Hurricane Season Is Upon Us

HURRICANE SEASON is Upon Us Officially, the Climate Prediction FORECAST FOR 2010: There is a /0 percent probability that the six-month hurricane season (June 1-November 30) will produce 14 to 23 named storms, which are defined as Storms with top winds of 39 miles per hour (mph) or higher. Eight to 14 of those named storms are expected to be hurricanes with top winds of 74 mph or higher, and 3 to 7 could be major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5) with winds of at least 111 mph. Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Scientists are also wondering whether the oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico could contribute to more severe storms by raising the temperature of the water. Kerry Emanuel, a hurricane expert at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told NPR: "You have this black surface, and it's doing two things. First of all, it's absorbing sunlight. And secondly, it is curtailing evaporation from the Gulf." Evaporation normally helps cool the Gulf. Administration ( NOAA) expects an "active to extremely active" hurricane season in 2010. CAT. CAT. CAT. CAT. CAT. CAT. CAT. 5 CAT. CAT. SAT 10 CAT. 3 4 DAMAGE: USD 8,602,500,000 (1972) DAMAGE: USD 8,860,000,000 (2004) DAMAGE: USD 9,739,820,675 (1989) - DAMAGE: USD 10,000,000,000 (2005) 6- DAMAGE: USD 13,000,000,000 (2004) DAMAGE: USD 14,000,000,000 (2004) DAMAGE: USD 18,000,000,000 (2008) COSTLIEST U.S. HURRICANES RANK DAMAGE: USD 20,600,000,000 (2005) DAMAGE: USD 34,954,825,000 (1992) DAMAGE: USD 81,000,000,000 (2005) SEASONS WITH THE MOST HURRICANES, 1851-PRESENT RANK 1- 2005 15 HURRICANES RANK 2 - 1969 13 HURRICANES RANK 2 - 1887 13 HURRICANES RANK 4 - 1950 11 HURRICANES RANK 4 - 1998 11 HURRICANES RANK 6 - 1995 10 HURRICANES RANK 6 - 1933 10 HURRICANES RANK 6 - 1916 10 HURRICANES SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE WIND SCALE CATEGORY/ WIND SPEED DAMAGE PEOPLE, LIVESTOCK, and PETS are at very high risk of injury or death from flying or falling debris, even if indoors in mobile homes or framed homes. Almost complete destruction of all MOBILE HOMES will occur, regardless of age or construction. A high percentage of FRAME HOMES will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Extensive damage to roof covers, windows, and doors will occur. Large amounts of windborne debris will be lofted CATEGORY 5 > 155 MPH > 135 KTS > 249 KPH Nearly all WINDOWS will be blown out of high-rise buildings resulting in falling GLASS, which will pose a threat for days to weeks after the storm. into the air. Windborne debris damage will occur to nearly all unprotected windows and many protected windows. Significant damage to wood roof COMMERCIÃL BUILDINGS will occur due to loss of roof CATASTROPHIC sheathing. Complete collapse of many older metal buildings can occur. Most unreinforced masonry walls will fail which can lead to the collapse of the buildings. A high percentage of INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS DAMAGE POWER outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Long-term WATER shortages will increase human suffering. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. Nearly all TREES will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential WILL OCCUR! and low-rise APARTMENT areas. BUILDINGS will be destroyed. Nearly all COMMERCIAL SIGNAGE, fences, and CANOPIES will be destroyed. SIGNS Poorly constructed homes can sustain complete collapse of all walls as well as the loss of the roof structure. Well-built homes also can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Extensive damage to roof coverings, windows, and doors will occur. Large amounts of windborne debris will be lofted into the air. Windborne debris damage will break most unprotected windows and penetrate some protected windows. There is a very high risk of injury or death to PEOPLE, LIVESTOCK, and PETS due to flying and falling debris. Nearly all older (pre-1994) MOBILE HOMES will be destroyed. A high percentage of newer mobile homes also will be destroyed. CATEGORY 4 > 131-155 MPH > 114-135 KTS > 210-249 KPH There will be a high percentage of structural damage to the top floors of APARTMENT BUILDINGS. Steel frames in older INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS can collapse. There will be a high percentage of collapse to older unreinforced masonry buildings. Most WINDOWS will be blown out of high-rise buildings resulting in falling glass, which will pose a threat for days to weeks after the storm. CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE POWER outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Long-term WATER shortages will increase human suffering. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. WILL OCCUR! Nearly all COMMERCIAL SIGNAGE, FENCES, and CANOPIES will be destroyed. Most TREES will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. SIGNS There is a high risk of injury or death to PEOPLE, LIVESTOCK, and PETS due to flying and falling debris. Nearly all older (pre-1994) MOBILE HOMES will be destroyed. Most newer mobile homes will sustain severe damage with potential for complete roof failure and wall collapse. Poorly constructed frame homes can be destroyed by the removal of the roof and exterior walls. Unprotected windows will be broken by flying debris. Well-built FRAME HOMES can experience major damage invoiving the removal of roof decking and gable ends. CATEGORY 3 >111-130 MPH > 96-113 KTS > 178-209 KPH There will be a high percentage of roof covering and siding damage to APARTMENT BUILDINGS and INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS. Isolated structural Numerous WINDOWS will be blown out of high-rise buildings resulting in falling glass, which will pose a threat for days to weeks after the storm. damage to wood or steel framing can occur. Complete failure of older metal buildings is possible, and older unreinforced masonry buildings can collapse. DEVASTATING Many TREES will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. DAMAGE ELECTRICITY and WATER will be unavailable for several days to a few weeks after the storm passes. WILL OCCUR! Most COMMERCIAL SIGNAGE, FENCES, and CANOPIES will be destroyed. SIGNS There is a substantial risk of injury or death to PEOPLE, LIVESTOCK, and PETS due to flying and falling debris. Poorly constructed frame homes have a high chance of having their roof structures removed especially if they are not anchored properly. Unprotected windows will have a high probability of being broken by flying debris. Well-constructed FRAME HOMES could sustain major roof and siding damage. Failure of aluminum, screened-in, swimming pool enclosures will be common. Older (mainly pre-1994 construction) MOBILE HOMES have a very high chance of being destroyed and the flying debris generated can shred nearby mobile homes. Newer mobile homes can also be destroyed. CATEGORY 2 > 96-110 MPH > 83-95 KTS > 154-177 KPH There will be a substantial percentage of roof and siding damage to APARTMENT BUILDINGS and INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS. Unreinforced masonry walls can collapse. WINDOWS in high-rise buildings can be broken by flying debris. Falling and broken glass will pose a significant danger even after the storm. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WINDS WILL CAUSE Near-total POWER loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks. Potable WATER could become scarce as filtration systems begin to fail. COMMERCIAL SIGNAGE, FENCES, and CANOPIES will be damaged and often destroyed. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. Many shallowly rooted TREES will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. SIGNS Some poorly constructed FRAME HOMES can experience major damage, involving loss of the roof covering and damage to gable ends as well as the removal of porch coverings and awnings. Unprotected windows may break if struck by flying debris. Masonry chimneys can be toppled. Well- constructed frame homes could have damage to roof shingles, vinyl siding, soffit panels, and gutters. Failure of aluminum, screened-in, swimming pool enclosures can occur. PEOPLE, LIVESTOCK, and PETS struck by flying or falling debris could be injured or killed. Older (mainly pre-1994 construction) MOBILE HOMES could be destroyed, especially if they are not anchored properly as they tend to shift or roll off their foundations. Newer mobile homes that are anchored properly can sustain damage involving the removal of shingle or metal roof coverings, and loss of vinyl siding, as well as damage to carports, sunrooms, or lanais. CATEGORY 1 > 74-95 MPH > 64-82 KTS > 119-153 KPH Some APARTMENT BUILDING and SHOPPING CENTER roof coverings could be partially removed. INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS can lose roofing and siding especially from windward corners, rakes, and eaves. Failures to overhead doors and unpro- tected windows will be common. VERY DANGEROUS WINDOWS in high-rise buildings can be broken by flying debris. Falling and broken GLÄSS will pose a significant danger even after the storm. WINDS WILL PRODUCE SOME DAMAGE. There will be occasional damage to COMMERCIAL SIGNAGE, fences, and CANOPIES. Extensive damage to POWER lines and poles will likely result in power outages that could last a few to several days. Large branches of TREES will snap and shallow rooted trees can be toppled. SIGNS SOURCES: ABOUT.COM, NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE, WUNDERGROUND KATRINA %24 ANDREW WILMA IKE CHARLEY IVAN RITA HUGO FRANCES AGNES WILMA The