Basic Overview of Hurricanes

According to the dictionary, a hurricane is, "a severe tropical cyclone originating in the equatorial regions of the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea, traveling north, northwest, or northeast from its point of origin, and usually involving heavy rains."

What the dictionary doesnt tell us is that each year, tornadoes and hurricanes are responsible for millions of dollars in property damage, injury and loss of lives. Tornadoes can strike virtually anywhere in the United States with little or no warning, while in a matter of days, a hurricane can strike the Gulf or Atlantic states, devastating hundreds of miles of coastline, and wreaking havoc hundreds of more miles inland.

Few hurricanes have wind speeds reaching the devastating, concentrated punch of the most powerful (300 mph-plus wind speed) tornadoes, but they bring with them their own set of problems. These include high winds sustained over a much longer period of time and spreading a much wider range of destruction than tornadoes, as well as accompanying storm surges 18 feet and more above normal, severe electrical storms, torrential rain, and massive flooding. This ferocity has earned hurricanes the title, "Natures Greatest Storms."

In addition, the hurricane-susceptible Gulf and Atlantic states are exposed to a potential "double-whammy," since the severe weather from hurricane conditions often spawns multiple tornadoes within the weather system.

While mankind will probably never be able to beat the extreme weather and climate events thrown at us by nature, we do have ways to protect ourselves. One of the most effective means of shelter from such storms comes in the form of "saferooms."

Review the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

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