A hurricane is a severe type of tropical storm. Hurricanes produce high winds, heavy rains and thunderstorms. Hurricanes can cause tremendous damage. Winds can exceed 155 miles per hour. Hurricanes and tropical storms can also spawn tornadoes and lead to flooding. The high winds and heavy rains can destroy buildings, roads and bridges, and knock down power lines and trees. In coastal areas, very high tides called storm surges cause extensive damage.
Although there are no guarantees of safety during a hurricane, you can take actions to protect yourself. You should have a disaster plan. Being prepared can help reduce fear, anxiety and losses.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Hurricane(Federal Emergency Management Agency) - http://www.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/index.shtm
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Hurricanes(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/
Also available in Spanish http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/espanol/
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Hurricanes(Dept. of Homeland Security) - http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/hurricanes.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.listo.gov/america/beinformed/hurricanes.html
- Natural Hazards - Hurricanes(U.S. Geological Survey) - http://www.usgs.gov/hazards/hurricanes/
- Hurricane Threats: Time to Batten Down the Hatches(09/07/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68994.html
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CDC Offers Checklist for People in Path of Upcoming Hurricanes(09/05/2008, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2008/a080905.htm
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Managing Traumatic Stress: After the Hurricanes(American Psychological Association) - http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=107
Also available in Spanish http://www.centrodeapoyoapa.org/articulos/articulo.php?id=107
- Parent Guidelines for Helping Children After a Hurricane(National Child Traumatic Stress Network) - Links to PDF - http://www.nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/parents_guidelines_talk_children_hurricanes.pdf
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Tornadoes, Hurricanes and Children(American Psychological Association) - http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=109
Also available in Spanish http://www.centrodeapoyoapa.org/articulos/articulo.php?id=109
- After a Hurricane: Key Facts about Infectious Disease(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/keyfactsinfectiousdisease.asp
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Consumer's Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes(Dept. of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service) - http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Severe_Storms_and_Hurricanes_Guide/index.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.fsis.usda.gov/En_Espanol/Guia_Tormentas_Huracanes_Severos/index.asp
- FAQ: Hurricane Recovery and Leptospirosis(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/leptofaqs.asp
- FDA Offers Tips about Medical Devices and Hurricane Disasters(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/emergency/hurricane.html
- Food Safety for Consumers Returning Home After a Hurricane and/or Flooding(Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition) - http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsdisas5.html
- Hurricanes: Health and Safety Before and After a Storm(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/hurricane.html
- Prepare for Hurricane Season: Advice From FDA(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/hurricane052307.html
- Returning Home After the Hurricane: Staying Safe and Healthy(American Lung Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.lungusa.org/atf/cf/{7A8D42C2-FCCA-4604-8ADE-7F5D5E762256}/KATRINA%20BROCHURE.PDF
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Tornado or Hurricane Fire Safety(United States Fire Administration) - http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/safety/tips/tornado.shtm
Also available in Spanish https://www.usfa.dhs.gov/espanol/homefireprevention/seasonal-hurricanes.shtm
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What Consumers Need to Know About Food and Water Safety During Hurricanes, Power Outages and Floods(Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition) - http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsdisas.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/sfsdisas.html
- U.S. Weather Watch/Warning Map(National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) - http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/wwa/
- Hurricane Information(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Emergency/02_Hurricanes.asp
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Caring for those who care: the role of the occupational... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18604920&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Use of BRFSS data and GIS technology for rapid public... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18558047&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Hurricane Katrina's impact on Tulane's teaching hospitals. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18528490&tool=MedlinePlus
- Hurricanes -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(hurricane*[tiab]+AND+natural+disasters[mh])+AND+(disaster+planning[mh]+OR+emergencies[mh])+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/
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Federal Emergency Management Agency - http://www.fema.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.fema.gov/spanish/index_spa.shtm
- Food and Drug Administration - http://www.fda.gov/
- FEMA for Kids: Hurricanes(Federal Emergency Management Agency) - http://www.fema.gov/kids/hurr.htm
- Coping with Disasters - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copingwithdisasters.html
- Disaster Preparation and Recovery - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disasterpreparationandrecovery.html
- Disasters - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/disasters.html
Hurricanes - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/hurricanes.html