High winds, storm surge, flooding and tornadoes cause damage to houses and cars that are in the path of a hurricane. East Coast with 8 to 16 inches (20 to 40 cm) of rain in 1999.ĭo you see the piece of wood that is stuck in the trunk of this palm tree? Powerful winds during Hurricane Andrew drove it in there. This picture was taken after Hurricane Floyd drenched parts of the U.S. Heavy rains cause flooding in inland places as well. Storm surge pushes seawater on shore during a hurricane, flooding towns near the coast. These hazards include heavy rains, high winds, a storm surge, and even tornadoes. When a hurricane strikes a coastal area, it brings a number of serious hazards. Unlike boats, oil and gas platforms over the water are unable to move out of harms way and can be damaged by the fierce wind and waves. Now with modern forecasting and warning systems, boats can steer clear of hurricanes. Before modern weather forecasting, hurricanes were the cause of many shipwrecks including several in the Bermuda Triangle, an area known for disappearing ships. When a hurricane is over the ocean and far from land, it is still a hazard to boats at sea.
#Things we lost in the storm how to#
The Hurricane Preparedness web site at the US National Hurricane Center offers tips on how to prepare for a hurricane. If you live in an area prone to hurricanes, consider making a hurricane safety kit. Evacuate to a safe location if it is recommended.
If a hurricane is approaching the area where you live, check for hurricane warnings. While hurricanes produce intense winds, big waves, and even tornadoes, floodwaters are their most dangerous aspect. Torrential rains from the storm can cause rivers to flood their banks and mudslides to form.Īround the world, about 10,000 people die each year in hurricanes and tropical storms. At this point, the storm has typically weakened, but it can still cause damage. Inland FloodingĪfter a hurricane hits a coastal area, it can travel inland. The model takes into account important factors that affect storm surge include the speed of winds in the storm, the distance that those winds travel over the ocean, how the hurricane approaches the coast (whether it is a direct impact or hits at an angle), and the shape of the coast and the ocean floor. When storm surge happens at high tide, there is even more flooding.Īs a hurricane approaches a coastline, scientists use a computer model called SLOSH (Sea, Lake, and Overland Surges from Hurricanes) to try to predict how much storm surge will occur. The floods from storm surge usually lasts for a short time - often just a few hours - but can cause a tremendous amount of damage. Combined with the crashing waves of the storm, storm surge can demolish docks, houses, and roads, and erode beaches. The rising water, called storm surge, can submerge low-lying areas and towns along the coast. The water piles up with nowhere to go but onto land when it gets to the coast. The low pressure of the storm also allows the water level to creep higher. Wind from the storm pushes ocean water towards the land.
Storm Surge Along the CoastĪs a storm moves towards a coast, it can cause the sea level to rise as much as 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters). High winds can topple trees and low-lying areas are often flooded. The amount of damage depends on the strength of a storm and what it hits. Even large boulders can be carried in the powerful surge of ocean water. Huge amounts of beach sand are moved from place to place. Hurricanes impact the natural environments along a coast, too. When a hurricane approaches land, tremendous damage can occur to coastal cities and towns.
Houses in Orange Beach, Alabama, a barrier island community before (top) and after (bottom) Hurricane Ivan, which hit the coast in September 2004.
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