Do you know what the word ?hurricane? means? Well, it comes from the Arahuacan words for wind (?hura?) and center (?can?). Today?s Diario Libre supplement, which carries a comprehensive report on hurricanes, what they are and what to do about them, makes for good reading for all. The first part deals with the hurricane ?season? and how hurricanes are formed. Tropical waves, like the one that brought yesterday?s rains, are also discussed. The supplement then discusses the now-famous Saffir-Simpson Scale of Hurricane Intensity. Category 1 storms are winds of up to 95mph and Category 5 winds are those in excess of 155mph. This section also analyzes the effect of hurricanes on wave action. Hurricane preparation should be on everyone?s mind as hurricane season approaches and the precautions and planning needed are clearly laid out. An important feature is the section on the foods to have on hand for weathering a hurricane, as well as the basic makeup of an emergency first-aid kit. The article by Antonio Cocco Quezada, the former director of the Dominican Weather Department, provides a history of the hurricanes that have affected the Dominican Republic, as well as a frequency chart that shows that August, September and October are the months of the highest incidence of such phenomena in our area. See Cocco?s website at http://www.acqweather.com
This season?s list of names will begin with Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin and Gert.
For more hurricane information, also see http://www.dr1.com/weather/hurricanes.shtml