Preparedness Atlantic Hurricanes and Northeastern Tornadoes

Most east coasters who watch and listen to weather reports realize hurricanes begin as tropical storms in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. The other part of the world most prone to hurricane disturbances is the southern Pacific Ocean. In one hurricane storm alone in 2006 over two-million people evacuated Florida only later to return to flattened mobile homes and ripped off porches. Florida Magazine frequently publishes very specific information for the state's visitors and residents, it's a resource to brush up on local details. All 50 of our states are susceptible to flash flooding for different reasons, yet many of the great floods have been results of hurricanes and sea storms.

The disastrous hurricane Katrina first brushed the coast of Florida on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2005, but did it's major damage when it struck Louisiana on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2005, also causing wreckage in the states of Mississippi and Alabama. During the same year of 2005 as many as 27 tropical storms erupted from the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean. Different than a tornado with a funneled path, hurricanes are fueled by water mass of about 80 degrees, the greater the 80 degree depths the larger the possibility of a tropical storm or a hurricane of higher magnitude. The fast rising heat forces colder atmospheric temperatures in an opposite direction creating condensation that fuels the hurricane. Characterized by gusting winds and heavy rains, flooding is a destructive feature of a hurricane's wrath, speeds starting at 74 mph and capable of developing to catastrophic speeds up to 155 mph.

When weather centers and meteorologists name storms the list is repeated every six years. A subordinate Katrina storm was recorded in 1999. In 2007 tropical storms of magnitude have included Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dean, Erin, Felix, Gabrielle, Humberto, Ingrid, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Noel, and Olga. Right now hurricanes Pablo and Rebekah are brewing in the Caribbean. There's still opportunity this year for Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy.

States of New England also prone to Atlantic storm wreckage have suffered from brief tornadoes traveling from cities to towns in a northeast up-sweep, other gusty storms referred to as noreasters. Weather stations only have13 minutes maximum to alert communities of an oncoming tornado, its speed can max at 250 mph uprooting 60 foot high trees out of the ground as toothpicks and demolishing even stone or brick structures so quickly there are barely any remnants in its wake.

As far as the near future goes weathermen have discovered indicators for severe thunder storms in North Carolina.

With storm details in mind, preparedness for households is a must for safety. Some items to consider having available in a storm cellar include three-days water supply, three-days food and medicine supplies, all-purpose tarp, a full five-gallon portable can of gas, an opt for pets and supplies, flashlights and batteries, weather-band radio and carbon-monoxide detector, some items available at hardware stores, others at home improvement centers or chain retail stores. Recently Florida's state legislators enacted no tax on items purchased for hurricane preparedness.

Insurance companies have estimated the damage of hurricanes Rita, Wilma and Katrina from 40 to 50-billion dollars. Priority years of storms according to magnitude and numbers from lowest to highest include 2006, 1969 and 2005.