Hurricanes are dangerous tropical cyclones. Their winds reach a constant speed of at least 74 mph, but may gust up to 200 mph. Hurricanes can cover several hundred miles, and can generate torrential rains and tornadoes. The eye of the hurricane is misleadingly calm; tricking people into thinking the storm is over. However, when the eye passes over your area, only half the storm has passed; the rest is yet to come. The wind will return suddenly from the opposite direction, perhaps with even greater force. The most dangerous part of a hurricane is the storm surge, which has the greatest potential for hurricane-related deaths. This dome of water forms in the middle of the hurricane as it moves over the ocean, and can reach 10 to 20 feet above normal sea level. At shoreline, this mountain of water, aided by huge breaking waves, acts like a bulldozer, razing everything in its path. It can knock down single-family homes and cause erosion under major buildings. Heavy rains can flood low-lying areas.
For information regarding evacuation zones and emergency shelters, tune in to your local television and radio stations, call your local Red Cross or your county's Emergency Management Office.
Glossary of Terms
Hurricane Season Dates
The six-month period from June 1 to November 30 is considered the Atlantic Hurricane Season.