1. The BP Gulf Oil Spill- We are all wondering, what happens if a hurricane hits with the oil spill?

“Depending on the strength of such a tropical storm, rough seas could be a serious problem for containment operations and may cause them to halt until the storm passes,” according to Alex Sosnowski, an AccuWeather.com meteorologist. “Strong winds could steer part of the existing surface oil slick toward the northern Gulf Coast or elsewhere. High winds from a hurricane could also cause some the oil to become airborne in blowing spray, while a storm surge could carry contaminants inland. On the other hand, to some extent, rough seas and heavy rain tend to work toward breaking up an oil slick.”

While it’s unlikely that the oil slick would slow down a major hurricane, if a hurricane is forming in the Gulf of Mexico, the oil slick may inhibit storm development according to a review of scientific literature on the subject by Weather Underground’s Jeff Masters.

2. Haiti

Haiti is extremely vulnerable to damage caused by a  hurricane because it lacks the infrastructure and building codes that the United States has in place and therefore, could be a huge factor for destructive force.

3. La Nina

El Nino inhibits hurricane formation, but La Nina is a cool pattern in the Northern Pacific and does just the opposite. While, it is not here now, it will emerge soon. So, whether or not we reach the high end of the this hurricane season, that will depend quite a bit on La Nina.

4. Hurricane Preparedness

Properly preparing one’s home for a hurricane “can absolutely be the determining factor between some damage and complete damage,” said Ray Stone, the vice president of catastrophe operations for Travelers Insurance. “It could be very well the difference between a home standing and a home laying on the ground.”

Experts have been warning for years that people migrating to the coasts is increasing the risk of serious damage from hurricanes; now, 35 million Americans live along hurricane-prone coasts. Further, while some coastal areas haven’t experienced a hurricane in years or even decades, there’s no telling when one will strike. Many are unprepared. “If this outlook holds true, this season could be one of the more active (hurricane seasons) on record,” said Jane Lubchenco, NOAA administrator. “The greater likelihood of storms brings an increased risk of a landfall. In short, we urge everyone to be prepared.”

Travelers is highlighting four common myths that homeowners have about preparing for hurricanes:

1. The most vulnerable area of the home is the roof. “It simply isn’t true,” Stone said. “The most vulnerable part is the garage door.” If wind enters through the garage door, a window or any other opening, however, the roof is at risk: The rush of air could blow it off, with your stuff following close behind. Kits are available to protect garage doors.
2. You only need to protect the openings facing the water. Hurricanes rotate, and their winds can strike from surprising directions. Similarly, it’s dangerous to try to open windows on the opposite side of the house from the direction of the wind, because they could break in the process, or the wind direction could change suddenly.
3. Taping with a big “X” protects windows. The real key is to make sure windows are securely attached to the building and that they stay that way despite heavy winds.
4. Leaning or pushing against a window or door can prevent it from being blown in. A better plan is to stay clear of windows and doors during the storm. Before the storm, make sure hinges and bolts are secure, and that all openings can be closed securely.

5. Hurricane Beta

Bottom line: The more storms, the more chance for damage

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This entry was posted on Monday, June 21st, 2010 at 10:47 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.