Hurricanes on the Texas coast.

Date

1975

Authors

Henry, W.K.
Driscoll, D.M.
McCormack, J.P.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas A&M University

Abstract

A hurricane can generate heat energy equal to four hundred 20-megaton hydrogen bombs and can circulate almost 1 trillion tons of air carrying 17 billion tons of water vapor in one 24-hr period. Besides the obvious physical damages due to storm surge, strong winds, and high tides, which usually are restricted to coastal areas, there are damages from large amounts of rainfall that may extend inland for hundreds of miles. This rainfall sometimes helps to relieve drought but more often results in widespread flooding, harmful erosion, and ruined crops. The description and climatology of hurricanes and survival and recovery operations are considered, especially as applied to Texas coastal residents. Appendixes comprise hurricane glossary terms, a chronological list of tropical cyclones on the Texas coast in 1871-1974, death and dollar damage statistics, hurricane-safety checklists, hurricanes preparation information, a list of names of Atlantic huricanes and tropical storms for 1975-84, storm signals and lights, disaster diet, and tiedown procedures for mobile homes.

Description

48 p.

Keywords

hurricanes, storms, tropical depressions, gale force winds, oceanic response, storm surges, cyclones, disasters

Citation