Hurricane Sandy
20F Science – Extreme Weather
Research Report
October, 2012
By: ______
November 5th, 2013
Period 6 – 20F Science
Submitted to: Miss Brunel
Table of Contents
1.0
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 2
2.0
Summary of [Hurricanes] .................................................................................................................. 3
2.1
Hurricanes ..................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2
The cause of Hurricanes ................................................................................................................ 3
2.3
How Hurricanes are measured/rated ........................................................................................... 3
2.4
How hurricanes affect humans ..................................................................................................... 4
2.5
How hurricanes affect the environment....................................................................................... 4
3.0
Case Study: Hurricane Sandy, October 2012. ................................................................................... 5
3.1
Location: Caribbean and East Coast of United States ................................................................... 5
3.2
Amount of damage done .............................................................................................................. 5
3.3
Impact on the people .................................................................................................................... 5
3.4
Impact on the environment .......................................................................................................... 5
4.0
Future Considerations ....................................................................................................................... 5
4.1
To prevent damage ....................................................................................................................... 6
4.2
To lessen the impact ..................................................................................................................... 6
4.3
Helpful resources to have ............................................................................................................. 6
5.0
Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 6
Bibliography .................................................................................................................................................. 7
1.0 Introduction
This is a report on Hurricanes. This report will explain why hurricanes happen, how they are measured,
the affects that hurricanes have on humans and the affects that hurricanes have on the environment. I
2
will be using Hurricane Sandy as an example to show the effects hurricanes can have. Also in this report
are future considerations so that people will know what to do if a hurricane were to hit their area or was
about to.
2.0 Summary of [Hurricanes]
In this section I will describe what a hurricane is, the cause of hurricanes, how hurricanes are measured
or rated, how hurricanes affect the people that are involved and how hurricanes affect the environment.
2.1 Hurricanes
A hurricane is a tropical storm which has winds revolving around a center of low pressure. The centre is
called the eye. In the eye of a hurricane, there is a calm area of blue sky. Around the eye there are very
strong winds (a minimum speed of 120 kilometers per hour) accompanied by torrential rains (Canada,
2013).
2.2 The cause of Hurricanes
The two essential ingredients in every hurricane are warm water and moist warm air. Most Atlantic
hurricanes start when thunderstorms along the west coast of Africa drift out over warm ocean waters
that are at least 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius), where they encounter converging winds
from around the equator (West).
(Tobias, 2012)
2.3 How Hurricanes are measured/rated
Hurricanes are measured using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. This scale is a 1-5 rating that uses the
wind speed as the determining factor. Wind speeds are measured using a 1 minute average (How to
measure Hurricane Strength).
3
2.4 How hurricanes affect humans
Hurricanes affect humans by destroying their belongings, homes and hurting or killing their friends and
loved ones. Hurricanes also put people in financial debt because they need to spend significant amounts
of money on rebuilding their homes and purchasing belongings again. With the loss of their belongings
they also lose things that are not able to be bought, such as family pictures, important documents and
special items.
(Tobias, 2012)
2.5 How hurricanes affect the environment
Powerful winds from hurricanes and tropical storms can blow birds off course and push them hundreds
of miles away from their home habitat. Dolphins and manatees have actually been blown ashore during
major storms. Massive waves can severely harm the marine and aquatic species. The sustained and
powerful winds of a hurricane will cause salty ocean water to pile up and surge onshore (Coyle, 2011).
4
3.0 Case Study: Hurricane Sandy, October 2012.
I will be using Hurricane Sandy that occurred in October of 2012 as an example to support my facts.
3.1 Location: Caribbean and East Coast of United States
Hurricane Sandy began as a tropical wave in the Caribbean on October 19th, 2012. It quickly developed,
becoming a tropical depression and then a tropical storm in just six hours. The storm hit the Caribbean
and then gained strength and hit Cuba on October 25th as a Category 2 hurricane. Sandy weakened and
hit the Bahamas on October 26th. It then gain strength again as it hit the United States on October 29th
(Sharp, 2012).
3.2 Amount of damage done
Sandy ended up causing about $20 billion in property damage and $10 billion to $30 billion more in lost
business, making it one of the costliest natural disasters on record in the United States. Subway tunnels
in Lower Manhattan remained flooded and the airlines had cancelled more than 15,000 flights. Most gas
stations in New York City and New Jersey were closed because of power shortages and depleted fuel
supplies (Sharp, 2012).
3.3 Impact on the people
Hurricane Sandy was responsible for 117 deaths in the United States and 69 more in Canada and the
Caribbean. As of Nov. 1, about 4.7 million people in 15 states were without electricity. Sandy damaged
or destroyed more than 72,000 homes and businesses in New Jersey and the number of homes
destroyed in Cuba has been estimated at 130,000 to 200,000 (Press, 2012).
3.4 Impact on the environment
A variety of toxic chemicals has been washed into New York Harbor and the area's rivers by the storm
surge: petroleum products from waterlogged cars and boats; contaminants from industrial, commercial
and residential buildings, as well as subways, roads, parking lots and tunnels. Thanks to the Sandyrelated storm surge, sewage has been washed into roads and homes instead of being washed back into
the river or harbor (Palmer, 2012).
4.0 Future Considerations
These are some things that you should do if you live in an area where hurricanes happen often or are
ever possible. There are things to do to prevent damage, to lessen the impact and some helpful
resources to have with you or use during a hurricane or before.
5
4.1 To prevent damage
The biggest cause of damage to houses during a hurricane comes from high winds that accompany the
storm .To reinforce windows, either shutters or reinforced glass should be used. Shutters made of wood
that are attached to the house can protect windows and glass doors. Shingles can also be damaged
during a hurricane. This usually occurs when applied shingles have not been properly adhered to the
underlying shingles. Before a storm, have your shingles inspected to make sure the adhesive has
properly attached (Prevent Hurricane damage to your home, 2011).
4.2 To lessen the impact
To help withstand hurricane force winds, your garage door should have a center support, end supports,
and 2x4 horizontal bracings. If not, you can purchase a garage door retro fit kit. Make sure your exterior
door has a minimum of three hinges and a dead bolt with at least a 1" throw length (Foster, 2007).
4.3 Helpful resources to have
Some good things to have with you when there is a hurricane in your area is about 1 gallon of water per
person, 3 days worth of food, battery powered or hand crank radio, flashlight and extra batteries, first
aid kit, whistle to signal for help, maps, and cell phones with chargers. You should always make sure
everyone is prepared and knows what to do in the event of a hurricane. Make sure that no one panics
and everyone moves quickly and efficiently.
5.0 Conclusion
My conclusion for this report is that hurricanes are terrible natural disasters that ruin people’s lives and
homes. I think that being prepared in the event of a hurricane would help a lot and trying not to panic.
6
Bibliography
Canada, G. o. (2013, August 1). Hurricanes. Retrieved November 5, 2013, from Governemt of Canada:
http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/hzd/hrrcns-eng.aspx
Coyle, K. (2011, August 27). Seven things to know about how hurricanes affect wildlife. Retrieved
November 6, 2013, from National Wildlife Federation: http://blog.nwf.org/2011/08/seven-thngs-toknow-about-how-hurricanes-affect-wildlife/
How to measure Hurricane Strength. (n.d.). Retrieved November 5, 2013, from The old farmner's
almanac: http://m.almanac.com/content/how-measure-hurricane-strength-saffir-simpson-hurricanescale
Press, T. A. (2012, November 29). Superstorm Sandy Deaths, Damage And Magnitude: What We Know
One Month Later. Retrieved November 6, 2013, from Huff Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/29/superstorm-hurricane-sandy-deaths2012_n_2209217.html
Prevent Hurricane damage to your home. (2011, August 22). Retrieved November 7, 2013, from Accu
Weather: http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/prevent-hurricane-damage-to-yo/50169
Sharp, T. (2012, November 27). Superstorm Sandy: Facts About the Frankenstorm. Retrieved November
6, 2013, from Live Science: http://www.livescience.com/24380-hurricane-sandy-status-data.html
Tobias, T. (2012, October 1). Social and Econonic Impacts of Hurricanes. Retrieved November 7, 2013,
from Slide Share: http://www.slideshare.net/tishelletobias/social-and-economic-impacts-of-hurricanes14550187
West, L. (n.d.). What causes hurricanes? Retrieved November 5, 2013, from Environmental Issues:
http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/a/hurricanecauses.htm
7