Jan 1, 2008 11:46 am US/Central
Prepare For Hurricane Season
(CBS)
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Winds tear at a palm tree near the beach in the City port of La Ceiba, Honduras, as Hurricane Felix approaches Sept. 4, 2007.
Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images
Unlike other natural disasters that can strike with little warning, you can prepare ahead of time to ensure you, your loved ones and your property remain safe when a hurricane approaches.
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 to Nov. 30, and most storm activity typically happens between mid-August and October.
The tropical storms are classified by the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, which rates storm strength from Category 1, which causes minimal damage, to Category 5, where winds can exceed 155 miles per hour and destroy buildings, cut off major roads and flood homes as far as several hundred miles inland.
Although it's been about three years since the U.S. has experienced major devastation because of a hurricane, it's still important to take precautions. As the population in coastal cities grows, the potential for heavy damage to property and infrastructure and more injuries and deaths also increases.
These pages are meant to give you general guidance as you prepare for hurricane season. Check with local authorities for additional information on evacuation routes, local shelters and rescue and relief operations.
BEFORE THE STORM
AS THE STORM APPROACHES
AFTER THE STORM
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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