Hurricane Preparedness 2013 - Basics & History

Hurricane Basics & History

First In the 2013 Series

Hurricane Preparedness Week playlist on YouTube

Looking for past or current hurricanes?  Click Image or Here

President Obama declared May 26 - June 1 “National Hurricane Preparedness Week." FEMA, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is helping to raise awareness of steps that can be taken to help protect citizens, and their communities and property. 

What is a Hurricane?

A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, which is a generic term for a low pressure system that generally forms in the tropics. The cyclone is accompanied by thunderstorms and, in the Northern Hemisphere, a counterclockwise circulation of winds near the earth's surface. Tropical cyclones are classified as follows:

* Sustained winds A 1-minute average wind measured at about 33 ft (10 meters) above the surface. ** 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour or 1.15 statute miles per hour. Abbreviated as "kt".

Tropical Depression
An organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds* of 38 mph (33 kt**) or less

Tropical Storm
An organized system of strong thunderstorms with a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39-73 mph (34-63 kt)

Hurricane
An intense tropical weather system of strong thunderstorms with a well-defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 74 mph (64 kt) or higher

Familiarize yourself with the terms that are used to identify a hurricane.

• A hurricane watch means a hurricane is possible in your area. Be prepared to evacuate. Monitor local radio and television news outlets or listen to NOAA Weather Radio for the latest developments.
• A hurricane warning is when a hurricane is expected in your area. If local authorities advise you to evacuate, leave immediately.

Hurricanes are classified into five categories based on their wind speed, central pressure, and damage potential. Category Three and higher hurricanes are considered major hurricanes, though Categories One and Two are still extremely dangerous and warrant your full attention.The following chart details the categories and the damage that can result from a storm with that strength.

 
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

2012 Revision to the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (PDF)

Scale Number (Category)	Sustained  Winds	Damage	Storm Surge
1	74-95 mph 64-82 kt 119-153 km/h	Very dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.	4-5 feet
2	96-110 mph 83-95 kt 154-177 km/h	Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage: Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.	6-8 feet
3  (major)	111-129 mph 96-112 kt 178-208 km/h	Devastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.	9-12 feet
4 (major)	130-156 mph 113-136 kt 209-251 km/h	Catastrophic damage will occur: Well-built framed homes can sustain severe damage with loss of most of the roof structure and/or some exterior walls. Most trees will be snapped or uprooted and power poles downed. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.	13-18 feet
5  (major)	157 mph or higher 137 kt or higher 252 km/h or higher	Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.	Greater than 18 feet

Hurricane History

 
2012 Atlantic Hurricane Season Track Map (click to enlarge)

In the following article, we look at the 2012 Hurricane season in review, comparing the forecast to actual results.   We also look at NOAA and Colorado State University forecasts for the 2013 Season.

NOAA 2013 Hurricane Season Predictions

Hurricane Service Assessments	Billion Dollar Storms
8/05 Hurricane Katrina 8/04 Hurricane Charley 9/03: Hurricane Isabel 12/02: Super Typhoon Pongsona 6/01: Tropical Storm Allison 9/96: Hurricane Fran 7/96: Hurricane Bertha 9/95: Hurricane Marilyn 7/94: Tropical Storm Alberto 9/92: Hurricane Iniki 8/92: Hurricane Andrew 9/89: Hurricane Hugo	8/11 Hurricane Irene 9/08 Hurricane Ike 9/08 Hurricane Gustav 7/08 Hurricane Dolly 10/05 Hurricane Wilma 9/05: Hurricane Rita 8/05: Hurricane Katrina 9/03: Hurricane Isabel 9/99: Hurricane Floyd 9/98: Hurricane Georges 8/98: Hurricane Bonnie 9/96: Hurricane Fran 10/95: Hurricane Opal 7/94: Tropical Storm Alberto 8/92: Hurricane Andrew Other events since 1980

Central North Pacific Hurricane History (1800s - present)

(Compiled by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Honolulu).

We will continue coverage of Hurricane Preparedness Week by looking at some of the hazards starting tomorrow.  Additional Hurricane information can be found in our static Weather tab.

National Safe Boating Week 2013

Life Jackets Save Lives

Explore this interactive image to learn more about the Safe Boating Initiative



Approximately 500 people drown each year from recreational boating accidents, so we've teamed up with NOAA and the National Safe Boating Council to remind you to  "Wear It!"  when you are on the water.   Here are some links for you to learn additional information about boating safety.

North America Safe Boating Campaign	Ready Set Inflate.com
NWS National Safe Boating Week	National Safe Boating Council
USCG Boating Safety Resource Center	USCG Boat Rental Safety

Ready, Set, Inflate - Post Your Pics on our Facebook Page

Safety is a primary concern in the cruise industry.  One of the first things you'll do once you are onboard the ship is a mandatory safety drill which includes locating your life jackets and proceeding to a muster station for further instructions.

When you put your life jacket back away in your stateroom, that doesn't mean you forget about safety for the rest of the cruise.   Instead, that is the start of paying attention to safety.    You may participate in some shore excursions that include water sports, sailing on small boats, etc.    Be sure to wear your life jacket during these excursions.

We thought it would be fun to post some of your pictures in life jacket attire, so we've started a Safe  Boating Photo Album that you can add your pics to.  Even if you don't send us one of your pics, check out the photos that are posted. 

NOAA Expects Below-normal Central Pacific Hurricane Season

NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center today announced that climate conditions point to a below-normal season in the Central Pacific Basin this year.

For 2013, the outlook calls for a 70 percent chance of a below-normal season, a 25 percent chance of a near-normal season, and a 5 percent chance of an above-normal season. We expect 1 to 3 tropical cyclones to affect the central Pacific this season. An average season has 4 to 5 tropical cyclones, which include tropical depressions, tropical storms, and hurricanes.

NOAA issued its central Pacific hurricane outlook at a news conference in Honolulu, and urged Hawaii residents to be fully prepared before the hurricane season, which begins June 1 and runs until Nov. 30.

“I encourage the public to become weather-ready by signing up for weather alerts, developing a family emergency plan, and building an emergency kit before hurricane season begins,” said Ray Tanabe, director of NOAA’s Central Pacific Hurricane Center. “Just because the season is predicted to be 'below normal' does not mean that a single storm cannot have significant impacts.” 

Be Prepared

For those of you that were Boy Scouts, you are very familiar with the slogan "Be Prepared".    When it comes to seasonal weather, like the hurricane season,  nothing could be more important than following that advice.   As we've seen this week in other parts of the country, storms can develop quickly with or without warning and knowing what to do can mean the difference between life and death.

Next week is National Hurricane Preparedness Week and we will cover topics that will help you prepare for the upcoming season.   Obviously those living in regions where hurricanes occur on a regular basis should pay close attention but in this day and age where people travel across the country and globe, you can find yourself in an area that is experiencing severe weather, like a tropical storm, and knowing what to do will be very important.

Monitor our Hurricane Zone Page 

Throughout Hurricane Season

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

NHC ACTIVE STORMS (CLICK HERE)

Real-Time Cruise Ship Tracking

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HURRICANES (CLICK HERE)

Captain Schettino Trial Set for July

Captain Francesco Schettino, Captain of the Costa Concordia when it ran aground off the coast of Giglio, Italy, will stand trial in a hearing scheduled to begin July 9th in the Tuscan city of Grosseto.

Schettino is accused of multiple counts of manslaughter, causing the accident, and abandoning ship prematurely.  If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

 According to his lawyer, prosecutors rejected a plea bargain offer from Schettino last month but accepted those of five other officials, including four ship's officers and the crisis coordinator of the vessel's owners, Costa Cruises.  A plea bargain was also accepted for the cruise line as we reported in our previous article:  Costa Fined - No Criminal Charges in Italy for Concordia.

The court also rejected new evidence which Schettino's lawyer indicated would "clarify" that there were other factors, beyond the captain's control, that factored into the accident.  

Related Blog Posts Regarding the Costa Concordia:


Costa Concordia Legal Update

Costa Concordia Listing after Deadly Accident
     

2013 National Hurricane Preparedness Week

National Hurricane Preparedness Week 2013 

May 26^th through June 1^st 

In the wake of the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma, this annual preparation is quite fitting. Tornadoes are one of the potential hazards resulting from a hurricane that makes landfall. We'll cover the week in more detail, but here is an interactive graphic which you can review for videos and other important planning information.

The goal of NOAA's Hurricane Preparedness Web site is to inform the public about the hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be used to take ACTION. This information can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water.

A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone or severe tropical storm that forms in the southern Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and in the eastern Pacific Ocean. A typical cyclone is accompanied by thunderstorms, and in the Northern Hemisphere, a counterclockwise circulation of winds near the earth’s surface.

Every year, hurricanes put communities at risk of catastrophic damage from storm surges, flooding, high winds, and tornadoes.  During National Hurricane Preparedness Week, we rededicate ourselves to preventing loss of life and damage to property by raising awareness about hurricane hazards and taking action to protect our families, our homes, and our neighborhoods.

A Cruise Line is Born

Welcome to the new Viking Cruises

Just Announced May 17, 2013

Torstein Hagen, the visionary founder of Viking River Cruises, the world's largest and fastest growing river line, told the assembled travel agents, journalists and past passengers the company would launch its ocean-oriented cruise line in May 2015.  The announcement came at a gala banquet in Beverly Hills, California.

Click on this interactive image to start exploring the new cruise line and the first of its ships, Viking Star.



Viking Cruises, the new name of Viking River Cruises, announced the launch of its ocean product line, Viking Ocean Cruises, marking the introduction of the travel industry’s first new cruise line in nearly a decade.

Destination is Key Focus

Developed from the ground up to return the focus of cruising to the destination, Viking Ocean Cruises will begin sailing in May 2015 with its first vessel—Viking Star—embarking on maiden voyages in Scandinavia and the Baltic; and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean.

Leveraging extensive feedback and input from Viking River Cruises passengers, Viking Ocean Cruises was developed with experienced travelers in mind. Itineraries are curated for maximum time in port, often with late evenings or overnights, so guests can experience local nightlife or evening performances. Ports include both cosmopolitan cities and “collector ports,” and appeal to those with an interest in history, art and culture.

Small Ship Sailing with Unparalleled Value

All-inclusive pricing provides unparalleled value—with every cruise fare including a veranda stateroom, shore excursions in each port of call, all onboard meals, and all port charges and government taxes. Passengers also enjoy many complimentary amenities as part of their fare, including: beer and wine with lunch and dinner service; wi-fi; self-service laundry and 24-hour room service—a value of more than $2,400 per couple for an average cruise. 

Continued Fleet Expansion

Viking Cruises has aggressive expansion plans in both the ocean and river cruise categories, with a second ocean ship on order for delivery in 2016 and conditional orders and options for four more additional ocean vessels. The ocean ship order follows the company’s continued rapid fleet expansion in the river cruise sector, with 10 new river ships recently christened in March of this year and 12 new river ships planned to launch in 2014.

Earlier this year Viking set the World Record for the most ships launched on a single day: World Record Ship Launching

Working Closely With Viking to Launch New Cruise Line

Bookings Now Open for Viking Star 

Introducing Viking Star

“It is our view that in the race to build bigger ships, many cruise lines have lost sight of the destinations to which they sail,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “With our new ocean cruises, we are applying the same principles behind our award-winning river cruises to our itinerary and ship design; privileged-access excursions; and onboard experiences to make destinations the true focus.” 

Come Explore The New Viking Star - Sailing May 2015 

Viking Star

Classified as a “small ship,” the new 928-passenger all-veranda Viking Star is engineered at a scale that allows direct access into most ports, so guests have easy and efficient embarkation and debarkation. The ship’s understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design is crafted for maximum guest comfort. Highlighted features include:

• All Veranda Staterooms: Guests can choose from five stateroom categories, starting from a 270 sq. ft. veranda stateroom, all with private verandas, king-size beds, large showers, and LCD TVs.
  
• Explorer Suites: Viking Star’s 14 Explorer Suites are two-room suites ranging from 757 to 1,448 sq. ft. and offer sweeping views from wrap-around private verandas as well as the most amenities and privileges of any category onboard.
  
• Two Pool Choices: In addition to the Main Pool with a retractable dome permitting any-season swimming, Viking Star features one of the only infinity pools at sea, allowing passengers to swim surrounded by their destination in a glass-backed pool cantilevered off the stern.
  
• The Spa: In keeping with Viking’s Nordic heritage, The Spa onboard Viking Star is designed with the holistic wellness philosophy of Scandinavia in mind—from the centuries-old tradition of the sauna to a “snow grotto” where snowflakes gently descend from the ceiling through chilled air.
  
• Explorers’ Lounge and Wintergarden: Spaces designed to facilitate mingling and storytelling, the two-deck Explorers’ Lounge at the bow of the ship is the perfect spot for taking in scenery through double-height windows over a glass of aquavit or pint of local craft beer; and the Wintergarden is a serene environment in which to relax and enjoy afternoon tea service complete with a curated tea selection.
  
• Dining Choices: Viking Star offers multiple restaurant locations and food choices—from The Restaurant and the World Café, serving a variety of global cuisines and regional specialties—to intimate dining experiences at The Chef’s Table, Italian Grill and The Kitchen Table, all serving meals prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Furthermore, with multiple choices for outdoor seating during meals, Viking Star offers more al fresco dining than any other ship.
  
• Enriching Entertainment:, Connecting passengers to their destinations through authentic experiences is central to Viking Cruises, and Viking Star’s onboard venues include a dramatic three-deck atrium where passengers can enjoy musicians playing regional and classical music; the Star Theater, home of enrichment lectures from scholars and experts; an onboard cooking school where guests can learn local specialties; and the Viking Piano Lounge, where guests can relax, mingle, and exchange stories after a day of exploring.
  
• Sustainable Features: Designed with the environment in mind, Viking Star features energy-efficient hybrid engines, a hydro-dynamically optimized streamlined hull and bow for maximum fuel efficiency, onboard solar panels, and equipment that minimizes exhaust pollution and meets the strictest environmental regulations.
  

The ship has been designed by experienced nautical architects and engineers, including an interior design team of London-based SMC Design, and Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios. The first of two ocean ships on order, Viking Star will be built by Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard.