What are hurricanes?
Hurricanes are also known as tropical cyclones. They are storms that form over the oceans. Hurricanes are among nature's most violent storms and cause a lot of destruction.
Major hurricanes have minimum wind speeds of 111 miles per hour (mph) or 178.63 kilometres per hour (kph), with maximum speeds of 180 mph (289.68 kph).
Which hurricane has hit Florida?
Hurricane "Ian" hit Florida, United States of America (USA), on 28th September 2022. The hurricane unleashed wind, storm surges, and floods on much of coastal southwest Florida. It also caused a lot of property damage. Electricity has also been cut off due to the hurricane. Many people in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have been affected.
Water was pushed out of Tampa Bay as Hurricane Ian reached Florida. Tampa Bay is a natural harbour and a shallow estuary located on Florida's west-central coast.
Is India affected by hurricanes?
India is affected by hurricanes. It is one of the world’s worst affected regions. It faces around 10% of the world’s tropical cyclones. Tropical cyclones usually hit India in May-June and October-November.
The majority of them form over the Bay of Bengal and strike the country’s eastern part. Every year, five to six tropical cyclones form, with two or three being very destructive.
How can one stay safe during a hurricane?
If a powerful hurricane is on its way, the best thing to do is to evacuate. It is a good idea to keep emergency contact numbers handy. One must also prepare an emergency kit. The government generally sets up shelters. The path to such shelters must be memorised.
If evacuation is not possible, emergency supplies such as food, water, medication, etc., must be kept on hand. To stay safe, one should also follow government instructions.
Let us hope that the people of Florida are safe. What do you think the government should do to help those who are stuck in hurricane-affected regions? Let us know in the comment section.
