This year the hurricane season started early. Prepare …
As you can see in the image, already ALETTA (depression) and BUD (hurricane) are in the eastern zone of the Pacific.
A tropical cyclone is a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, a closed low-level atmospheric circulation, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain. Depending on its location and strength, a tropical cyclone is referred to by names such as hurricane, tropical storm, cyclonic storm, tropical depression, and simply cyclone.
Tropical cyclones typically form over large bodies of relatively warm water. They derive their energy through the evaporation of water from the ocean surface, which ultimately recondenses into clouds and rain when moist air rises and cools to saturation. This energy source differs from that of mid-latitude cyclonic storms, such as nor’easters and European windstorms, which are fueled primarily by horizontal temperature contrasts. The strong rotating winds of a tropical cyclone are a result of the conservation of angular momentum imparted by the Earth’s rotation as air flows inwards toward the axis of rotation. As a result, they rarely form within 5° of the equator. Tropical cyclones are typically between 100 and 2,000 km (62 and 1,243 mi) in diameter.
Hurricanes are one of the most destructive natural disasters in the world. Only large earthquakes and volcanoes are capable of make more damage. A large hurricane can cause millions of dollars in damage, claim thousands of lives and turn the city into hell.
You probably think preparing for hurricanes is not very urgent and that authorities will warn you if a hurricane is on the way, but the problem is that if you wait until a hurricane is on the way, the essential supplies will be gone. If that happens, you’ll be racing around town looking for supplies, and you probably won’t be able to find everything you need.
If you wait to prepare until a hurricane is on the way and strikes, you’re making a major mistake that could potentially cost you your life and the lives of your family members.
The problem with hurricane warning signs is they’re not detectable until the hurricane is only a few hours away, giving you precious little time to prepare. Hopefully you’ll be alerted by the authorities or weather people on TV, online, or on the radio that a hurricane has developed. But in case you’re cut off from those kinds of communications and aren’t yet prepared for a hurricane, here are some warning signs to watch for:
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Increased Ocean Levels – Three days before a hurricane strikes land, the ocean levels will begin to rise and the waves will strike the shore more frequently. The ocean levels can rise anywhere from six to sixteen feet before the hurricane hits land, and they will continue to rise slowly but steadily as the hurricane draws near. If you see the shoreline along the coast being covered with water and the waves becoming faster and more frequent, it could be a sign that a hurricane is on the way.
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Faster Wind Speeds – As ocean levels rise, so will the speed of the wind. In fact, wind speed is actually a better indication of a hurricane than the ocean levels. One to two days before a hurricane strikes, the wind levels will rise up to fifteen miles per hour more than usual. Just one hour before the hurricane strikes, the winds can reach anywhere from seventy to over one hundred miles per hour. Limbs can be ripped from trees and unsecured objects will be blowing uncontrollably through the air. If you see increased ocean levels and these kinds of wind speeds at the same time, an imminent hurricane is almost certain.
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Heavy Rainfall – Rain will begin to pour in heavy amounts about a day and a half to two days before the hurricane strikes. The closer the hurricane gets, the heavier the rainfall will get until flooding begins in certain areas. Flooding is a major concern when a hurricane strikes, and it can happen from the pouring rainfall alone even if the ocean levels don’t rise very much
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Drop in Atmospheric Pressure – The barometer is an instrument that measures atmospheric pressure. Two to three days before a hurricane strikes land, the barometer level will begin to fall steadily and significantly. This is why if you live along a coastline, you should keep a barometer at home or in you car. You can also get a barometer app for your iPhone or Android.
Now that you’ve learned how to detect an imminent hurricane, you need to prepare for one. Here’s the truth: You don’t always have to evacuate in the event of a hurricane. We’ll discuss evacuation later, but for now we’re going to talk about what to do if you decide to stay home and ride out the storm.
As I mentioned earlier, hurricane preparedness is something you should do well in advance. A huge part of that preparedness will be preparing your home to outlast the disaster. Here’s what to do:
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Prepare the Outside of Your Home – If there are any trees on your property, you should consider removing them because if they fall over and land on your home, they could cause serious damage and could even kill you if the damage is bad enough. If you have any small buildings or sheds on your property, make sure they are securely anchored to the ground.
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Build a Safe Room In Your Home – This is completely optional, but if you can afford it, go for it. A safe room is a place that you and your family can retreat to. It needs to be as low in the home as possible, such as in a basement (as long as you’re not in a flood zone), and it should have a reinforced door and walls. Keep survival items, sleeping cots, food and water (including pet food if you have any animals), and first aid kits in this room. We’ll talk about putting together a hurricane preparedness kit later on in this article.
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Protect Your Windows – It’s very easy for flying objects to break through your windows and cause serious harm or damage. Consider investing in hurricane shutters that simultaneously serve as an outside decoration and as a strong shield against flying debris that could smash through the windows. Always close these shutters when the hurricane is imminent.
If you don’t have or can’t afford shutters, the cheapest option is plywood. Buy enough to cover every window, and go ahead and cut it to size so you have a piece for every window. Also stock up on screws, nails, and tension clips. Learn more in the video below.
When To Evacuate
Sometimes hurricanes are so strong that it’s more dangerous to try outlasting them in your home than it is to hit the road and evacuate. If a mandatory evacuation is necessary, the local authorities will make the decision and alert the population. But even if an evacuation is not made mandatory, you may decide that the incoming storm is too strong for you to stay put.
However, if you want too long to evacuate, it could be dangerous. The roads will be packed with other cars trying to get out of town, and you could end up experiencing a hurricane from inside your car. Even worse, the roads could become flooded, forcing you to abandon your vehicle. That’s why you need to evacuate as early as you can.
EVACUATION TIPS
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Have At Least One Bug Out Location – You should have at least one or two bug out locations or destinations you can travel to, and you should also have multiple routes for getting to these locations. Memorize the routes so you don’t have to rely on maps or GPS to get to them.
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Bring Detailed Maps – In case you lose your way or have to make a detour, be sure you have detailed maps of the state or states you’ll be driving through.
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If Possible, Only Take One Car – This reduces confusion and makes evacuation simpler. If you own one, use an AWD (all-wheel-drive) vehicle. It may not get the best gas mileage, but it’s the most convenient for carrying everything you need along with your family members. Plus, AWD capabilities will be a huge plus if you have to drive over rough terrain.
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Evacuate As Early As Possible – I know I already mentioned this, but it’s worth mentioning again. Before the hurricane strikes, get out as soon as possible to avoid traffic jams. This is why you should have multiple evacuation routes. That way if one road gets shut off by the authorities or clogged with traffic, you’ll have an alternate route.
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Have a Full Tank Of Gas – During hurricane season, it’s a good idea to go ahead and fill up your tank when it’s half empty. You should also keep enough containers of gasoline in your garage to fill up your tank completely. Keep in mind that even if the gas stations aren’t already closed during the emergency, it’s almost certain there will already be long lines of cars trying to get to them.
This is why you should keep your gas tank full.
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Don’t Take Short Cuts You Aren’t Familiar With – Be wary of “short cuts,” especially ones that aren’t on the map. You don’t know what they’ll lead to or if they even are short cuts.
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Never Drive Into Flooded Areas – This should be obvious, but you might be tempted to do it if going around would take a long time. Don’t. You’re safer riding out a hurricane in your car than getting swept away in a flood.
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Get In Touch With Friends and Family – It’s important to tell loved ones where you’re going and how to get there. You don’t want them to worry about you for no reason.
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Don’t Forget About Your Pets – If you have any pets, remember to make space for them in your vehicle. Bring some food for them, too.
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Before You Leave, Unplug All Electrical Equipment – The freezer and refrigerator should be the only electrical equipment still plugged in. Shut off the gas and water before you leave as well.
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Put Your Furniture On Cinder Blocks – Cover your furniture with tarps, too. This is only necessary if you live in an area that floods easily.
Don’t get stuck in traffic like these people. Evacuate early!
Biggest Dangers of Hurricanes
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Storm Surge – This is perhaps the biggest danger of a hurricane. The storm surge is the huge amount of sea water that is swept onto land by the force of the hurricane. Massive waves will crash against the shorelines and send large volumes of water into the city. Low lying areas will be covered with the sea water very quickly, and it won’t let up until the storm has passed, meaning the water levels will only continue to rise. During hurricane Katrina, many people drowned in their attics because they didn’t expect the storm surge to get so high.
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Strong Winds – Wind is a huge danger during a hurricane for several reasons: It knocks down trees, knocks down walls, and carries flying debris that could smash into you and kill you in an instant. The strongest winds of the hurricane are located in the center near the eye; while the actual eye has no winds, the winds will still be strongest right around it.
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Torrential Rain – The downpour of rain during a hurricane can be a huge issue because it can lead to flooding. It’s possible for one to two feet of rain to fall during a hurricane. This will either cause flooding on its own or add to the storm surge. Once the flooding becomes high enough, it can overturn cars and carry them downstream, making evacuation by car impossible (another reason to evacuate early). The flooding can also pour into homes and make them inhospitable, forcing people to move after the hurricane is over.