Hurricanes have an arsenal of effects that can destroy property and cause loss of life. The combination of animal removal company water and wind can have catastrophic impacts on man and nature. Learn what these mortal features can do and how to survive them.
Storm surge is just the rise in water which floods the shore as water is pushed onshore by strong winds, and to a much lesser level very low pressure. It is important to know the tides of the coastal region where you’re located. For example, many places on the Gulf coast have very small tidal ranges, whereas locations on the U.S. east coast have large tidal ranges. It makes a substantial difference on the impacts to the coast if a hurricane moves ashore during a low or high tide in a location where the tidal range is large. Today, inland flood causes the biggest loss of life. Before, when hurricane forecasting technology was not as sophisticated, storm surge was the motive for most deaths. It is ideal to leave a construction that could be impacted by the storm tide of a hurricane. The force from sea water is very powerful and can destroy a house easily. High waves carry the debris from destroyed buildings which are on the coast that batter other structures further inland. Even so, it’s best not to “ride out” a hurricane and evacuate to a safer location.
Hurricanes produce strong sustained winds that have the capability of destroying structures and toppling trees and power lines. The Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale gives an estimate on the type of wind damage which can be expected with various categories of hurricanes. A major hurricane is thought to be a category 3 or higher. Maximum sustained winds are greater than or equal to 111 mph. Strong winds can blow in garage doors, break windows, or lift roofs off of houses. Be sure that you have shutters or plywood to cover windows correctly during a hurricane. Also, know how structurally sound your roof and garage doors are so that they won’t fail in the event of high winds. The safest place to stay is in the basement to protect you and your loved ones from high winds. If you’re in a flood zone, evacuate to higher ground. If you don’t have a basement, find a little room on the bottom floor with no windows near the middle of the house to stay.
Tornadoes
Tornadoes are often associated with land falling tropical cyclones. The majority of the tornadoes happen within 24 hours of land fall, even though it’s possible for tornadoes to still happen two or three days later still associated with the circulation. The most significant hurricane associated tornado outbreak on record happened with Hurricane Ivan in 2004 with 123 tornadoes. Other hurricanes that generated a substantial tornado outbreak were: Hurricane Buelah (115), Hurricane Frances (103) and Hurricane Rita (101) tornadoes. Unlike their Midwest cousins, tornadoes on average are weaker in hurricanes. There is typically a weaker signature on radar and hail nearly never accompanies them. Stronger land falling hurricanes have a greater potential to produce tornadoes than weaker ones. Tornadoes occur with land falling hurricanes as the hurricane moves over land and encounters greater low level friction against the land. This slows the wind at the surface more than higher aloft, adding to vertical wind shear. It is this growth in wind shear that sets up an environment favorable for tornado development.
Flooding
All hurricanes do not produce severe flooding. There are several factors that lead to the flooding potential of a hurricane or poorer tropical cyclone. The most important factor is the rate of movement. It’s possible for the tropical cyclone to be almost stationary for days resulting in very heavy rainfall amounts of 40 to 50 inches or longer. Rainfall amounts are also influenced by the terrain of a location. Mountains cause an additional lift to happen, enhancing rainfall rates on the windward slopes. The surrounding environment where the hurricane forms is another thought. If a hurricane forms in the deep tropics, it usually can tap a deeper source of deep layered moisture. Hurricanes that form in higher latitudes have a higher chance of entraining dry air from mid latitude weather systems limiting moisture. When a tropical cyclone is approaching, understand the possibility of heavy rainfall to make flooding or flash flooding in which you reside. If you reside in a flood plain, evacuate to high ground before the hurricane’s effects arrive.
Summary The best way to endure the effects of a hurricane is by staying informed. For more on how to prepare before a storm strikes, check Tropicalweather.net’s article on hurricane preparedness.