By: Shirleen Cruz January 2013 Natural Disasters By: Shirleen Cruz January 2013

Hurricanes A hurricane is a storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean.

What causes Hurricanes? Hurricanes are intense low pressure areas that form over warm ocean waters in the summer and early fall. Their source of energy water vapor which is evaporated from the ocean surface.

What are the characteristics of Hurricanes? Hurricanes have no fronts Hurricanes winds weaken with height The center of Hurricanes are warmer than their surroundings Hurricanes and tropical systems form under weak high-altitude winds. Air sinks at the center of a hurricane Hurricanes' main energy source is the latent heat of condensation Hurricanes weaken rapidly over land Hurricanes have five categories

Where are hurricanes most likely to occur? Hurricanes mostly occur in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific because of low pressure systems over warm ocean water mixing with the air temperature during the summer and fall.

When do hurricanes usually occur? Hurricanes need warmth to develop, which is why they usually form during the summer and fall when the ocean waters are warm enough to provide fuel for the storm.

What are some precautions a person can take if a hurricane occurs? Some precautions are to board up all windows to help prevent broken windows,get evacuation routes, supplies like batteries, water, food, flashlights,and other stuff that you think you might need.

What should a person do if they are warned ahead of time? The people should have a hurricane watch. A hurricane watch is issued when a hurricane may threaten an area but is not near.

How can people stay safe during a hurricane? People can stay safe during a hurricane by making sure where all of the evacuation routes are. Always listen to the radio and television for the latest information and instructions for your area.

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina is the deadliest and most destructive Atlantic hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Hurricane Katrina happened in New Orleans. 1,833 people died in the hurricane. Hurricane Katrina occurred August 23, 2005. The damage of the property was about 81 billion USD. Atlanta did recover from Hurricane Katrina. 80% of the state of Louisiana became flooded and also large tracts of neighboring parishes, and the floodwaters lingered for years. People lost their homes and lives. Some people survived. There was an enormous loss of money, and that could have been a cause for more deaths and illness

Hurricane Katrina

Citations Dictionary. (2013). What is a hurricane?. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hurricane?s=t Weatherquestions. (2012). What causes a hurricane?. Retrieved from Dictionary. (2013). What is a hurrricane?. Retrieved from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hurricane? USA Today. (2011). What are the characteristics of a hurricane?. Retrieved from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/tg/whurwhat/whurwhat.htm Answer. (2012). Where do hurricanes occur the most?. Retrieved from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_do_hurricanes_occur_most_often WeatherWizKids. (2010). What precautions should people take before a hurricane?. Retrieved from http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-safety-hurricane.htm GoogoBits. (2005). When do hurricanes usually occur?. Retrieved from http://www.googobits.com/articles/p3-882-in-the-eye-of-the-storm-understanding-hurricanes.html Answer. (2012). what precautions should be taken before hurricanes hit?. Retrieved from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_precautions_should_be_taken_before__a_hurricanes_hits Wikipedia. (2013). Hurricane katrina. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina

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