Note: When the wind speed doubles, there’s an eight fold increase in the wind’s power, making a Category 5 hurricane at least 8 times more powerful than a Category 1.
Examples: Continue reading
Hurricane
Disaster Proofing Your Home
The federal government declared 86 major natural disasters in the first nine months of 2011, more than in any full year in the past. Ten of those disasters topped $1 billion in damage, and at least three—Hurricane Irene along the Atlantic coast up to Vermont…the Virginia-based earthquake…and wildfires as far north as Minnesota—remind us that disasters can strike homes that are not built to withstand them. There’s no way to make a house completely disaster-proof, but there are home-improvement projects that can significantly limit damage and/or improve the odds that a home will survive. Not all of these projects make financial sense for every home owner, but many provide considerable protection at a reasonable price.
Helpful: Insurers sometimes offer discounts to home owners who invest in home-protection upgrades. Continue reading
Preparation for a Power Outage
Power Outage Prep…Beyond the Obvious
My family and I are still counting our blessings after Hurricane Sandy wreaked her havoc in our region. We only lost power for three days, and had no real damage to our home; just a few random shingles off the roof. Needless to say, millions of others were not so lucky.
We had ample warning about the storm and, like most others in the region, made many preparations in case of a power outage. Of course there were the obvious steps we all know about, like loading up on batteries for flashlights and radios…stocking up on nonperishable food, water and firewood…filling bathtubs with water…filling our gas tanks …stowing outdoor items.
To help you prepare next time, here are some beyond-the-obvious tips, gathered from my wide network of friends, coworkers and expert contributors. And please post your own additions below! Continue reading
Hurricane Terms
Familiarize yourself with these terms to help identify a hurricane hazard:
Tropical Cyclone: A warm-core non-frontal synoptic-scale cyclone, originating over tropical or subtropical waters, with organized deep convection and a closed surface wind circulation about a well-defined center. Once formed, a tropical cyclone is maintained by the extraction of heat energy from the ocean at high temperature and heat export at the low temperatures of the upper troposphere. Continue reading
LDS Emergency Preparedness 