Basic Facts About Hurricanes

 

Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that form in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean.  They have specific and predictable patterns that have been tracked and recorded over time as follows:

Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters.

·         Evaporation from the seawater increases the power of hurricanes.

·         Hurricanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around an "eye."

·         Hurricanes have winds at least 74 miles per hour.

·         When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees and cars.

·         The heavy 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.

·         In the U.S., the official hurricane season is from June 1 to November 30, but hurricanes can happen any time of the year. 

Hurricanes are part of a family of weather systems known as "tropical cyclones."  The word hurricane is derived from the Mayan god “Hurakan” and the West Indian word “Hurican”, meaning "big wind."  A hurricane begins its life as a disorganized storm system which forms over warm, tropical waters in the Atlantic.  When the storm system becomes more organized, it is classified as a "tropical depression," and given a number by the National Hurricane Center.

If the winds in a tropical depression grow in intensity to 40mph, it is re-classified as a "tropical storm," and it receives a name.  When the winds in the storm reach 75mph (120kph), the storm is upgraded to a hurricane.  The winds of a hurricane are structured around a central "eye", which is an area that is free of clouds and relatively calm.  Around this "eye" area, storm clouds wrap in a counter-clockwise motion.  This "eyewall" of clouds, wind and rain, is the most destructive part of the storm.

In fact, it is the eyewall that creates the eye, since the rapid spinning clouds in the wall reduce the pressure in the eye and suck out any clouds that may be there.  Hurricanes are usually compact storms, with maximum wind velocities extending out 6 to 62 miles (10 to 100km) from the eye.  Of course, one can still experience gale-force winds as much as 300 miles out from the eye, which is why everyone in the Gulf Coast area is concerned when a hurricane is headed in their direction.

Hurricane Classifications

Hurricanes are classified into five (5) categories, based on their wind speeds and potential to cause damage.

Category	Characteristics of Storm
One	Winds 74-95 miles per hour
Two	Winds 96-110 miles per hour
Three	Winds 111-130 miles per hour
Four	Winds 131-155 miles per hour
Five	Winds greater than 155 miles per hour

History of Naming Hurricanes 

 

To help us identify storms and track them as they move across the ocean, hurricanes have been given names for many, many years.  Remember, there can be more than one hurricane at a time, and without naming them, we could get confused about which storm we're talking about.  For hundreds of year, hurricanes in the West Indies were named after the particular saint's day on which the hurricane occurred.

An Australian meteorologist began giving women's names to tropical storms before the end of the 19th century.  In 1953, the U.S. National Weather Service, which is the federal agency that tracks hurricanes and issues warnings and watches, began using female names for storms.

In 1979, both women and men's names were used.  One name for each letter of the alphabet is selected, except for Q, U and Z.  For Atlantic Ocean hurricanes, the names may be French, Spanish or English, since these are the major languages bordering the Atlantic Ocean where the storms occur.

So who decides what names are used each year?  The World Meteorological Organization uses six lists in rotation.  The same lists are reused every six years.  The only time a new name is added is if a very deadly or costly hurricane occurs.  Then the name is retired and a new name is chosen.

The Most Deadly/Costly Hurricanes

Date	Location/Name	Category	Damage	Comments
Sept. 1909	Grand Isle, LA The Grand Isle Hurricane	4	$6 million	·   The Grand Isle Hurricane came ashore on September 20, 1909, at Berwick before passing inland between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. ·   Its 15-foot storm surge inundated much of southern Louisiana. ·   At least 350 people died.
Sept. 1915	New Orleans, LA	4	$13 Million	·   This storm caused Lake Pontchartrain to overflow its banks, killing 275 people. ·   This scenario is one that hurricane experts don't like to ponder because if a city, surrounded on three sides by water, is hit by a major hurricane, the storm surge might inundate the city.
Aug. 1992	Southeast Florida and Louisiana Hurricane Andrew	5	$26.5 Billion	·   This storm cut a path through the northwestern Bahamas, the southern Florida peninsula and south-central Louisiana. ·   The hurricane came ashore on August 24, 1992, near Homestead, Florida, resulting in 15 deaths. ·   As many as 250,000 people were left temporarily homeless. ·   More than 700,000 insurance claims were filed relating to Andrew.
Aug. 1969	Cuba, Southern and East-Central U.S. Hurricane Camille	5	$1.4 Billion	·   Estimated sustained winds of 200 mph. ·   Camille flattened nearly everything along the coast of the state of Mississippi.   ·   Resulted in 259 deaths. ·   Additional deaths occurred from inland flooding as the storm crossed the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia.
Aug. 2005	U.S. Gulf Coast Hurricane Katrina	5	$81.2 Billion	·   80% of City of New Orleans flooded. ·   Highest sustained winds of 175 mph. ·   Resulted in at least 1,836 deaths. ·   The deadliest hurricane since the 1928 Okeebechobee hurricane.

Hurricane and Tropical Storm Significant Flood Events

1978 - November 30, 2007

EVENT/STORM NAME	YEAR	# PAID LOSS CLAIMS	TOTAL LOSS DAMAGES PAID	AVG PAID/ LOSS CLAIM
TROPICAL STORM CLAUDETTE	Jul-79	9,664	$147,295,363	$15,242
HURRICANE FREDERIC	Sep-79	2,947	$45,809,311	$15,544
HURRICANE ALLEN	Aug-80	3,636	$27,454,134	$7,551
THE “NO-NAME STORM”	Jun-82	2,921	$10,474,435	$3,586
ALICIA	Aug-83	10,518	$119,388,681	$11,351
ELENA	Aug-85	8,234	$81,322,383	$9,876
GLORIA	Sep-85	6,088	$39,194,422	$6,438
ISABEL	Oct-85	1,612	$5,769,195	$3,579
JUAN	Oct-85	6,187	$90,987,478	$14,706
TROPICAL STORM ALLISON	Jun-89	3,128	$39,305,870	$12,566
HURRICANE CHANTEL	Aug-89	2,919	$39,510,677	$13,536
HUGO	Sep-89	12,843	$376,494,566	$29,315
BOB	Aug-91	2,821	$49,707,690	$17,621
HALLOWEEN	Oct-91	9,541	$143,158,088	$15,005
ANDREW	Aug-92	5,589	$169,226,364	$30,278
OPAL	Oct-95	10,343	$405,528,543	$39,208
BERTHA	Jul-96	1,166	$10,388,364	$8,909
FRAN	Sep-96	10,315	$217,844,647	$21,119
HORTENSE	Sep-96	1,381	$20,215,202	$14,638
JOSEPHINE	Oct-96	6,512	$102,604,272	$15,756
HURRICANE BONNIE	Aug-98	2,675	$23,073,621	$8,626
HURRICANE GEORGES (KEYS)	Sep-98	3,436	$43,134,378	$12,554
HURRICANE GEORGES-MS,PR,LA	Sep-98	848	$14,150,532	$16,687
HURRICANE GEORGES (PANHANDLE)	Sep-98	1,680	$23,250,392	$13,840
HURRICANE FLOYD	Sep-99	20,439	$462,270,253	$22,617
HURRICANE IRENE	Oct-99	13,682	$117,922,109	$8,619
TROPICAL STORM ALLISON	Jun-01	30,637	$1,101,928,972	$35,967
TROPICAL STORM GABRIELLE	Sep-01	2,418	$34,836,088	$14,407
TROPICAL STORM ISADORE	Sep-02	8,432	$113,002,423	$13,402
HURRICANE LILI	Oct-02	2,550	$36,159,307	$14,180
HURRICANE ISABEL	Sep-03	19,745	$481,434,025	$24,383
HURRICANE CHARLEY	Aug-04	2,606	$50,321,806	$19,310
HURRICANE FRANCES	Sep-04	4,943	$150,225,086	$30,391
HURRICANE IVAN	Sep-04	27,490	$1,545,224,485	$56,210
HURRICANE JEANNE	Sep-04	5,369	$126,613,376	$23,582
HURRICANE DENNIS	Jul-05	3,792	$118,222,860	$31,177
HURRICANE KATRINA	Aug-05	165,452	$15,840,910,766	$95,743
HURRICANE RITA	Sep-05	9,400	$452,897,331	$48,181
TROPICAL STORM TAMMY	Oct-05	4,112	$44,570,322	$10,839
HURRICANE WILMA	Oct-05	9,588	$361,299,815	$37,683
HURRICANE PAUL	Oct-06	1,504	$37,136,988	$24,692

 

Know Your Flood Terms

Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a flood hazard:

Flood Watch
Flooding is possible.  Tune in to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Flash Flood Watch
Flash flooding is possible.  Be prepared to move to higher ground; listen to NOAA Weather Radio, commercial radio, or television for information.

Flood Warning
Flooding is occurring or will occur soon; if advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Flash Flood Warning
A flash flood is occurring; seek higher ground on foot immediately.

 

Appendix I.

 

Flood Insurance

 

Unlike a standard homeowners’ policy, flood insurance covers losses to your property caused by flooding.

 

Some of the things a standard flood policy will cover include:

 

·             structural damage

 

·             furnace, water heater and air conditioner

 

·             flood debris clean up

 

·             floor surfaces such as carpeting and tile

 

 

You can also buy a flood insurance policy to cover the contents of your home, such as furniture, collectibles, clothing, jewelry and artwork.

Policies are available in three forms:

 

·             Dwelling (most homes)

 

·             General Property (apartments and businesses) and

 

·             Residential Condominium Building Association (condominiums)

 

 

       
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is your primary source for flood insurance in the U.S.   If your community participates in the NFIP, you can purchase flood insurance from a licensed private insurance company or independent property and casualty insurance agent in your state.

Talk to your insurance agent if you have questions, would like additional information, and/or are ready to purchase a flood insurance policy.  Your policy will take effect 30 days after your purchase.

If your insurance agent is unfamiliar with the NFIP or is not licensed to sell National Flood Insurance, you have several additional options:

·             Find an agent serving your area.

 

·             Find companies that participate in the NFIP and offer flood insurance in

      your state.

 

·             To obtain additional contact and other information about flood insurance

      and related programs visit: 

http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/index.jsp

What If Flood Insurance Is Required?

If you buy a house in a designated high-risk area and receive a mortgage loan from a Federally-regulated lender, by law your lender must require you to purchase and regularly renew flood insurance.

In this case, you do not have to wait 30 days for your policy to take effect.  Your flood insurance protection is immediate, ensuring that you don't get caught without flood insurance if a flood threatens your home.  You may also be able to escrow your premium payments.

30-Day Waiting Period

There is a standard 30-day waiting period, from date of purchase, before a new flood policy goes into effect.  However, there are some exceptions to the 30-day wait.

·         If your lender requires flood insurance in connection with the making, increasing,

     extending or renewing of your loan. 

 

·         If an additional amount of insurance is required as a result of a map revision.

·         If flood insurance is required as a result of a lender determining that a loan,

     which does not have flood insurance coverage, should be protected by flood

     insurance.  The coverage will be effective upon the completion of an application

     and the presentment of payment of premium.

 

·         If an additional amount of insurance is being obtained in connection with the

     renewal of a policy.  

Buying Insurance

When you are ready to purchase insurance, talk to your agent.  He or she will help you determine the flood insurance coverage that will best meet your needs. 

It's important to know that if you have a federally backed mortgage on a home located in a high-risk area, federal law requires you to purchase flood insurance. Also, if you've received a federal grant for previous flood losses, you must have a flood insurance policy to qualify for future aid.

Be FloodSmart! Get covered today.