How to Survive a Hurricane, According to Science
The rain is beating down in a heavy downpour.
Your hat is blown off,
and strong gusts whip your hair around your eyes.
It gets very hard to walk,
because you're being hit with so much wind.
As you make your way towards shelter,
there's danger all around you.
Hurricanes can kill you in many ways.
You might be crushed by a heavy flying object,
drowned in a flood,
or even buried in a landslide.
So what do you do?
How do you stay safe?
Here's how you can survive a hurricane,
according to science.
If you live near the Atlantic Ocean,
a hurricane is likely to happen
sometime between June 1 and November 30.
If you're close to the Pacific Ocean,
hurricane season is from May 15 to November 30.
Most of these monstrous storms happen in September.
Why are hurricanes considered to be so dangerous?
Well, hurricanes produce massive winds
of at least 120 km per hour,
and such strong wind speed can be deadly.
Since hurricane winds can damage homes,
schools, and roads that are more than 160 km inland,
you won't be safe just because you're on land.
Here are some important tips
to help you survive a hurricane.
First, listen.
Take the hurricane warnings seriously.
When people ignore hurricane warnings,
they put themselves in terrible danger.
If an emergency alert tells you to find shelter,
do it right away.
If the alert advises you to evacuate,
leave town for somewhere safe.
Second, turn around, don't drown.
This tip from the U.S. government
means that if you're in the water,
Do not try to walk, swim, or drive through the floodwaters.
It may seem safe at the moment,
but trying to go through floodwaters
is not a risk worth taking.
Conditions change quickly during hurricanes,
so what seems like a quick and safe passage one moment
can turn into a deadly surge.
A storm surge is ocean water
that hurricane winds push to the shore.
It's very fast, and it's a lot of water.
Up to 6 meters of it that floods the shore,
destroys property, and drowns people.
It only takes 15 centimeters of fast-flooding water
to sweep you off your feet
and put you in danger of drowning.
Third, stay away from windows.
Winds can break glass
and send the shards flying at your face.
Close the storm windows if there's time,
then avoid windows until the storm passes.
Fourth, go upward.
Go to the highest floor inside a building that has a large room,
but not into a small, closed attic,
as rising waters could trap you there.
Fifth, stay off bridges.
No matter how high they are,
bridges are a dangerous place to be during a hurricane,
as they're completely surrounded by fast-moving water and high winds.
Sixth, evacuate.
If you live in a trailer, mobile home, or a boat,
you must leave.
These structures are neither heavy enough nor strong enough
to withstand the kind of damage a hurricane can do.
Go to your nearest emergency shelter,
because your home is a very dangerous place to be.
Okay, the storm is over,
you're safe, and you're unhurt.
Surviving the storm is a great triumph.
Unfortunately, after the hurricane dies down,
you're still not safe.
Be aware of your surroundings,
and stay away from electrical equipment.
Don't go into floodwater for any reason,
as there could be downed power lines that could electrocute you.
Listen to the radio.
The government will tell you where to find drinkable water,
food supplies, and safe shelter.
If your home is insured,
document your property damage with photos and videos.
Surviving a hurricane is no small feat,
and it's most important that you and your loved ones are safe.
Your home and your town may be very damaged after a hurricane,
so get ready to rebuild your life and community.
However, if you follow the advice in this video,
you have a good chance of surviving a hurricane,
according to science.