Hurricane Floyd

A disaster that happened throughout the United States

      Hurricane Floyd hit most of the east coast of the United States that happened from September 14 to September 18 1999. It also hit The Bahamas at maximum strength as a category 4 hurricane. Hurricane Floyd hit the Bahamas but only killed one person.  After hitting the Bahamas Hurricane Floyd traveled its distructive path up the east coast of America. Hurricane Floyd made landfall in America touching North Carolina with category two strength and killing thirty-five people in its path. It continued its path through Virginia killing three people at category two strength.  Then to Deleware killing four. It then hit Pennsylvania and New Jersey killing six in each area. Floyd then traveled through New York killing 2 people.  Connecticut and Vermont were Floyd's next victims killing one person in both areas. Floyd originated off the coast of Africa as a tropical wave.  After 1,000 miles of travel Floyd became Tropical Depression eight. 

       On the tenth of December Floyd became a hurricane, causing the 3rd largest  evacuationin U. S. history.  Floyd was one of the largest hurricanes ever to form on the Atlantic.  Floyd formed on the 7th of September and dissipated on the 19th, killing 57 people total and costing the country 4.5 billion dollars in damage control.  Floyd's winds reached a point of 155 mph, when it hit the Bahamas.  Floyd scared millions of Americans who thought that they were going to be hit by the terrible hurricane.  Over one-million Floridians were evacuated from their homes in fear that they were going to be hit by such a terrible storm.

         While travling over the Bahamas Hurricane Floyd stayed just under category 5 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.  Hurricane Floyd made landfall in the   Bahamas causing over five feet of  water in different areas all over the archipelago country.  Considering that Hurricane Floyd brought waves as tall as 50 feet you wouldn't expect any less flooding.  To help the victims of Hurricane Floyd, the Bahamian Red Cross Society started 41 shelters, and the Inter-Development American Bank paid $21 million in damage control fixing roads, bridges, and other building projects.  

      Florida was not mainly hit by the Hurricane but was still in trouble.  Damage Control in Northeast Florida cost $46.5 million.  Georgia and South Carolina were expected to be hit by the storm but then became lucky when the storm's path turned and Hurricane Floyd headed north.

     North Carolina suffered some of the worst force from the storm.  North Carolina's death toll from Hurricane Floyd was almost six times that of the second highest death toll held by Pennsylvania and New Jersey of six people for each state, North Carolina had thirty-five deaths.  Hurricane Floyd also brought tornados to North Carolina.  North Carolina was still recovering from Hurricane Dennis who had just hit a few weeks prior to this.  Hurricane Floyd left almost 20 inches of rainfall in Wilmington, a city in North Carolina.  The town of Princeville, just miles away from Wilmington,was greatly destroyed when the levee was flooded,

a house that was destroyed by        a situation similar to that of what happened in New Orleans

Hurricane Floyd                    during Hurricane Katrina. North Carolina had $5.6 billion

                                  worth in damage control. In Virginia the death toll was one person and

                                  $101 million worth in damage.Maryland had 14 inches of rain.  Also they had an almost $8 million damage control total, and two-hundred, and fifty-thousand people were left withoutpower.  Somerville, New Jersey and Vernon Deleware both experienced 14 inches of rain.  The Raritan River flooded with almost five feet.  And Bound Brook, New Jersey had a major flooding of 42 feet.  In Northern Pennsylvania almost 1.5 million people lost power.  As Floyd traveled across New England it caused power outages and and about 15 inches of rain in Connecticut.

 Pictures of the Aftermath

How a Hurricane Forms

Hurricanes form in tropical regions where there is warm water (at least 80 degrees Fahrenh­eit / 27 degrees Celsius), moist air and converging equatorial winds.

Most Atlantic hu­rricanes begin off the west coast of Africa, starting as thunderstorms that move out over the warm, tropical ocean waters.

A thunderstorm reaches hurricane status in three stages:

• Tropical depression - swirling clouds and rain with wind speeds of less than 38 mph (61.15 kph / 33 kt)
• Tropical storm - wind speeds of 39 to 73 mph (54.7 to 117.5 kph / 34 to 63 kt)
• Hurricane - wind speeds greater than 74 mph (119 kph / 64 kt)

It can take anywhere from hours to several days for a thunderstorm to develop into a hurricane. 

Three events must occur for a hurricane to form:

• A continuing evaporation-condensation cycle of warm, humid ocean air
• Patterns of wind characterized by converging winds at the surface and strong, uniform-speed winds at higher altitudes
• A difference in air pressure (pressure gradient) between the surface and high altitude

What To Do When A Hurricane Is in the Area

Know What Hurricane WATCH and WARNING Mean

• WATCH: Hurricane conditions are possible in the specified area of the WATCH, usually within 36 hours.
• WARNING: Hurricane conditions are expected in the specified area of the WARNING, usually within 24 hours.

Prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan

• Identify ahead of time where you could go if you are told to evacuate. Choose several places--a friend's home in another town, a motel, or a shelter.
• Keep handy the telephone numbers of these places as well as a road map of your locality. You may need to take alternative or unfamiliar routes if major roads are closed or clogged.
• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or TV stations for evacuation instructions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
• Take these items with you when evacuating:
  • Prescription medications and medical supplies;
  • Bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows
  • Bottled water, battery-operated radio and extra batteries, first aid kit, flashlight
  • Car keys and maps
  • Documents, including driver’s license, Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit Including the Following Items:

• First aid kit and essential medications.
• Canned food and can opener.
• At least three gallons of water per person.
• Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags.
• Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries.
• Special items for infants, elderly, or disabled family members.
• Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, gas and water if authorities advise you to do so. (Remember, you'll need a professional to turn them back on.)

Prepare for High Winds

• Install hurricane shutters or purchase precut 1/2" outdoor plywood boards for each window of your home. Install anchors for the plywood and predrill holes in the plywood so that you can put it up quickly.
• Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through.

Know What to Do When a Hurricane WATCH Is Issued

• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or TV stations for up-to-date storm information.
• Prepare to bring inside any lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants, and anything else that can be picked up by the wind.
• Prepare to cover all windows of your home. If shutters have not been installed, use precut plywood as described above. Note: Tape does not prevent windows from breaking, so taping windows is not recommended.
• Fill your car's gas tank.
• Recheck manufactured home tie-downs.
• Check batteries and stock up on canned food, first aid supplies, drinking water, and medications.

Know What to Do When a Hurricane WARNING Is Issued

• Listen to the advice of local officials, and leave if they tell you to do so.
• Complete preparation activities.
• If you are not advised to evacuate, stay indoors, away from windows.
• Be aware that the calm "eye" is deceptive; the storm is not over. The worst part of the storm will happen once the eye passes over and the winds blow from the opposite direction. Trees, shrubs, buildings, and other objects damaged by the first winds can be broken or destroyed by the second winds.
• Be alert for tornadoes. Tornadoes can happen during a hurricane and after it passes over. Remain indoors, in the center of your home, in a closet or bathroom without windows.
• Stay away from flood waters. If you come upon a flooded road, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car and climb to higher ground.

Know What to Do After a Hurricane Is Over

• Keep listening to NOAA Weather Radio or local radio or TV stations for instructions.
• If you evacuated, return home when local officials tell you it is safe to do so.
• Inspect your home for damage.
• Use flashlights in the dark; do not use candles.
• Power Outage Safety
• Food Safety
• Chainsaw Safety
• Portable Generator Safety
• Water treatment:

Bibliography

www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/19990915/   Blaes, Jonathan. "Hurricane Floyd, September 1999." Http:/Www4.Ncsu.Edu. 24 Apr. 2008 <http://www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/19990915/>.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Floyd "Hurricane Floyd." Http:/En.Wikipedia.Org. 22 Apr. 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Floyd>.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/hurricane1.htm Marshall Brain and Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D."How Hurricanes Form <http://science.howstuffworks.com/hurricane1.htm>

 http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/0305hurricane/ "Hurricane Awareness" <http://http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/0305hurricane/>