Page 7 - Southern Exposure- June '23

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Southern Exposure, Page 7

northern noteS

Hurricane Facts And Trivia

By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

It’s that time of year In 1999, Hurricane Floyd was barely a Category 1
when our thoughts turn to hurricane, but it still managed to mow down 19 million
the tropics and we keep our trees and caused over a billion dollars in damage.
fingers crossed for a quiet Only five Category 5 hurricanes (the highest category
hurricane season. Below on the hurricane strength scale) have hit the continental
are some interesting facts United States since the beginning of the 20th century:
about these giant storms the 1935 Florida Keys Labor Day Hurricane, Hurricane
to kick off the hurricane Camille in 1969, Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Hurricane
season. Michael in 2018 and most recently Hurricane Ian in 2022
Hurricanes, typhoons attained Category 5 strength just hours before it made
and tropical cyclones are landfall on the west coast of Florida.
all the same phenomenon. Hurricane Katrina is the costliest hurricane to have
In the Pacific Ocean, hurricanes are generally known as ever hit the United States, causing some $192 billion
typhoons. In the Indian Ocean they are called tropical dollars’ worth of damage in New Orleans and across The worst hurricane damage is often caused by a storm
cyclones. In the Atlantic Ocean they are called hurricanes. much of the Gulf Coast. It was a Category 5 storm at one surge. A storm surge is like a giant wall of water pushed
The word hurricane comes from the Taino Native point, but a Category 3 when it made landfall along the onshore by hurricane winds. Most people who die in
American word, hurucane, meaning evil spirit of the wind. Louisiana-Mississippi border. hurricanes are killed by the towering walls of sea water that
The earliest hurricane report comes from Christopher The most intense tropical cyclone ever measured when comes inland. The 1900 Galveston hurricane, a Category 4
Columbus in 1495, who encountered a tropical storm on considering a storm’s central pressure (this pressure drops hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas, drove a devastating
one of his voyages to the New World. He later declared as cyclones become stronger) was Typhoon Tip, which on surge ashore; between 6,000 and 12,000 people died, making
that “nothing but the service of God and the extension of Oct. 12, 1979, had a central pressure of 870 millibars. it the deadliest natural disaster ever to strike the United States.
the monarchy”’ would induce him to expose himself to The most intense tropical cyclone in terms of the The planet Jupiter has a hurricane which has been going on
such danger. highest wind speeds measured was Tropical Cyclone for over 300 years. It can be seen as a red spot on the planet.
The first hurricane to hit the American Colonies Olivia, which struck Australia in 1996. It had wind speeds This hurricane on Jupiter is bigger than the Earth itself.
happened on August 25, 1635. of 253 mph (407 kph) the fastest wind ever measured on In the southern hemisphere, hurricanes rotate in a
The first time anyone flew into a hurricane happened the Earth’s surface. clockwise direction, and in the northern hemisphere they
in 1943 in the middle of World War II. Every second, a large hurricane releases the energy of 10 rotate in an anti-clockwise direction. This is due to what’s
In 1944, the United States Navy’s Pacific fleet was atomic bombs. called the Coriolis Force, produced by the Earth’s rotation.
crushed by Typhoon Cobra, which sank three destroyers Originally, hurricanes were given the names of saints who Hurricane season is from June to November when the seas
and damaged many ships. were honored on the day the storm occurred, according to are at their warmest and most humid, which are ripe conditions
Bangladesh was created after a hurricane. In 1970, this the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For for a hurricane to develop. While hurricane season can be a
region of Pakistan was struck by a cyclone and 500,000 example, the hurricane that hit Okeechobee, Fla., in 1928, stressful and uncertain time, being prepared is the best thing
people died. The people felt their government did not do was alternately called the Okeechobee hurricane and the San you can do to ease that stress. Being prepared allows you to be
enough to help after the disaster so in 1971, they voted to Felipe Segundo hurricane because it hit on the feast day of in control, not the storm; be safe, be aware and be prepared!
become independent of Pakistan and Bangladesh was born. Saint Philip. NPDES tip: Hurricane Season begins June 1. Make sure
In 1971, Hurricane Ginger lasted for over three weeks. When the National Hurricane Center began giving official your yards and trees are trimmed to avoid flying debris during
In 1989, Hurricane Hugo completely destroyed several name to storms in 1953, they were originally all female. a storm. Dispose of your trimmings and clippings properly.
forests in South Carolina. Hurricanes didn’t start having male names until 1979. Do not put them into storm drains or lakes!

CoMMiSSioner’S uPdate

Hurricane Preparedness Is A Year-Round Effort

By Commissioner Maria Marino

T he si x-m o nt h transportation and shelter information, and suggested egress. If you need to place more than the allowable
Atlantic hurricane season steps to take in securing your home. amount at the street and have no other means of clearing
commences June 1 and runs Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis it away, the SWA can work with you to arrange a separate
through Nov. 30. Most of recently announced the renewal of the My Safe Florida pickup at a cost of $8 per square yard. You can contact
us have that etched in our Home Program, which is offering grants of up to $10,000 SWA Customer Service at (561) 697-2700; (866) 792-
brains, but for the more to help homeowners pay for hurricane-hardening 4636, or by emailing contactCIS@swa.org.
than 500,000 estimated new improvements such as impact-resistant windows and To help you stay prepared during hurricane season and
residents who moved to doors. Purchases of these products are tax-free through for questions on any other matters, please contact me at
Florida in 2022, and others June 30, 2024. In addition, upon completion of the (561) 355-2201 or by email at mmarino@pbcgov.org.
that have made Palm Beach improvements, a homeowner can request a free windstorm
County their home in recent mitigation inspection and report that they can submit
to their insurance carrier for a rebate or discount on
years, that may come as a rates. Find out more at My Safe Florida Home – Florida HANDY-MAN
bit of a shock.
However, as we longtime residents and hurricane Department of Financial Services (mysafeflhome.com).
“veterans” know, there are emergency management One of the most helpful year-round practices you can HOME SERVICES
systems in place and specific guidelines to help all of us develop to help you safeguard your property is the regular
stay prepared, supplied and ready, should a storm approach maintenance and pruning of your landscaping and trees.
our shores. It is also incumbent upon all of us to reach out Depending on whether you live in the unincorporated NO JOB TOO SMALL
and help people unfamiliar with hurricane season and those area or in a municipality, there may be specific limits on
who are elderly, disabled or have restricted mobility. the amount of yard debris you can place at the curb for
At the Governor’s Hurricane Conference I attended pickup. In the unincorporated area, it is limited to six u Water Stains u Screen Repair
recently in West Palm Beach, officials from the National cubic yards per collection day, which is roughly the size u Painting u Leak Repair
Hurricane Center stressed that while wind velocity is a of two refrigerators. Cities have their own guidelines, so u Caulking u Misc. Repair
concern in a hurricane event, storm surge poses a greater you will want to confirm what they allow.
threat. That is why we must follow mandatory evacuation Before the Solid Waste Authority (SWA) instituted u Interior/Exterior
orders when declared, depending on which zone covers vegetation restrictions in 2019, neighborhoods, especially ... and much more!
your neighborhood. those with parcels of an acre or larger experienced
The information you need to build a complete negative effects resulting from large piles of vegetation Housesitting Available • References Available
hurricane kit is available at https://discover.pbcgov.org/ and tree trimmings blocking entire swales. This impeded
publicsafety/PDF/Hurricane-Guide.pdf. If you do not storm water drainage, blocked the line of sight for drivers, (Serving Palm Beach County since 1980)
have Internet access or need additional information, and attracted vermin.
contact the Emergency Information Center at (561) 712- Whether you perform the pruning yourself or hire Call Rubin
6400. Along with checklists for supplies, evacuation zone a contractor, make sure that your pile does not block Licensed & Insured 561-346-2467
maps, and numerous helpful tips, the guide also includes the sidewalk, the street, or other areas of ingress and