Hurricane Response Guide for Environmental Public Health Professionals
Preparing for Hurricane Season Hurricane season normally runs from June 1st to November 30th in the Atlantic and May 15th to November 30th in the eastern Pacific, but due to climate change, we are seeing hurricane activity outside of this time frame. To prepare for hurricane season, EPH professionals can work proactively with other disaster readiness and response partners to enhance their ability to respond effectively to hurricanes and protect the health and safety of the communities they serve.
What is a hurricane?
Hurricanes (referred to as tropical cyclones or typhoons in other parts of the world) are low- pressure weather systems that rotate. They are characterized by organized thunderstorms and the absence of fronts, which are boundaries separating air masses of various densities. These cyclones are classified based on their maximum sustained surface winds. Those with winds below 39 miles per hour (mph) are called tropical depressions, while those with winds of 39 mph or higher are categorized as tropical storms. Once a storm’s maximum sustained winds reach 74 mph, it is classified as a hurricane. Hurricanes are categorized using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , which rates the storms from 1 to 5, based on their maximum sustained winds. A higher category indicates a more significant potential for property damage. Hurricanes typically form in the Atlantic basin, encompassing the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and eastern North Pacific Ocean. Less frequently, they can also originate in the central North Pacific Ocean. 2
2 What is a hurricane? National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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