Overview

In this section you will find materials that support the implementation of EarthComm, Section 5: Tropical Storms and Hurricanes.

Learning Outcomes

• Analyze and interpret data to explain where in the United States hurricanes occur.
• Analyze data to explain the relationship between hurricane frequency and time of year.
• Analyze data to explain how a hurricane’s strength changes as it moves.
• Obtain information about the hazards posed by hurricanes.

Inquiring Further

1. To learn more about hurricane preparedness, visit the following web sites:
   
   Alabama
   
   State of Alabama Mitigation Plan, State of Alabama Emergency Management Agency
   Information on the state organization that manages the preparedness, response, and recovery to natural disasters, including hurricanes.
   
   Hurricane Preparedness, NOAA
   Potential threats from hurricanes include powerful winds, heavy rainfall, storm surges, coastal and inland flooding, rip currents, tornadoes, and landslides.
   
   Georgia
   
   Severe Weather, Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency
   Information on the state organization that manages the preparedness, response, and recovery to natural disasters, including hurricanes.
   
   The Official Georgia Hurricane Guide, Georgia Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency
   Information on hurricanes and storm surges as well as maps showing potential storm surge areas and evacuation zones.

Tropical Cyclones Classification and Preparedness, Georgia Emergency Management Agency
Information about the hurricane history of Georgia, hurricane hazards in Georgia, and useful information about how to be ready to respond to a hurricane the next time one threatens Georgia.

Texas

Texas Division of Emergency Management
Information on the state organization that manages the preparedness, response, and recovery to natural disasters, including hurricanes.

Hurricane Preparedness, Texas Division of Emergency Management
Information about the hurricane hazards in Texas, evacuation routes, and suggestions for how to be ready to respond to a hurricane.

Florida

Florida Division of Emergency Management
Portal with Information on the state organization that manages the preparedness, response, and recovery to natural disasters, including hurricanes.

Florida Hazards Watch – Hurricanes, Florida Division of Emergency Management
Describes hurricane hazards, what to do when hurricane watches and warnings are issued, and how to prepare for a hurricane.

North Carolina

NC Division of Emergency Management
Information on the state organization that manages the preparedness, response, and recovery to natural disasters, including hurricanes.

Hurricanes, NC Division of Emergency Management
Provides information about ways in which to prepare for a hurricane. Open tabs to learn about historic events and gather more information.
 

To learn more about careers in hurricane monitoring , visit the following web sites:

National Hurricane Center, NOAA
Issues watches, warnings, forecasts, and analyses of hazardous tropical weather.

National Hurricane Center Virtual Tour, NOAA
Virtual tour of NOAA's National Hurricane Center.

Resources

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:

Hurricanes

Tropical Depressions, Tropical Storms, and Hurricanes, NOAA
Describes the differences between these three related weather events.

Learn About Hurricanes, Homeland Security
Describes how hurricanes form, where they are common, and how hurricane categories are determined.

How to Prepare for a Hurricane, FEMA
Comprehensive guide about warnings, actions, and what to do after landfall. Contains a useful checklist and quiz.

Hurricanes: The Greatest Storms on Earth, NASA
Describes how hurricanes form, weaken, where they occur, how they are related to climate, and NASA missions to study hurricanes.

Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones, UCAR
Answers questions about how hurricanes form, where they are found, damage from hurricanes, hurricane intensity, hurricane structure, and tracking.

Hurricane Return Periods, NOAA
Hurricane return periods are the frequency at which a certain intensity of hurricane can be expected within a given distance of a given location. Learn about the likelihood of repeat events.

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina, NOAA
Provides satellite images and photos of Hurricane Katrina.  Examines the response to the hurricane and the damage it caused.

Hurricane Preparedness

Preparedness Fast Facts – Hurricanes, American Red Cross
Provides suggestions for preparing against the dangers of a hurricane.

How to Prepare for a Hurricane, FEMA
Comprehensive guide about warnings, actions, and what to do after landfall. Contains a useful checklist and quiz.