How do hurricanes take shape?
To get a full appreciation of hurricanes' destruction, you have to go back to what they are and how they develop. Hurricanes start out as tropical storms that take shape over the ocean warmed by the sun. Winds and condensation gather and form a circular pattern of clouds, the kind that you'll see on meteorologists maps from storm track technology.
Also known as cyclones, hurricanes don't become hurricanes until they've reached a certain wind speed. Generally speaking when there are sustained wind gusts traveling at 74 miles per hour, this is the textbook definition of a hurricane, or what forecasters call a Category 1. Hurricane strength is measured on what's known as the Saffir-Simpson scale. Ranging from 1 to 5, the higher the number, the stronger the winds are. For example, a Category 5 storm has wind speeds of 156 miles per hour or more, capable of producing a storm surge 18 feet high.
Where do hurricanes usually form?
Wherever there's an ocean, there's the possibility of a hurricane formation. With 71% of the Earth's surface covered by the sea, according to the Oceanic Institute, they can wreak havoc virtually anywhere. Historically, however, in the Western Hemisphere, hurricanes have mainly impacted the East Coast, states along the Gulf of Mexico such as Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as in the Caribbean. Warm ocean temperatures help create the conditions amenable to hurricane formation.
From the more recent Hurricane Katrina that affected the Gulf region in 2005 to Hurricane Andrew that slammed Florida back in 1992, storms of this nature have produced billions of dollars in business and homeowners insurance losses. In addition to the wind, hurricanes also bring heavy rains, enough to cause substantial flooding. In fact, much of the damage that property owners experience stems more from high water levels than from wind, part of the reason why floods are the No. 1 natural disaster in the U.S., according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
It's important that you're prepared. Be sure to get in touch with your Selective agent to go over your flood insurance plan so that you have the proper amount and type of coverage.