Hurricane Preparedness Week Article #3-High Wind & Tornadoes

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JonathanBelles
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Hurricane Preparedness Week Article #3-High Wind & Tornadoes

#1 Postby JonathanBelles » Tue May 27, 2008 11:54 am

Hurricane Preparedness Week Article #3

Tuesday May 27th, 2008-High Winds and Tornadoes

Now that we have seen what water and the sea can do, we shall see what wind and air can do on land.

High Winds
Since hurricanes are measured by how fast the winds are moving inside of them, they should be considered one of the deadly forces of a hurricane. Hurricanes are categorized by what is called the Saffir-Simpson Scale. The categories range from 1-5 with 5 being the worst with winds 156mph and greater. Although a hurricane is technically a cyclone with winds greater than 73 mph, a tropical storm (with winds of 39-73 mph) can also carry enough damage to damage houses and other structures. For this reason, emergency crews and traffic on high exposed areas stop at Tropical Storm Force in many cases. This is a reason both to get into a shelter and stay there so that you cannot get hurt and you cannot get stuck exposed in the elements.
Even the smallest of things that would normally not be dangerous become very dangerous during a hurricane’s high winds. Everything from plywood, glass, and bricks to news papers, license plates, and school supplies can become missiles.
Due to the structure of a hurricane, its winds are usually in the front right quadrant the cyclone. This is because the hurricanes wind speed is added to the hurricanes forward speed. The opposite happens on the opposite quadrant. Winds also increase in high exposed areas such as bridges and skyscrapers.

Wind Safety

Apply shutters and prepare/apply plywood to windows before a hurricane comes.
Don’t tape your windows…it’s a complete waste of time, and it makes a mess on your window.
Park you car directly up to a garage door or reinforce it.
If you live in a mobile home or near a mobile home park and a hurricane is coming, leave and go to a more sturdy structure and away from likely debris.
Trim all trees well before a hurricane comes so that garbage pickup can pick up the limbs so that they do not fly around off the curb.
Remove bricks/rocks that will go flying in high winds.
Bring in all outside furniture and other objects, or put it in the pool so they do not fly around.
Turn on the TV/radio as soon as the winds begin to pick up. When moving to the sheltered room with no windows turn up the TV as far as you can as long as it is on so that you can here it.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes also have a large role in damage from hurricanes. Winds can go from 75 mph to over 200mph every once in a while in these cyclones in a cyclone. Tornadoes are most likely in your area if you are in the right-front quadrant in an intensifying, landfalling hurricane. Tornadoes can also be found in some of the stronger rainbands. Not all hurricanes produce tornadoes, but about 50% of hurricanes do. Although most tornadoes are very weak in a tornado, they do add to the damage in a very small area.
Many of the signs that a tornado is coming are often not there in a hurricane. Usually hail and lighting are not present in from of a hurricane’s tornado. Tornadoes in hurricanes also are not usually shrouded by the green or red sky as would be seen in tornadoes outside of hurricanes, but they usually are shrouded in rain and wind, unlike many of their Midwest counterparts.
Tornadoes from hurricanes are possible hundreds of miles inland from the landfall point and days after the hurricane has died. Tornadoes within a hurricane can also occur at any time day or night.

Tornado Safety
When a tornado watch is issued, be prepared to take shelter at any moment, and turn on the TV and radio so you are alert about the situation.
If a tornado warning is issued, take shelter immediately!!
If you live in a mobile home, prepare a shelter or safe place as close to your home as possible that could hold up against a tornado.
Do NOT open windows for a tornado; all it does is give your roof, and likely your house to the tornado.
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JonathanBelles
Professional-Met
Professional-Met
Posts: 11430
Age: 35
Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2005 9:00 pm
Location: School: Florida State University (Tallahassee, FL) Home: St. Petersburg, Florida
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#2 Postby JonathanBelles » Wed May 28, 2008 9:52 am

Today's article is gonna be late because of a few things I have to do.
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