Learning about hurricanes

1. UNDERSTANDING
HURRICANES
By Linda Cannon Peoples

2. Overview
• This module will help you to understand about
hurricanes. You will:
• Define what hurricanes are
• Look at physical forces and the damage
• Effects on humans
• And, examine an overview of preparation.
• Finally, you will learn from a brief self-test.
• Enjoy your learning and welcome!

3. Menu
• Hurricanes defined
• Hurricane physical disasters
• Effects on humans
• Hurricane preparation
• Self test

4. Hurricanes Defined
A tropical cyclone classifications:
Tropical depression max winds > 38 mph
Tropical storm winds 39-73mph
Hurricane: An intense tropical weather system of
strong thunderstorms with a well-defined surface
circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph
or higher
Season: June 1-November 30
www.floridadisaster.org
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5. Hurricanes defined
Katrina
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6. Hurricanes defined
Saffir-Simpson Scale & Example
TS 39-73 mph Alberto 1995
CAT 1 74-95 mph Irene 1999
CAT 2 96-110 mph George 1998 Classification
CAT 3 111-130 mph Opal 1995 Categories
CAT 4 131-155 mph Donna 1960
CAT 5 155+ mph Labor Day 1935
http://floridadisaster.org
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7. Hurricanes defined
World locations according to
category
http://discovermagazine.com/2007/sep/map-where-do-hurricanes-do-the-most-damage/
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8. Hurricanes defined
The birth of a hurricane
 Begin as tropical storms over warm moist waters
 Moisture rises heated air is twisted in the atmosphere
 Winds circle counterclockwise north of equator,
clockwise south of the equator.
 The peaceful center is called the eye.
 Around the center winds move 74-200+ miles an hour
 Moving over waters 79 degrees F causes hurricanes to
grow.
 Over land and cooler waters hurricanes lose power.
 Near Philippines and China sea hurricanes are
 www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/sevweath/swhoware
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9. Hurricanes defined
Locations of typhoons vs. hurricanes
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/hurricanes/
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10. Hurricane physical disasters
Storm Surge: is water that is pushed toward
the shore by the force of the winds swirling
around the storm. This advancing surge
combines with the normal tides to create the
hurricane storm tide, which can increase the
mean water level 15 ft. or more.
Http://floridadisaster.org
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11. Hurricane physical disasters
Storm surges cause greatest potential loss of life 9 of 10
victims
http://hurricanes.noaa.gov/prepare/surge
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12. Hurricane physical disasters
www.hurricane_katrina_flooding.jpg
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13. Hurricane physical disasters
In the last 30 years, inland flooding has been
responsible for more than half the deaths
associated with tropical storms in the United
States
http://www.floridadisaster.org
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14. Hurricane physical disasters
• Hurricanes can produce tornadoes
• Tornados most likely to occur in the right-front
quadrant of the hurricane
• May also be found embedded in the rain bands
• Tornado watch/warnings issued in addition to
hurricane updates
www.floridadisaster.org
www.hurricanewarning.net/tornados
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15. Hurricane physical disasters
www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/hurricane-inland-flood-wind-tornadoes_2011-08-10?page=3
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16. Hurricane physical disasters
Destroys:
Poorly constructed buildings
Mobile homes
High Winds!
Creates flying missiles
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17. Hurricane physical disasters
/
Image 1: Hurricane Andrew. www.ihc.fiu.edu/about_us/hurricane_hazards.htm
Image 2: Close-up of 1 x 4 board driven through the trunk of a royal palm (NOAA)
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18. Hurricane physical disasters
http://tamutimes.tamu.edu/files/2011/09/hurricane-winds.jpg
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19. Hurricane physical disasters
Counter clock wise winds
http://wwwcache.wral.com/asset/weather/hurricanes/2006/10/23/1044515/hurricane_diagram-450x245.jpg
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20. Effects on humans
Stress Responses
Anxiety Disorders
Coping by Helping Others
Fear
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21. Effects on Humans
Children are affected every where
“We are really sad and hope this makes you feel better, said student Jackie Cantor”.
www.nbc5.com/news5/4914228/detail.html
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22. Effects on humans
Dissociation (feeling unreal, outside self)
Re-experiencing, nightmares, flashbacks
Avoidance/substance abuse
Emotional numbing
Hyper-arousal
Severe anxiety and or depression
Loss of hope self worth motivation purpose
(National Center for PTSD 2003).
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23. Effects on humans
Anxiety Disorders Post Trauma, A Comparison of Symptoms Onset
Disorder Onset Post Event
Acute Catastrophic Stress Disorder Few hours to days
(ACSD)
Worry, insomnia, heightened startle
response, difficulty concentrating and
coping with work
Acute Stress disorder (ASD) Four weeks or more
Nightmares, flashbacks, hyper
vigilance, avoidance, loss of interest,
intrusive thoughts.
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24. Effects on humans
Post traumatic stress Three months to years
disorder (PTSD)
Symptoms present for at *Adapted from: APA (2000)
least one month: Re- The Diagnostic and
experiencing trauma, by Statistical Manual of Mental
nightmare, flashback, Disorders, IV-R
avoidance, sleep
disturbance, irritability, poor
concentration, startle
reaction, regressive behavior.
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25. Effects on humans
Stress related events
(North et al 2000)
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26. Effects on humans
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www.nola.com/hurricanes/photos

27. Effects on humans
Jim, refuses to leave.
www.nola.com/hurricane/photos
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28. Hurricane preparation
What can you do to prepare?
Action Checklist
Stay or Leave?
• Leave if:
• Local authorities recommend/mandate
• Live on coastline or off shore
• Live in a floodplain/near river
• Live in a mobile home
www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib.action
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29. Hurricane preparation
• Pre-plan evacuation route/meeting place
• Have disaster supplies on hand
• Make arrangements for pets
• Instruct family members
• Protect windows
• Develop an emergency communication plan.
http://life.familyeducation.com/hurricane/emergency/34259.html
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30. Hurricane preparation
 Example Good Plan  Example Poor Plan/No plan
 Alabama DOT  New Orleans
 Evacuation Route ID  Eleventh hour decisions
 Reversing lanes  Poor/no sheltering
 Emergency vehicle access  Poor co-ordination
 Manpower  Vertical evacuation
 Traffic control  No Red Cross
 Sequence of events  Lane reversal late
 Public info/sheltering  Public info late/confusion
 www.dot.state.al  http://abcnews.go.cwire/US/a
p20040919606
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31. Preparation Essential
 Hurricane Ivan:
 Category 4
 Extended 520 miles
 Winds up to 160 mph
 If hit New Orleans:
 Under 20 feet of water
 Chemical pollution
 1.2 million people live in Metro
New Orleans
 Red Cross will not enter New
Orleans
 May cease to exist
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/Ivan_indid_out.html
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32. Self Test
Read the following multiple choice carefully.
Choose only one correct answer
Good Luck!
Menu Begin Test

33. Question 1
Some of the physical damages of hurricanes are:
A. Storm surges
B. Flooding
C. Damaging winds
D. All of the above

34. Next
Question

35. Try
Again
Please

36. Question 2
For hurricanes to form they need:
A. Cool and dry waters
B. Warm moist waters
C. Winter like weather
D. Nothing special, they are random.

38. Try
Again!

39. Question 3
An effect on humans after a hurricane can be:
A. Nothing, humans cope fine.
B. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
C. Schizophrenia
D. Night-blindness

40. Rock On to
Question
4

41. Go
Back!
http://tamunews.tamu.edu/wp-
content/uploads/2010/10/hurricane-eye.jpg

42. Question 4
What is most important to prepare for a
hurricane?
A. Duck and hide
B. Pre-plan, communicate with family, listen to warnings
C. Ride it out
D. Wait until you see the hurricane’s eye.

43. Go to More Fun
Links

44. Wrong
Levels! On
Many So
Go
Back
Now!

45. Interesting Links
• http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/nat
ural-disasters/hurricane-profile/
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2635112/
• http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
• http://www.ready.gov/hurricanes
ONE MORE
SLIDE!

46. Congrats! You have finished this module!!
www.hsus.org