for at least ten minutes; pass alum through it so that suspended impurities may settle down; filter it with fine muslin; and pour it in a filter from where you can consume it. Liquid chlorine bleach is a very good disinfectant that will kill all but pthysis germs. You can use plain sodium hypochlorite solution as well. Half a teaspoon for clear water and one teaspoon for cloudy water should do the trick. Keep your see-through-the-hurricane supply stocked with chlorine and iodine tablets. Apportion supplies according to the daily use of each member of the family and do take your pets into account.
Tags: Hurricane, water contamination
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Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
The hurricane season seems to be progressing towards a wet and windy denouement. Dora is the name of the fourth hurricane of the season. It is taking shape in the Eastern Pacific and is centered approximately 240 miles south of the vacation town of Acapulco; this is moving west-northwest with windspeeds of 75 mph. In Mexico, storm warnings are out in Oaxaca and Chiapas; the area is also susceptible to high waves because of Dora. The Mexican government is in the process of preparing around 900 storm shelters in flood-prone areas. So, if you plan to go out boating in those waters be informed about the waves and how the winds are shaping.
In other hurricane related news; Bret, the tropical storm, is set to peter into a tropical depression by Thursday. It is moving northeast away from the Bahamas and deeper into the Atlantic ocean. So, for the time being the U.S Atlantic coast is safe. More specifically, coastal areas of North Carolina can breathe easy. Bret had exhibited maximum sustained wind speeds of 50mph.
One piece of useful news today is that WDSU New Orleans has launched an app for Android and iPhone devices. It’s called Hurricane Central and is a free download. It is a nifty app that lets you track hurricanes, monitor storms, and check out evacuation routes, look up traffic situations. You can also follow minute-by-minute twitter updates released by WDSU meteorologists.
Tags: hurricane dora
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Monday, July 18th, 2011
A few quick points that people who are relocating to places like Florida or the Louisiana coast. If you are moving from a place that has had a climate free from thunderstorms and hurricanes then you need to educate yourself on what to expect. Don’t get scared, that’s the first thing. Events like Katrina don’t happen every year, those are freakish disasters. All the same, you need to be physically, mentally, and materially prepared to see through the hurricane season safely with zero or no damage to life and property.
Even though big hurricanes may not happen every year in your state or area, you don’t have to be anywhere close to a major hurricane to get really wet, see flooding on the streets, lose electricity and communication, have windows broken, lose roofs, see inland waterways get flooded, see streets choked with debris, etc. You get the picture. All the above situations happen when high winds and heavy rains come visiting during the hurricane season. At such times you are best inside the safety of your building; however, if there is an evacuation order then heed it. Don’t listen to people who might try to convince you otherwise and tell you that evacuation is a needless chore. Do not think that if you stay on the 17th floor of a high-rise, you’re safe because flood waters can never reach that high. Well, they may not. But the winds at that height are going to be howling mad and you’d best have your hurricane shutters on. If you are not moving or cannot move, ensure that you have some necessary items close to you. These include a source of renewable power like a cranking generator, solar cell; flashlights, matches; drinking water; water purifying tablets; canned and dry food items; and of course medicine.
Even as we speak, tropical storm Bret is moving towards Bahamas and is already packing maximum sustained winds of 40 mph.
Tags: Hurricane Season, preparation
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Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Continuing forward from the previous post; it may come as a surprise but according to research and survey conducted by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, many people living in areas vulnerable to storm surges feel that they are at greater danger from winds and floods. Perhaps, this could be because of the fact that wind and flood related fatalities occur more commonly than storm surge related deaths and hence tend to remain in the collective consciousness. Also, wind damage can reach a person’s home where he is liable to suffer from property damage if hurricane shutters are not installed.
Even counties that may be facing category 5 hurricane damage are sometimes not prepared to accept that a storm surge is their worst enemy. In the absence of information, storm preparedness takes a hit at every level. Be it negligence in putting up storm shutters or building homes on higher ground or the state municipality not cleaning the waterways so that there is sufficient depth to accommodate excess water from rains. People also tend to get confused between storm surges and tsunamis. Tsunamis are waves caused by earthquakes that occur under sea; they can happen any time. A storm surge is different. It occurs only during storm season.
It is also important to know that the damage caused by storm tides can far exceed that caused by storm surges. A storm tide is a storm surge that rides a high tide and travels with great speed inland. A storm tide often catches boatmen and swimmers unawares. It also harms the esturine and riverine flora and fauna by interfering with the breeding cycle of animals and altering the salinity content of the water. If a storm surge can create 30-foot walls of water in a huge hurricane, one can only imagine what a storm tide will be like. The water moves in at astonishing speeds and people that underestimate it pay with their lives.
In conclusion, it can be said with fairness that water possesses the potential to do more damage as it moves towards the shore being pushed by mad winds.
Tags: Hurricane, storm surge
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Monday, July 11th, 2011
As the hurricane season approaches; it is time to understand a few basic things about hurricanes. The Atlantic Hurricane season begins to take shape in August / September and yet if one was to go by the word of hurricane shutter companies, business is slow? Why? Could it be because people have forgotten the damage from earlier hurricanes or they are betting on this year being a safe one. According to observers, a scare is perhaps the only way to jog people out of their lethargy and when a scare actually comes along, supplies often fall short and many people are left struggling to purchase and install hurricane shutters and generators in their homes in time before the storms come.
When wind and water both combine to lay waste our habitat the least we can do is to be as prepared as we can. But what hurts more? Statistics show that a storm surge is easily the most deadly aspect of a hurricane. It is not as frequent as floods that come with the heavy rains but when it happens, it is a real killer and destroyer of property. This single biggest cause of fatalities is a clear danger to all cities along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. Tropical cyclones can lead to drownings both in the sea and inland. And if you check the figures, then storm surges account for half the losses since the past 40 years.
This is not to say that floods are to be treated lightly. Inland river systems can swell and flood very fast in case of a heavy downpour. If you’re caught in such a situation, your best bet is to get out before the river, lake, stream really swells up. When winds hit speeds of 110 miles per hour, then even securely anchored boats can capsize, make no mention of those unmoored boats in the sea. Often people seem to be unaware of their own vulnerability, which perhaps leads them to venture out in spite of storm warnings.
If you are living in an area that is at risk from storm surges, then you need to do more than just have hurricane shutters installed. Keep rations for five days ready, do not venture close to water till the storm warnings are lifted.
Tags: Florida, Hurricane Season
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