| Many people think that severe hurricane | | | | Virgin Islands, 24 deaths in the Caribbean |
| activity is a recent trend. In actuality, | | | | and 21 deaths in the United States. This |
| studies show that the United States has been | | | | hurricane caused at least $8 billion in |
| a target of violent hurricanes thru ought its | | | | damages.In 2005 the United States was hit |
| history. To appreciate the full destructive | | | | with what will be remembered as one of the |
| power of hurricanes, a look at the history of | | | | most devastating hurricanes in American |
| hurricane activity in the past hundred years | | | | history. On August 23, a few hundred miles |
| is necessary.Over a century ago, Texas was | | | | south east of the Bahamas, a tropical storm |
| hit by a hurricane so strong that it caused | | | | that was eventually known as Katrina formed. |
| the deaths of thousands of people. This was | | | | The very next day it moved through the |
| before hurricanes were actually named, so it | | | | northern Bahamas before turning towards |
| became known simply as the Galveston | | | | southern Florida. After moving over the |
| Hurricane of 1900 due to the fact that it | | | | Miami-Date/Broward county line late on August |
| first made landfall at Galveston, Texas. Not | | | | 26, the storm intensified and became a |
| much is known about the hurricane before it | | | | Category 5 hurricane. On August 28, Hurricane |
| made landfall simply because the United | | | | Katrina made landfall near Buras, Louisiana. |
| States did not have any sophisticated weather | | | | The maximum winds of the storm was estimated |
| monitoring systems in place at that time. | | | | at 125 mph when it made landfall a second |
| Once the storm hit the U.S. coastline, it | | | | time around the Louisiana/Mississippi |
| became the worst weather disaster in United | | | | border.Although Hurricane Katrina was not the |
| States history. The storm tides measured from | | | | most powerful storm to ever hit the United |
| 8 to 15 feet high and completely swept over | | | | States, it was the most costly. When |
| Galveston Island, not to mention much of the | | | | everything was over, at least 1,200 deaths |
| nearby Texas coastline. This storm was | | | | were recorded. Storm surge caused by the |
| responsible for the deaths of over 10,000 | | | | storm breached the levees at New Orleans and |
| people. Furthermore, property damage was | | | | caused catastrophic damage to most parts of |
| estimated at roughly $30 million.In 1919, the | | | | the city. This storm occurred towards the end |
| Atlantic-Gulf Hurricane slammed into Texas on | | | | of the 2005 hurricane season. At the |
| September 14. The storm brought with it storm | | | | beginning of the 2006 season, the damage that |
| surges of up to 12 feet. Although few air | | | | was caused was so severe (at least $75 |
| pressure measurements still exist from this | | | | billion) that the city of New Orleans and |
| incident, a ship that was anchored near the | | | | much of the surrounding areas have still not |
| Dry Tortugas recorded a measurement of 27.37 | | | | recovered.Most people think that the only |
| inches. This makes the 1919 storm the third | | | | dangers a hurricane poses are before and |
| most intense in United States history. The | | | | immediately after the storm strikes. Usually, |
| storm caused almost 900 deaths, the loss of | | | | the damage that a hurricane causes are |
| 10 ships and over $22 million in damages.In | | | | forgotten by most people once the storm |
| 1938, the northern United States was | | | | dissipates. Unfortunately, the after effects |
| subjected to the New England Hurricane of | | | | can be felt long after the storm leaves an |
| 1938. | | | | area. The problems that the hurricanes cause |
| | | | can take months or even years to fully |
| Storm surges swept over coastline stretching | | | | recover from. It is not unheard of for people |
| from Long Island to Narragansett Bay in | | | | to go without power for days or even weeks if |
| Massachusetts. This storm was responsible for | | | | they live within the disaster area of a |
| over 600 deaths and about $308 million in | | | | storm.With proper preparation, any family can |
| property damages.In 1954 Hurricane Hazel | | | | weather a hurricane. Important things to |
| battered multiple countries with wind speeds | | | | remember when preparing for a hurricane |
| of around 106 and gusts of 130 to 150 mph | | | | are:-House Preparation: Make sure all windows |
| along the Carolina coastline. After this, it | | | | and potentially flimsy doors are taped to |
| hit Washington D.C. with speeds of 78 mph, | | | | prevent severe shattering. Remove lose debris |
| with gusts of over 90 mph recorded as far | | | | from outside the home, these can turn into |
| north as New York. All together, Hurricane | | | | dangerous objects when the winds |
| Hazel caused 400 to 1,000 deaths in Haiti, | | | | rise.-Communication: Keep every line of |
| 100 deaths in Canada, and almost 100 more | | | | communication open. This means having battery |
| deaths in the United States. In the end, this | | | | operated radios and televisions handy. This |
| storm caused roughly $381 million in damages | | | | will allow you to get all of the latest |
| across 3 countries.More recently, Hurricane | | | | weather and evacuation related news as |
| Alicia in 1983 hit the gulf coast in | | | | quickly as possible. If the authorities order |
| mid-August. With sustained speeds of 96 mph | | | | an evacuation, be sure to tell family and |
| and gusts of over 125 mph, this storm system | | | | friends elsewhere your destination. Also, if |
| brought major destruction along its entire | | | | the authorities do order an evacuation, be |
| path. Additionally, the hurricane spawned no | | | | ready to move because they frequently have |
| less than 23 tornadoes.One of the costliest | | | | access to much more accurate data than you |
| storms in United States history was Hurricane | | | | do.-Survival Gear: Make sure you have plenty |
| Hugo. It hit the South Carolina coastline in | | | | of food stuffs, medical supplies and other |
| 1989. On September 18, the storm passed over | | | | essential items that you may need for at |
| the Leeward Islands and St. Croix in the | | | | least a few days.-Backup Power: Many people |
| atlantic. Then it turned northward, and | | | | forget about this last point. Equipping your |
| strengthened in the last 12 hours before | | | | home with a reliable backup power source can |
| striking Charleston, SC on September 22. | | | | save you a lot of headaches later. Those |
| Sustained winds of at least 104 mph were | | | | suffering from the after affects of a |
| reported, with gusts going as high as 120 | | | | hurricane many times have to go without vital |
| mph. All told, Hurricane Hugo was responsible | | | | services for extended amount of time. |
| for 5 deaths in Puerto Rico and the U.S. | | | | |