HHHH uuuu rrrr rrrr iiii cccc aaaa nnnn eeee P P P P rrrr oooo jjjj eeee cccc ttttJackson Weeks Mr. Connelly T-4

Scientific Background A hurricane is a tropical storm with winds that have reached a constant speed of 74 miles per hour or more. The eye of a storm is usually miles wide and may extend over 400 miles. It can last for 2 weeks or more over open water and can travel up the entire eastern seacoast or from Florida to Maine. Hurricanes are severe storms that form in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. They start as thunderstorms that move out over warm, tropical ocean waters. They form in tropical regions where there is warm water and moist air. The thunderstorm reaches hurricane intensity in three stages. 1.As a tropical depression, it has swirling clouds and rain with wind speeds of less than 38 mph. 2.Next, it becomes a tropical storm when wind speeds are between 38 to 73 mph. 3. Finally, it becomes a hurricane with sustained winds of 74 mph or greater.

Scientific Background (con.) Hurricanes gather heat and energy by sucking up warm moist tropical from the warm ocean waters. Evaporation from the seawater increases their power. The storm spits out cooler air at the top. Think of this as the storm “breathing” in and out. It gets stronger and stronger until it reaches land. When it does, it quickly looses power and forward movement. Hurricanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around an "eye." When hurricanes come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and big waves can damage buildings, trees and cars. The big waves are called a storm surge. Storm surges are very dangerous and a major reason why you must stay away from the ocean during a hurricane warning or hurricane. Hurricane Season Hurricane season in the Northern Hemisphere runs between June 1 st and November 30 th; the Southern Hemisphere experiences their hurricane season between January-March. During this period, hundreds of storms systems spiral out from the tropical regions surrounding the equator. Between of these become hurricanes. Most Atlantic hurricanes form off the coast of Africa, starting as thunderstorms. If a hurricane’s winds are fast enough, it can even create tornados.

Hurricane Diagram

Hurricane History Scientists have only been studying hurricanes only for about 100 years, but there is evidence of hurricanes occurring long before that. For example, geologists (scientists who study the earth) believe that layers of sediment in a lake in Alabama was brought there by a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico as long as 3,000 years ago! There is also evidence in Florida of hurricanes more than 1,000 years ago. Hurricanes used to be identified by their location, but that became too confusing. From 1953 to 1979 they were given female names, and since 1979 they have been given alternating male and female names. Today, airplanes from NOAA fly directly into hurricanes to record wind speed and other data to predict when and where a storm will hit.

Hurricane Katrina  Katrina formed over the Bahamas on Aug. 23, It crossed So. Fla. As a category 1 hurricane, causing some deaths and flooding before strengthening quickly in the Gulf of Mexico. It strengthened there because the Gulf of Mexico has some of the warmest water.  On August 28, 2005, Hurricane Katrina was in the Gulf of Mexico where it powered up to a Category 5 storm on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale, packing winds estimated at 175 mph.  It then weakened before making its 2 nd landfall as a category 3 hurrciane on August 29, in southern Louisiana. Maximum winds were estimated near 125 mph to the east of the center.  It caused severe damage from central Fla. to TX, much of it due to the storm surge. 37 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico (running from ½ to 1 mile inland) was almost completely demolished of trees/buildings/anything/everything.  The most severe loss of life and property damage occurred in the city of New Orleans. 80% of the city flooded when the levees broke/failed to protect the city from the surge of water. In many instances, the levees failed and places flooded after the hurricane moved inland. The city was built below sea level and the aging/old levee system did not protect the city against the massive storm surge.  Large tracts of neighboring towns were also flooded and the floodwaters (mixing with toxic liquids like sewage, gasoline, garbage and chemicals) stayed for weeks.  At least 1,836 people were killed in the hurricane itself and the floods that followed.  Although Katrina will be recorded as the most destructive storm in terms of losses to properties. However, it was NOT the most deadly storm. That title goes to the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, which killed between 6,000-12,000 people, and almost completely destroyed the coast of Galveston, TX.  Insurance estimates state the storm is responsible for between $ billion in losses (including flood damage).  Insurance estimates state the storm is responsible for between $ billion in losses (including flood damage).

Hurricane Katrina (cont)  Large tracts of neighboring towns were also flooded and the floodwaters (mixing with toxic liquids like sewage, gasoline, garbage and chemicals) stayed for weeks.  At least 1,836 people were killed in the hurricane itself and the floods that followed.  Although Katrina will be recorded as the most destructive storm in terms of losses to properties. However, it was NOT the most deadly storm. That title goes to the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, which killed between 6,000-12,000 people, and almost completely destroyed the coast of Galveston, TX.  Insurance estimates state the storm is responsible for between $ billion in losses (including flood damage), making it the costliest hurricane in history.

Overhead View of Katrina 

Video Showing How Deadly Hurricane Katrina Was

5 Facts About Katrina  Average homeowner claim for flood damage BEFORE Katrina: $22,084  Average homeowner claim for flood damage AFTER Katrina: $ $93,118  Percentage of New Orleans’ pre-Katrina residents who have returned to the city: approximately 40%  Number of insurance companies sued for refusal to pay damages: 50  6 th strongest hurricane ever recorded.

How To Be Safe Before, During And After A Hurricane –Stay away from windows and doors. Identify a “safe room” in your home where you can stay during the hurricane. Choose a room with no doors or windows, like a closet. –Bring a mattress into the room and use it for additional protection against falling debris. –Expect to lose power. Make sure you have flashlights and plenty of batteries. –Have emergency food and water stored nearby. –Keep a first aid kit handy. –Never venture outside during the storm. Flying debris may cause serious injury or death. –Be aware of the hurricane's “eye” passing overhead. A brief period of calm will be followed by winds blowing in the opposite direction and damage may be greater. –Stay away from rising water. Fallen power lines may still be "hot" and electrocution can occur.

Saffir Simpson Hurricane Scale  The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a 1-5 rating based on the hurricane's present intensity. This is used to give an estimate of the potential property damage and flooding expected along the coast from a hurricane landfall. Wind speed is the determining factor in the scale, as storm surge values are highly dependent on the slope of the continental shelf and the shape of the coastline, in the landfall region. Note that all winds are using the U.S. 1-minute average.  Category One Hurricane: –Winds mph (64-82 kt or km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. Also, some coastal road flooding and minor pier damage.  Category Two Hurricane: –Winds mph (83-95 kt or km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers. Coastal and low-lying escape routes flood 2-4 hours before arrival of the hurricane center. Small craft in unprotected anchorages break moorings.

Saffir Simpson Hurricane Scale cont.  Category Three Hurricane: –Winds mph ( kt or km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Flooding near the coast destroys smaller structures with larger structures damaged by battering from floating debris. Terrain continuously lower than 5 ft above mean sea level may be flooded inland 8 miles (13 km) or more. Evacuation of low-lying residences with several blocks of the shoreline may be required.  Category Four Hurricane: –Winds mph ( kt or km/hr). Storm surge generally ft above normal. More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows. Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3- 5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore. Terrain lower than 10 ft above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 6 miles (10 km).  Category Five Hurricane: –Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage. Low-lying escape routes are cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the center of the hurricane. Major damage to lower floors of all structures located less than 15 ft above sea level and within 500 yards of the shoreline. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5-10 miles (8-16 km) of the shoreline may be required. Only 3 Category Five Hurricanes have made landfall in the United States since records began: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Camille (1969), and Hurricane Andrew in August, 1992.

Bibliography  Textbook Websites:    Wikepedia   cliffschecter.blogspot.com  USAtoday.com (7/17/03) 