Hurricanes are large rotating storm systems that form over warm ocean waters. They develop from tropical storms and require ocean temperatures of at least 79°F. As the storms draw energy from the warm ocean, moisture evaporates and condenses, causing the winds to circle around the storm's low pressure center. The most destructive hurricanes have sustained winds over 74 mph. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was one of the deadliest, causing over $100 billion in damage and thousands of deaths along the Gulf Coast. To mitigate hurricane damage, buildings can be constructed to withstand high winds and flooding through sturdy foundations and supportive structures.

1. Hurricanes
Connor Hekking, Kai Patil, Cooper Jordan

2. What Is A Hurricane
A hurricane is a rotating low pressure system that can be several hundred miles
across. The winds in a hurricane can range from about 75 mph to 200 mph and
the hurricane itself moves at about 15 mph over the ocean. The eye is the calmest
part of the hurricane because the winds never reach it because the coriolis effect
deflects the winds. A storm that has rotating winds less than 39 mph it is called a
tropical depression, more that 39 and it is a tropical storm and at 74 or more it is a
hurricane.

3. How Are Hurricanes Formed?
Ocean water has to be 79 degrees fahrenheit or more for a hurricane to form
because hurricanes get the majority of their energy from warm ocean water.
Hurricanes begin as storms over warm ocean water then huge amounts of
moisture evaporate and twist in the atmosphere. Then the Winds begin to circle
clockwise if they are in the north hemisphere and clockwise if they are in the
southern hemisphere because of the coriolis effect. The peaceful center of the
hurricane is called the eye

4. History Of The Hurricane
Over 3000 years ago, some civilizations had storm gods. The Tainos of the
Caribbean and the Maya of Mexico and Central America believed that their god
Hurakan caused wind and storms. According to their legends, it was Hurakan who
showed god's’ displeasure with humans by sending a great flood. The name
Hurakan may be the origin of the word Hurricane. The word hurricane was finally
put to use in the 1500’s by explorers to describe a severe storm.
Kublai Khan’s fleet attempting
to invade Japan but is stopped
by a hurricane. Saving Japan
from being invaded.

5. Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was one of the most deadly hurricanes to ever hit
America. An estimated 1,833 people died in the hurricane and the mass flooding
that followed. Along with that, millions were left homeless in the Gulf Coast and
New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina was the costliest storm to ever hit America with
an estimated cost of $108 billion in damage according to the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration. It was also a VERY big
storm. At its peak, the storm reaches 35 to 40 nautical
miles (46 to 55 kilometers) At its largest point, it
reached over 100 miles.

6. How Did People Respond To Katrina?
Government officials have sought to respond to these types of situations
very quickly. Two associations, FEMA and The Post-Katrina Post Management
Reform Act have helped cities that are a constant victim to hurricanes plan
evacuation plans, provide better communications to those who were harshly
affected to increase funding to the rebuilding of cities that were damaged in the
hurricane.

7. Stages Of A Hurricane
The first stage of a hurricane is a tropical disturbance, a large mass of
thunderstorm with minor rotation. Next is a tropical depression, a group of
thunderstorms in the right atmospheric conditions. After that, comes a tropical
storm, a storm with intense winds that start to look circular like a hurricane. Then
finally comes a Hurricane, what we all know about.

8. How To Mitigate A Hurricane
The damage of a hurricane is the very high speed winds along with the
flooding that comes with hurricanes. The only logical thing to do is to make
buildings more stable. A good way to do this is to make the base of the building
more sturdy. This would allow for a majority of building to resist the rushing water.
In addition to flooding, there are very high speed winds that can often knock trees
and small buildings over. To prevent this from
happening, construction workers and structural
engineers can design buildings so that they are
more supportive throughout the whole building.
As of now, builders only do this to important
and major buildings, not every building.

9. On September 8, 1900, a hurricane ripped through Galveston, Texas. This
hurricane killed anywhere between 6,000 to 8,000. This city, nicknamed the
Oleander City was filled with vacationers. The U.S Weather Bureau issued a
warning to move to higher ground, A 15 foot storm surge swept through the
whole town without the awareness of many citizens. This led to flooding that
drowned many people. Most of the people
died from the harsh winds though.
Hurricane Galveston

10. Difference
Did you know there is actually no weather difference between a cyclone, typhoon,
and hurricane? These storms are only named differently because of where they
formed on the earth. In the Atlantic and Northeast pacific, it is considered a
hurricane. The exact same storm in the northwest pacific is called a typhoon. And
cyclones occur in the south pacific or indian ocean.

11. Citations
"How Are Hurricanes Formed." How Are Hurricanes Formed. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2017.
US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "What Is a Hurricane?" NOAA's National
Ocean Service. NOAA, 28 June 2013. Web. 31 Mar. 2017.
"How are hurricanes formed." NASA Spaceplane. NASA, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2017.
"Weather Observers Misread Wind Speeds, Skewing a Major Hazards Database." Watts Up With That? N.p., 08 June 2016.
Web. 31 Mar. 2017.
Morris, Neil. Hurricanes, Typhoons, & Other Tropical Cyclones. Chicago, IL: World Book, Inc., 2008. Print.
Chambers, Catherine. Hurricanes. Chicago, IL: Heinemann Library, 2001. Print.