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Generator Dangers
By Jene' Young Meteorologist
Published: Tue, May 20, 2008 - 10:00 pm
Last Updated: Monday, July 21, 2008 - 6:34 pm
Last Updated: Monday, July 21, 2008 - 6:34 pm
Jene' Young
Hurricane season starts June 1st and ends November 30th.
Hurricanes form in stages... when a storm becomes a Tropical Storm, that's when it earns a name. In a tropical storm, thunderstorms grow, and the wind speed increases. Tropical Storm force winds start at 39 mph and can climb to 73 mph. When the wind inside a Storm reaches 74 mph, that’s when it’s called a hurricane.
The Saffir Simpson Scale measures a hurricanes intensity. The scale rates storms from category one to category five. This scale also estimates storm surge threat.
During Hurricane Katrina, record storm surge was the biggest killer. Storm surge is mostly driven by the wind, but also forms with the low pressure.
When a hurricane approaches the coast, the National Weather Service issues a hurricane watch or hurricane warning. A hurricane watch means you need to prepare, because you may experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours. A hurricane warning means hurricane force winds are possible within a day, and you need to be ready.
It's never easy to plan for a storm. But having basic items like food, water, and even flash lights to last for you and each member of your family for at least 72 hours will keep you safe. One basic idea the National Weather Service wants everyone to remember is ‘run from the water, hide from the wind.’
Dr. Keith Blackwell is a Hurricane Researcher and Meteorology Professor at the University of South Alabama. He says, “Winds scare you, winds get the attention of everybody, you know 150 mph. Yes, that wind is scary, and it can do a lot of damage too, it can kill you if you are unwise, or in the wrong place at the wrong time. But the water is the main thing, the main killer in storms. If storm surge gets to you, you're very likely to drown. You may think oh I can swim good, no you don't understand. Not with all the debris in the water, and all this stuff grinding together, you can get crushed in that surge."
If this is your first hurricane season, Blackwell has one more tip no matter how old you are.
"Pay attention! Look at the radar. When there is a storm going on, and it's coming on your local area, look at the radar! Look at the local TV channels, because you can see the heavy squalls coming at you, and those heavy squalls often contain the strongest wind, and possible tornadoes. If you see these things coming at you, man, hunker down during that time!"
You can find out a lot more about basic hurricane terms, and even evacuation zones. Just click some on the links on the right side of this page.
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Why, Thank you kind sir....