in Science & Nature

Hurricane Dorian is Headed Toward the Eastern Florida Coast

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For those people who aren’t aware of it, a hurricane is in the process of bearing down on the United States and is currently project to make landfall on the east coast of Florida.

At this time yesterday morning, Dorian was a category 4 hurricane and the National Hurricane Center predicted that it would hit the Bahamas, which it did. The sustained winds were at 150 miles per hour, which made it a strong Cat 4 hurricane at that time.

Once a hurricane has sustained winds of over 157 mph, it is upgraded to a Cat 5 storm, so even this time yesterday, it was already a very strong Cat 4 hurricane and almost at a Cat 5 status.

The hurricane center upgraded Hurricane Dorian to a Cat 5 storm this morning and tropical storm warnings have gone up along the east coast of Florida with storm surges expected. The wind speed is currently 175 mph, which is quite powerful, even for a Cat 5 storm.

The hurricane could still veer off into the Atlantic. It could also hit the east coast north of Florida and it could weaken. However, it is currently tracking westward at 8 mph, so it is likely to hit the US. Strong winds and storm surges are also expected in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina

To get some idea of the kind of damage that can be expected if it hits the US without weakening, here is what the hurricane center says about the type of damage to expect from a Cat 5 storm:

Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

The projections of the earliest landfall, in Florida, are between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm tomorrow, Monday. No evacuations have yet been ordered because of the uncertainty of the probable landfall location. However, people in the area are urged to make preparations now for a future evacuation.

My prayers go out to friends and acquaintances in the area.

  • Question of

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    • I didn’t even know about this hurricane
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Written by Rex Trulove

5 Comments

  1. Nothing scares me anymore. If I survive thank God if not I have friends on the other side. As you see I cannot afford to bring on my old friend the panic attack if I do that I will no longer survive on my own. I have to be strong and even Dorian cannot make me run and hide. My friends have lived in this house for over 19 years and they have had some shaking and rolling but basically everything has been just fine.

    1

    • The biggest key is to be prepared. One of the lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina, though, was that if the officials order a mandatory evacuation, people should listen and do what is said. There is a reason for it and they won’t order a mandatory evacuation unless it is really needed.

      Many people who died in Katrina would have survived if they had complied with the order. Every person who defied the order also put other people at risk. The coast guard and emergency services try to save every person who is at risk, putting themselves in danger in the process. If they rescue one person, they may not have the time to rescue a different person.

      Also, many of the houses and buildings that were destroyed during Katrina had weathered many other hurricanes. Katrina wasn’t an especially strong hurricane, either; a Cat 3 when it made landfall, Cat 4 when it breached the seawall. Dorian is far stronger, at least right now.