Hurricane Season

By Kenny Cabantng

Guess what time it is Hawaii? It’s summer time! You might think that summer is all about sunshine and great weather, think twice! For those of you who aren’t familiar with weather, especially when it comes to hurricanes, the optimistic idea of summer might fool you. Out of the four seasons we experience each year, summer is the season of hurricanes. From now till the end of November, the chances of these severe storms are huge.

“Hurricanes” are mass storms that consist of wind speeds between 74mph and 155mph. They also produce heavy rains, floods, and possibly tornadoes. Two factors that contribute to the beginning stage of a hurricane are moisture and instability. Starting at the Tropic of Cancer, the center of the equator, moisture from the Earth is released into the air. Along with the instability of the atmosphere, when both factors are combined, a hurricane starts to form.

Depending on the temperature of the water, it can either increase or decrease the size of a hurricane.

“Hawaii’s east waters are cooler than the west waters,” said Hawaii County Civil Defense Officer, Bill Hanson. “Warmer waters tend to build up the hurricane while cooler waters slowly deconstructs it.”

In the past, Hawaii has been destructively hit by hurricanes. Among the number of them that hit the state in the last century, Hurricane “Iniki” had the worst impact. As a result of the 1992 storm, which reached speeds up to 140 mph, residents on Kauai and Oahu faced up to billions of dollars in damage. Many buildings, homes, and roads were wiped out in minutes due to the force of the storm. The effect was a major devastation.

As we are now in hurricane season, two active storms, Celia and Darby are slowly heading west-northwest in the Pacific. Fortunately, with the temperatures of the waters, Celia is weakening. Darby, on the other hand, is traveling steady below Mexico at a speed of 7mph. With wind speeds up to 115mph, its strength is intense. Both storms currently show no threat to any land.

So Hawaii, now is the time to be on alert for any storm watch or warning. Hawaii County Civil Defense will announce a hurricane watch 48 hours prior to a storm reaching the island. A warning is then announced within 36 hours. Listening to the radio, watching the news, or searching the Internet for weather forecasts are great ways of being updated.

Think about it; if a hurricane were to hit your town or city, would you and your family be prepared? Take these actions to keep your family safe from a hurricane or other natural disaster:

Ÿ Find safe evacuation routes,

Ÿ Locate your local emergency shelter,

Ÿ Pack up with a supply of water and non-perishable foods,

Ÿ Be sure to always carry a battery-powered radio and flashlight, along with extra batteries,

Ÿ Always listen to the radio for any important storm watch,

Ÿ In case of any injury, create your own first aid kit containing band-aids, antibacterial, and personal medication,

Ÿ Have a supply of blankets and sleeping bags,

Ÿ Carry personal identification,

Ÿ Keep any important documents (insurance policies),

Ÿ Carry cash or a credit card.

For more tips on creating your own natural disaster emergency kit, you can go to the American Red Cross Website: http://www.redcross.org/

Though summer is all about fun in the sun, it’s time to be prepared for what might come next. Hurricane season is now in effect; take action, be updated, and be safe!