Hurricane season starts June 1 st in Florida , and ends November 30 th . For anyone who doesn't know, a hurricane is a tropical cyclone that is accompanied by thunderstorms and a counterclockwise circulation of winds.

There are 3 different types of tropical cyclones:

• Tropical Depression - This is a very organized system of thunderstorms and clouds, with maximum sustained winds of 38 miles per hour or less.
• Tropical Storm - Strong thunderstorms, a defined surface circulation and maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour.
• Hurricane - A Hurricane is a intense tropical weather system that consists of strong thunderstorms, a well defined surface circulation and sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or greater.

Hazards of Hurricanes

The first major hazard of a hurricane is a storm surge. A storm surge is when water is pushed towards the shoreline merely by the force of the winds.

So what happens is this surge mixes with the normal ocean tides to create a huge storm tide that can increase the water level to fifteen feet or more.

The next hazard is inland flooding. Inland flooding is such a major hazard that in the last 30 years alone, inland-flooding has killed more then half the people who have died because of a tropical storm.

High winds are obviously another major hazard when it comes to hurricanes. The winds that are produced can destroy buildings, homes and mobile homes if they are not constructed properly.

Also, debris like traffic signs, and other small items outdoors become flying hazards that can strike several people down in a matter of seconds.

Tornadoes, believe it or not, are another hazard that hurricanes produce. They can produce small tornadoes that add to the destruction. Just a reminder, tornadoes are most likely to occur in the right front side of the hurricane storm.

For some great safety tips, check out our page on hurricane safety.

How to Protect Yourself

In the end though, the best way to protect your self is to install impact glass or hurricane shutters on your home or business. If the building is properly built, you will be safe inside while a hurricane storm is going on outside.

Click here for a Free Hurricane Shutter Estimate on your Home or Business!