Posted October 25, 2019
Written by Kyla Isakson
Did you know that the hurricane season lasts for most of the fall season? For the eastern U.S., hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, but storms can occur outside of this time period as well. Hurricanes develop in warm, tropical regions. The eye of a hurricane is the calmest spot in the storm, with the winds and rain roaring on all sides. A hurricane is categorized by wind speed; for a storm to be considered a hurricane, it must reach wind speeds of at least 74mph.
These storms can cause slight to extreme damage including habitat destruction and loss of resources for organisms in the environment, damage to homes and buildings, deaths, coastal destruction, and flooding. One of the most dangerous components of a hurricane is the storm surge, where a large wave hits the coast as the hurricane makes landfall. It is important to pay attention to weather reports and alerts to stay safe and know when an area needs to be evacuated. Hurricanes affect more than just coastal and southern areas, so stay safe during future storms and be prepared with food supplies.
Check out this link from the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) for more information on how to be prepared for future storms.