Table of Contents
Definition
Hurricanes are rampant in the tropical areas. They are strong tropical winds with low humidity famously known to be seen in the parts of Caribbean. The hurricane or tropical cyclone winds are estimated to have a force of 74 mph with a measurement of 12 Beaufort scale (Blake, Rappaport, & Landsea, 2007). Therefore, the force coming from the hurricane winds would cause massive destruction of properties and places life hazards to human habitat. Hurricane is an example of various natural disasters that have been a threat to the human population because they are unpredictable and does not have preventive measures.
Why is it hazard?
Hurricane causes severe and extreme damages to the people and the destruction of properties. For instance, the high forces of the wind with a speed of 74 mph would bring down a storey building as well as destroying bridges. Similarly, the humidity wind uproots long and strong trees in a forest placing a hazardous situation to the lives of people and animals within the affected region. The wind comes with huge amount of rains between 5-10 inches (Blake, Rappaport, & Landsea, 2007). The large storms cause flooding which could affect a large size of miles. Similarly, the floods could carry away vital structures such as buildings or other properties as well as the people within an area. Furthermore, cases have been reported that the floods and the winds cause landslides that have adversely affected certain communities to the extent of burying the residents underground. Other effects caused by the hurricane storms include the destruction of technology lines. For instance, the affected region could be blown out where power posts are carried away, and the impact of electricity and water could cause deaths of some individuals. Similarly, the affected areas are left without signals where phones and radio stations are destroyed leaving the people in a blackout.
Who Can It Affect?
Hurricane occurrence affects the population in a particular area. For instance, the winds cause the destruction of properties such as buildings leaving the residents homeless. Similarly, the uprooted internet cables, electricity power lines can affect the running or production companies that rely on a power supply to sustain the lives of the population. Hurricanes affect the people living in the coastal regions (Dolfman, Wasser, & Bergman, 2007). The floods affect the daily activities such as fishing or farming. The heavy rains and flooding could also cause landslides which could bury the residents in the particular area. An overall effect of a hurricane is the economic system. A country affected by the hurricane is forced to close most of their businesses, and the residents could be affected. For example, most affected countries that had had a hurricane case led to the emergence of drought.
Example Of A Hurricane In History
The US government was affected by a massive hurricane which was named as Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The hurricane affected the states of Mississippi and Louisiana and their shores. The wind and massive rains caused flooding on the coasts of New Orleans as reports claimed that 80% of the state was covered with floods. Additionally, the hurricane had caused almost 1800 deaths of the citizens in the affected areas (Dolfman, Wasser, & Bergman, 2007). Most deaths were the cause of floods and the destruction of properties where most casualties were seen. Furthermore, the US government incurred costs amounting to US$81 billion to cater for the reconstruction of properties, relief food for the affected people, medical facilities for the affected casualties, and the preventive measures that would help in any foreseeable natural disaster. Therefore, natural disasters are said to be unpredictable, but most countries have precautionary measures that would see the minimization of the impacts of such catastrophes.
- Blake, E. S., Rappaport, E. N., & Landsea, C. W. (2007). The deadliest, costliest, and most intense United States tropical cyclones from 1851 to 2006 (and other frequently requested hurricane facts) (p. 43). Miami, FL: NOAA/National Weather Service, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, National Hurricane Center.
- Dolfman, M. L., Wasser, S. F., & Bergman, B. (2007). The effects of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans economy. Monthly Lab. Rev., 130, 3.