Different Natural Disasters Part 3

Hurricanes

What is a Hurricane:

A hurricane is a well-defined system of showers and thunderstorms with a well-defined circulation center with maximum winds of 74 mph or greater.

The different levels of severity:

Category 1:

This level of hurricane will cause minimal damage. The central pressure will be 979 millibars or greater or 28.91 inches or greater. They will have winds between 74 and 95 miles per hour. It will cause storm surges of 4 to 5 feet.

An example of a category 1 hurricane is Hurricane Barry, which hit Louisiana in 2019.

The primary damage will be done to shrubbery, tree foliage, and unanchored homes. There will not be a huge amount of damage done to any other structures. There might be some damage done to poorly damaged signs. A low-lying coastal road may flood. There also may be a little bit of pier damage, and small craft in exposed anchorages may be torn from the moorings

Category 2:

This level of hurricane can cause moderate damage. The central pressure is between 965 and 979 Millibars or between 28.50 and 28.91 inches. They will have winds between 96 and 110 miles per hour. They will also cause 6 to 8 foot storm surges.

An example of a category 2 hurricane is Hurricane Rita, which caused a significant amount of damage to the Gulf coast in 2005. At this level, the damage to the nature will be in the tree foliage and some down trees. There will be major damage to exposed mobile homes. There will be extensive damage to poorly constructed signs. There will be some damaged roofing. Coastal roads and escape routes will be blocked by rising water. There will be considerable damage to piers. Marinas will be flooded. Small crafts in unprotected anchorages will be torn from their moorings. There will be a required evacuation from some shoreline residences and low-lying islands.

Category 3: 

This hurricane can have extensive damage. There will be a central pressure between 945 and 979 Millibars or between 27.91 and 28.47 Inches. There will be winds between 111 miles per hour and 130 miles per hour. There will also be storm surges of between 9 and 12 feet.

An example of a Category 3 hurricane is Hurricane Katrina, which caused major flooding damage to New Orleans, Louisiana, and Biloxi, Mississippi. There will be many trees that are damaged and blocked roads. Flying and falling debris. There will be a high risk of injury or death to people and livestock. Nearly all newer mobile homes will be destroyed and newer mobile homes will have experienced large amounts of damage. There can also be large amounts of damage to frame homes, apartments, and industrial buildings. Electricity and water may be unavailable for several days or longer after the storm passes.

Category 4:

The hurricane can cause extreme damage at this level. There will be a central pressure of between 920 and 944 Millibars or between 27.17 and 27.88 inches. There will be winds of between 131 and 155 miles per hour. There will be storm surges of between 13 and 18 feet.

An example of a category 4 hurricane is Hurricane Ike, which caused catastrophic damage to the Bahamas, Haiti, and the United States. Being the third most damaging storm in U.S. history. Shrubs and trees will have fallen down along with all of the signs. There will be extensive damage to roofing, windows, and doors. There will be roofs that collapse in flat terrain 10 feet or less, which will be flooded as inland as six miles. There will be major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore and damage due to waves and floating debris. Low lying water three to five hours before the hurricane arrives. There will also be large amounts of erosion on beaches. There may also be mass evacuations required for everyone within 500 yards of shore. Possible evacuations of single-story buildings within two miles of shore.

Category 5:

This hurricane level will cause catastrophic damage. There will be a central pressure of 920 millibars or 27.17 inches. There will be winds of around 155 miles per hour. There will be storm surges of 18 feet or greater. 

 An example of a hurricane at this level is Hurricane Andrew, which hit South Florida and caused damages exceeding 25 billion dollars. Shrubs and trees will be down everywhere. There will be huge amounts of damage to roofs and all signs down. There will be severe damage to windows and doors along with complete building failures. There may be many small buildings blown away or tipped. There will be complete and utter destruction of mobile homes. Locking escape routes will be blocked due to water three to five hours before the hurricane hits and there may be mass evacuations for people in low-lying buildings up to ten miles inland.

What causes Hurricanes?

Hurricanes happen when warm water, usually between the degrees of 5 and 20 degrees latitude, has thunderstorms over it. Then, as it is up at a high altitude, the winds will continue to strengthen the storm and more heat and evaporated water will cause the storm to get larger and larger.

Tornados

What is a Tornado?

Tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that touch the ground and usually attached to a thunderstorm. Tornados are regarded as nature's most violent storm and can cause large amounts of damage. They can reach wind speeds of 300 miles per hour and can cause a damage pathway of a mile wide and fifty miles long. 

What are the different levels of severity:

On the EF scale there are 6 different levels of severity ranging from 65 miles per hour wind gusts to over 200 miles per hour wind gusts. The way that this EF rating is determined is by 28 different damage categories that are all detailed what level they are by a DOD level.

Number 1:

This is damage to small barns and farm outbuildings. The abbreviation for this is SBO. The typical construction in this category is less than 2500 sq feet, wood or metal post and beam construction, there are metal or wood roof trusses, there is wood or panel siding, metal or wood roof, and large doors. There is DOD 1, the damage description is a threshold or visible damage. An EXP of 62, A LB of 53, and a UB of 78. DOD 2 there is a loss of wood or metal roof panels. An EXP of 74, a LB of 61, and a UB of 91. DOD 3 there is a collapse of doors, along with their previous things. An EXP of 83, a LB of 68, and a UB of 102. DOD 4 is a major loss of roof panels along with the previous things. An EXP of 90, a LB of 78, and a UB of 110. DOD 5 is an uplift or collapse of the roof or structure, along with the previous things. An EXP of 93, a LB of 77, and a UB of 114. DOD 6 is a collapse of walls along with all of the previous things. An EXP of 97, a LB of 81, and a UB of 119. DOD 7 there can be an overturning or sliding of an entire structure. An EXP of 99, a LB of 83, and a UB of 118. DOD 8 this will be total destruction of a building and all of the previous things before. An EXP of 112, a LB of 94, and a UB of 131.

Number 2:

The damage at this section will mainly be to one or two family residences between 1000 and 5000 sq feet. The typical construction damage in this section will be to. Asphalt shingles, tile, slate or metal roof coverings. There will be damage to flat, gable, hip, mansard or mono-sloped roof or combinations thereof. There will be damage to plywood/OSB or wood plank roof deck. There will be damage to prefabricated wood trusses or wood joist and rafter construction. There will be damage to brick veneer, wood panels, stucco, EIFS, vinyl or metal siding. There will be damage to wood or metal stud walls, concrete blocks or insulating-concrete panels. And there will be damage to attached single or double garages. DOD 1 there will be a threshold of visible damage. An EXP of 65, a LB of 53, and a UB of 80. DOD 2 there will be a loss of roof covering material (<20%), gutters and/or awning; loss of vinyl or metal siding. An EXP of 79, a LB of 63, and a UB of 97. DOD 3 there will be broken glass in the doors and windows. DOD 4 there could be an uplift of roof decks and a loss of significant roof covering material (>20%); collapse of chimney; garage doors collapse inward; and a failure of porch or carport. DOD 5 this is when an entire house shifts off the foundation. An EXP of 121, a LB of 103, and a UB of 141. DOD 6 this is where large sections of roof structure will be removed, but most walls will remain standing. An EXP of 122, a LB of 104, and a UB of 142. DOD 7 there will be lots of collapsed exterior walls. An EXP of 132, a LB of 113, and a UB of 153. DOD 8 most walls will be collapsed except a few interior walls along with all of the previous things. An EXP of 152, a LB of 127, and a UB of 178. DOD 9 all of the walls will be destroyed along with all of the previous things. An EXP of 170, a LB of 142, and a UB of 198. DOD 10 there will be complete destruction of engineered and/or well constructed homes, the slabs being swept clean.

Number 3:

In this section, the main damage will be done to manufactured homes - single wide (MHSW). The typical construction will be a steel undercarriage supported on concrete block piers. There will be damage to the Metal straps and the ground anchors. There will be damage to asphalt shingles or one piece metal roof covering. There will be damage to the wood roof joists. There can be damage to metal, vinyl, or wood siding. There can be damage to wood stud walls and partitions. There can be damage to better construction in post-1974 models in coastal areas. DOD 1 there will be a threshold of damage. An EXP of 61, a LB of 51, and a UB of 76. DOD 2 a loss of shingles or partial uplift of one piece metal roof covering. An EXP of 74, a LB of 61, and a UB of 92. DOD 3 units will slide block piers but remain upright. An EXP of 87, a LB of 72 and a UB of 92. DOD 4 there will be a complete uplift of roofs but most walls will remain standing. An EXP of 89, a LB of 73, and a UB of 112. DOD 5 the damage will have units roll down their side or upside down but will remain intact. Aqn EXP of 98, a LB of 84, and a UB of 114. DOD 6 there will be destruction of roofs leaving walls and foundation intact. An EXP of 105, a LB of 87, and a UB of 123. DOD 7 there will be damage to unit rolls of vaults; roof and walls separate from floor and undercarriage. An EXP of 109, a LB of 96, and a UB of 128. DOD 8 the damage will be done to the undercarriage separate from units; rolls, tumbles, and is badly bent. An EXP of 118, a LB of 101, and a UB of 136. DOD 9 Complete destruction of units and debris flown away. An EXP of 127, a LB of 110, and a UB of 148.

If you want to see more go to this link:

https://www.weather.gov/oun/efscale

Level 0 (EF 0):

Three  second winds gusts at this level will be between 65 miles per hour and 85 miles per hour. There will not be that much damage, there may be a few cracks in a chimney and some missing shingles.

Level 1 (EF 1):

Three second wind gusts at this level will be between 86 miles per hour and 110 miles per hour. These tornados can roll over mobile homes and cause damage to roofs.

Level 2 (EF 2):

Three second wind gusts at this level will be between 111 miles per hour and 135 miles per hour. These tornados can cause houses to be shifted off there foundations and cause major amounts of roof damage.

Level 3 (EF 3):

Three second wind gusts at this level will be between 136 miles per hour and 165 miles per hour. These tornados can wipe houses off their foundation and even turn 18-wheelers into missiles. 

Level 4 (EF 4):

Three second wind gusts at this level will be between 166 miles per hour and 200 miles per hour. Framed houses will be lifted off of their foundations and cars turned into missiles hundreds of feet off of the ground. 

Level 5 (EF 5):

Three second wind dusts at this level will be over 200 miles per hour. There will be widespread complete destruction causing huge power outages, even large amounts of loss of life.

​Daniel Jacobsen

​Daniel Jacobsen is a junior at Poudre High School in his first year working with the Poudre Press. He is involved in robotics, trap and skeet, and is taking a few AP classes and many other year-long classes in his free time at the school. Come back every other week for a look into nature and environmentalism with his weekly column.

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