Hurricane - A strong tropical cyclone, an engine of destructionWhen a hurricane makes landfall it often produces a devastating storm surgeWhat is a Hurricane? A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, which is a generic term
for a low pressure system that generally forms in the tropics. The cyclone is accompanied
by thunderstorms and, in the Northern Hemisphere, a counterclockwise circulation of winds
near the earth's surface. When the the winds from these storms reach 39 mph (34 kts),
the cyclones are given names. Years ago, an international committee developed names
for Atlantic cyclones (The History of Naming Hurricanes). In 1979 a six year rotating
list of Atlantic storm names was adopted — alternating between male and female hurricane
names. Storm names are used to facilitate geographic referencing, for warning
services, for legal issues, and to reduce confusion when two or more tropical
cyclones occur at the same time. Hurricane Katrina was the most costly and one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States It was the sixth-strongest Atlantic
hurricane ever recorded and the third-strongest landfalling U.S. hurricane on record.
Katrina formed in late August during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season and caused
devastation along much of the north-central Gulf Coast of the United States. Most
notable in media coverage were the catastrophic effects on the city of New Orleans,
Louisiana, and in coastal Mississippi. Due to its sheer size, Katrina devastated the
Gulf Coast as far as 100 miles (160 km) from the storm's center. Katrina was the eleventh
named storm, fifth hurricane, third major hurricane, and second Category 5 hurricane of
the 2005 Atlantic season. It formed over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005, and crossed
southern Florida as a moderate Category 1 hurricane, causing some deaths and flooding
there, before strengthening rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico and becoming one of the
strongest hurricanes on record. The storm weakened considerably before making its
second and third landfalls as a Category 3 storm on the morning of August 29
in southeast Louisiana and at the Louisiana/Mississippi state line,
respectively. Before a Hurricane To prepare for a hurricane, you should take the following measures:
Make plans to secure your property. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection
for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood,
cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking -
Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure.
This will reduce roof damage -
Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed -
Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts -
Determine how and where to secure your boat -
Consider building a safe room... A strong tropical cyclone will harbor an area of sinking air at the center of circulation If
this area is strong enough, it can develop into an eye. Weather in the eye is normally calm
and free of clouds, though the sea may be extremely violent. The eye is normally circular
in shape, and may range in size from 3 to 370 km (2–230 miles) in diameter. Intense,
mature hurricanes can sometimes exhibit an inward curving of the eyewall's top, making
it resemble a football stadium; this phenomenon is thus sometimes referred to as the
stadium effect... Hurricanes - Engines of Destruction The Atlantic Ocean’s hurricane season peaks from mid-August to late
October and averages five to six hurricanes per year. These storms bring destruction
ashore in many different ways. When a hurricane makes landfall it often produces a
devastating storm surge that can reach 20 feet (6 meters) high and extend nearly
100 miles (161 kilometers). Ninety percent of all hurricane deaths result from
storm surges. Books about hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones 
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