Hurricanes are tropical cyclones that develop over the oceans and are produced from a series of thunderstorms, warm ocean water and high relative humidity in the atmosphere. Their winds exceed 74 miles per hour and rotate in a counter clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. Hurricane season runs from June to September. They develop in the Atlantic, eastern parts of the Pacific, and in the Caribbean. More than 50% of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of a coastline, making them vulnerable to these tropical storms. Besides high winds, hurricanes can also cause storm surges,flooding, and tornadoes to inland communities resulting in massive damage and possible casualties to the population.
The Threat of a Hurricane – Are you at Risk?
Hurricanes are like no other storm on earth. These tempests of dangerous ferocity, natural strength and power, have an intensity that cannot be mirrored or contained and command respect, if not fear from those who are forced to face these beasts of nature. Hurricanes can be the stuff nightmares are made of.
Hurricanes, though alarming, can be prepared for. With the continued advancement of technology and the progression of science, there is a way to prepare for hurricanes through training, groundwork, education and forming an emergency action plan. Hurricane disasters, while they cannot be completely avoided, can be planned for and many tragedies can be evaded.
Hurricane Categories Explained
In the United States, hurricane season starts on June 1st and doesn’t end until November 30th. There are an average of almost ten tropical storms and five hurricanes each year off the Atlantic coast. Hurricanes cause hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damages each year in the United States. But what is a hurricane? And what do those hurricane categories really mean?
Surveying Hurricane and Water Damage
After a hurricane hits a home, a person should take photographs of the damage immediately after the storm is over. They should also get an appraisal of the damage. This will be for insurance purposes, as well as for inspectors. Some damages may take time to show up right away, so people should keep a vigilante eye out for any damages that were not caught in the first initial assessment. Salt water is the worst type of composition that can cause erosion of pipes, electrical wires, and systems. Any type of water that sits for a long amount of time will eventually start to cause damage. This includes water on carpets and floors. There are many building elements on a home that should never have a lot of moisture on them, which includes plaster, insulation, wood, electrical devices, and wall boards. Steel is another proponent that should never be wet. Water damage from hurricanes and floods can cause thousands of dollars to correct. Hurricane Katrina caused massive amounts of water damage with the six feet flood waters that corroded pipes, wiring, roofs, flooring, walls, and foundations of homes that cost in the millions of dollars. Many homes were purposely demolished due to the extent of damage was just too irreparable. Taking care of water damage as quickly as possible to a home after a hurricane is crucial.