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Post by Charity on Sept 8, 2004 11:17:23 GMT -5
With all the recent hurricanes in the Atlantic this last few weeks, I thought a mini-co-op on hurricanes would be in order. Hurricane Classification Hurricanes are classified into five categories, based on their wind speeds and potential to cause damage. Category One -- Winds 74-95 miles per hour Category Two -- Winds 96-110 miles per hour Category Three -- Winds 111-130 miles per hour Category Four -- Winds 131-155 miles per hour Category Five -- Winds greater than 155 miles per hour 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 named by the National Weather Service. Some past hurricanes have been named: Opal, Andrew, Marilyn, Hugo and Fran. Important terms to know: Hurricane Watch -- A hurricane is possible within 36 hours. Stay tuned to the radio and television for more information. The Hurricane Center is tracking the storm and trying to predict where it may come ashore. Hurricane Warning -- A hurricane is expected within 24 hours. You may be told to evacuate. You and your family should begin making preparations to evacuate. If your area is having an evacuation, remember to take your Disaster Supply Kit. Do not forget to make plans for your pets if you must evacuate. www.fema.gov/kids/huclasf.htm
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Post by Charity on Sept 8, 2004 11:18:15 GMT -5
History Of Big Hurricanes Hurricane Carla: This hurricane hit on September 10, 1961. It struck the Texas coast. About 500,000 people were evacuated from the area. Winds near the center of the hurricane were estimated at 150 miles per hour. Damage was about $2 billion (adjusted to 1990 dollars) and 46 people died. Hurricane Betsy: This hurricane hit on September 8, 1965. It hit Florida first and then turned and hit the Louisiana coast. A total of 75 people lost their lives. The hurricane had winds as high as 160 miles per hour. In 1990 dollars, Betsy caused $6.5 billion of damage -- making it the third most costly hurricane in the U.S. Hurricane Camille: This hurricane began on August 17, 1969. It was a Category 5 hurricane -- the most powerful rating, with winds as high as 200 miles per hour. The hurricane hit the U.S. Gulf Coast, but also caused flooding in Virginia. About 250 people died because of the hurricane and the flooding. It was the fifth most costly disaster in U.S. history, with damage of $5.2 billion (in 1990 dollars). Hurricane Celia: This hurricane hit Texas on August 3, 1970 and caused $1.6 billion in damage (in 1990 dollars). Very high winds damaged an airport and demolished a nearby mobile home park, fortunately, only 11 people died. Hurricane Gilbert: This hurricane hit on September 16, 1988. It was a Category 5 hurricane with winds as high as 160 miles per hour. It went through Jamaica, over the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and came to the U.S. (Texas and Oklahoma) as a heavy rain storm. Damage in Mexico was many billions of dollars, and 318 people died. Hurricane Andrew: This hurricane hit on August 24, 1992 in southern Florida. It then turned and hit Louisiana. More than a million people had to leave the area due to the storm. Heavy rains and tornadoes were part of the hurricane’s destructive power. Andrew was the most expensive hurricane in the history of the U.S. Hurricane Floyd: This hurricane, which struck in September 1999, brought so much rain that 13 states were issued federal disaster declarations -- more declarations for a single event than ever before. More than $500 million of federal money was spent on helping states recover. North Carolina was hit the hardest of any state. Hurricane Classification www.fema.gov/kids/hupast.htm
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Post by Charity on Sept 8, 2004 11:19:31 GMT -5
Hurricane Names hurricanes are given names. Why is that? To help us identify storms and track them as they move across the ocean. Remember, there can be more than one hurricane at a time and without naming them, we could get confused and 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 storm 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 hurricane is very deadly or costly. Then the name is retired and a new name is chosen. Atlantic Hurricane Names Pacific Hurricane Names Retired Hurricane Names www.fema.gov/kids/hunames.htm
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Post by Charity on Sept 8, 2004 11:20:23 GMT -5
The Six-Year List of Hurricane Names For Atlantic Storms (2002 - 2006) 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Arthur Bertha Cristobal Dolly Edouard Fay Gustav Hanna Isidore Josephine Kyle Lili Marco Nana Omar Paloma Rene Sally Teddy Vicky Wilfred Ana Bill Claudette Danny Erika Fabian Grace Henri Isabel Juan Kate Larry Mindy Nicholas Odette Peter Rose Sam Teresa Victor Wanda Alex Bonnie Charley Danielle Earl Frances Gaston Hermine Ivan Jeanne Karl Lisa Matthew Nicole Otto Paula Richard Shary Tomas Virginie Walter Arlene Bret Cindy Dennis Emily Franklin Gert Harvey Irene Jose Katrina Lee Maria Nate Ophelia Philippe Rita Stan Tammy Vince Wilma Alberto Beryl Chris Debby Ernesto Florence Gordon Helene Isaac Joyce Kirk Leslie Michael Nadine Oscar Patty Rafael Sandy Tony Valerie William Andrea Barry Chantal Dean Erin Felix Gabrielle Humberto Ingrid Jerry Karen Lorenzo Melissa Noel Olga Pablo Rebekah Sebastien Tanya Van Wendy Do you see your name here? 1996 - 2001 Hurricane Names www.fema.gov/kids/hunames3.htm
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Post by Charity on Sept 8, 2004 11:21:28 GMT -5
The Six-Year List of Hurricane Names For Pacific Storms (2002 - 2006) 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Alma Boris Cristina Douglas Elida Fausto Genevieve Hernan Iselle Julio Kenna Lowell Marie Norbert Odile Polo Rachel Simon Trudy Vance Winne Xavier Yolanda Zeke Andres Blanca Carlos Dolores Enrique Felicia Guillermo Hilda Ignacio Jimena Kevin Linda Marty Nora Olaf Patricia Rick Sandra Terry Vivian Waldo Xina York Zelda Agatha Blas Celia Darby Estelle Frank Georgette Howard Isis Javier Kay Lester Madeline Newton Orlene Paine Roslyn Seymour Tina Virgil Winifred Xavier Yolanda Zeke Adrian Beatriz Calvin Dora Eugene Fernanda Greg Hilary Irwin Jova Kenneth Lidia Max Norma Otis Pilar Ramon Selma Todd Veronica Wiley Xina York Zelda Aletta Bud Carlotta Daniel Emilia Fabio Gilma Hector Ileana John Kristy Lane Miriam Norman Olivia Paul Rosa Sergio Tara Vicente Willa Xavier Yolanda Zeke Alvin Barbara Cosme Dalila Erick Flossie Gil Henriette Ivo Juliette Kiko Lorena Manuel Narda Octave Priscilla Raymond Sonia Tico Velma Wallis Xina York Zelda Do you see your name here? 1996 - 2001 Hurricane Names www.fema.gov/kids/hunames3_pacific.htm
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Post by Charity on Sept 8, 2004 11:22:22 GMT -5
Retired Hurricane Names names are "retired" if a hurricane has been really big and destructive. It’s like when a sports jersey or number is retired after a really great athlete leaves a sport. When a name is retired it won’t be used again. Agnes David Hazel Alicia Diana Hilda Allen Diane Hortense Allison Donna Hugo Andrew Dora Inez Anita Edna Ione Audrey Elena Iris Betsy Eloise Jane Beulah Fifi Joan Bob Flora Keith Camille Fran Klaus Carla Frederic Luis Carmen Floyd Lenny Carol Gilbert Marilyn Celia Gloria Michelle Cesar Gracie Mitch Cleo Georges Opal Connie Hattie Roxanne Do you see your name here? According to the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory/NOAA www.fema.gov/kids/r_hurrnames.htm
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Post by Charity on Sept 8, 2004 11:28:11 GMT -5
Disaster Supply Kit www.fema.gov/kids/dizkit.htmfamily should have a Disaster Supply Kit in their home. The kit will help you and your family during a disaster. In a hurricane or earthquake, for example, you might be without electricity and the water supply may be polluted. In a heavy winter storm or flood, you may not be able to leave your house for a few days. In times like this, you will need to rely on yourself. Your disaster supply kit will make it easier. Remember, your family will probably never need to use your disaster supply kit, but it's always better to be prepared.
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Post by Charity on Sept 8, 2004 11:29:10 GMT -5
Kids Activity Survival Kit You may have to leave your house during a disaster and may sleep somewhere else for a while. It’s smart to put together your own Kid’s Activity Survival Kit so you will have things to do and share with other kids. These can all be stored in a backpack or duffel bag. Just make sure you can carry it easily. Some suggested items for your Activity Survival Kit: A few of your favorite books Crayons, pencils or marking pens and plenty of paper Scissors and glue Two favorite toys such as a doll or action figure One or two board games A deck of cards A puzzle (One with lots of pieces is good -- it takes a long time to do!) Small people figures and play vehicles that you can use to play out what is happening during your disaster -- such as ambulance, fire truck, helicopter, dump truck, police car, small boats. Favorite stuffed animal or puppet Favorite blanket or pillow Pictures of the family and pet A "keep safe" box with a few treasures that make you feel special www.fema.gov/kids/k_srvkit.htm
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Post by Charity on Sept 8, 2004 11:31:24 GMT -5
Hurricane Francis caused a lot of damage and Ivan is already a catagory 4 near jamaica. Track Ivan here: www.weather.com/index.htmlMost importantly of all...pray for those in the path of this monster.
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Post by Charity on Sept 8, 2004 11:34:13 GMT -5
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Post by Charity on Sept 9, 2004 9:47:56 GMT -5
Ivan is now upgraded to a catagory 5 hurricane packing winds of 160 MPH. Latest Developments AFP Photo Fla. Urges New Evacuations As Ivan Nears (AP) - All tourists and recreational vehicles were urged to evacuate the Florida Keys early Thursday because the powerful Hurricane Ivan could hit the island chain by Sunday. Ivan became a Category 5 hurricane overnight with winds up to 160 mph. Forecasters say it could continue to strengthen as it moves toward Jamaica, where it is expected to make landfall Friday or Saturday before heading on to Cuba and then possibly Florida. More... story.news.yahoo.com/fc?cid=34&tmpl=fc&in=World&cat=Hurricanes_and_Tropical_StormsProjected path
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Post by Charity on Sept 13, 2004 8:47:54 GMT -5
As of today Hurricane Ivan is a catagory 5 with 160 MPH winds. Hurricane Ivan Rolls Towards Cuba 1 hour, 15 minutes ago By JAY EHRHART, Associated Press Writer GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands - Hurricane Ivan pummeled the Cayman Islands with floodwaters that swamped homes and fierce winds that ripped off roofs, then strengthened to an extremely dangerous Category 5 storm as it headed for western Cuba on Monday. news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040913/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/hurricane_ivan_7
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Post by Charity on Sept 13, 2004 10:25:19 GMT -5
Prayers for all who are the path of this terrible storm.
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Post by Charity on Sept 15, 2004 18:14:12 GMT -5
Serious prayers of safety to all who are in Ivan's path, including myself.
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Post by Charity on Jun 1, 2005 15:01:13 GMT -5
Hurricane Season Starts Today Published: 6/1/05 FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) - Today is the first day of hurricane season and the latest forecast warns it could be a busy one. A team at Colorado State University headed by William Gray says the ocean continues to heat up and that means more hurricane activity in the Atlantic. Gray's team predicts 15 named storms, Arlene through Ophelia, with eight becoming hurricanes. The team says it expects four of those to be intense, with sustained winds of at least 111 miles an hour. An earlier forecast predicted 13 named storms and seven hurricanes, three of which were expected to be intense. home.bellsouth.net/s/editorial.dll?bfromind=760&eeid=4573009&_sitecat=1522&dcatid=0&eetype=article&render=y&ck=&ch=ne&s=na
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