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As some may already know, a hurricane dubbed Frances hit the state of
Florida around Saturday, September 4, 2004, and lasted until about
Monday, September 6, 2004. Frances started out as a Category 4 out of 5
on the Saffir-Simpson scale. It hit the Bahamas full force; weakened to
a Category 2; and headed straight for Florida.
I experienced this hurricane first hand. Some might say, 'Category 2?
What's the big deal? Category 2 is weak.' That's what I thought at
first. I am so thankful it was not a 4 when her eye went straight over
my town. A Category 2 hurricane IS dangerous, no matter what some may
think.
Frances did more damage than she ought to have, though, because she was
very, very slow moving. Since she lingered, the winds kept pounding and
pounding and pounding. The damage was more extensive than normal
hurricanes leave and the flooding is horrible. It is still flooded
where I live.
I drove through my town and nearby towns after the storm had passed,
and what I saw was not pretty. Trees down, signs bent and twisted,
fences bent over flat, roofs destroyed, and even gas station overhangs
toppled over. It was horrible. Some people may even still have no power.
I lived without power for two days and no water for three, because the
shed over my water pump blew away and busted the pipe that led to my
home. It was not fun at all, especially since I am a teen. No computer,
no television, no phone, no showers?!
Luckily, my family was prepared for the storm. We boarded our windows
up and took the necessary precautions. I advise you readers to do the
same if a hurricane is headed towards you, even if it is weak. Better
to be safe than sorry, right?
Frances was relatively weak, but she still destroyed a lot. It was also
bad for Floridians, as we were trying to recover from Hurricane
Charley. Oh, and yet another hurricane is coming! His name is Ivan, and
right now he is a Category 4, with wind speeds of 150 miles per hour.
He has already killed 20 people in Grenada, and is now making landfall
in Cuba. Florida might possibly be his next victim.
Will it ever end? West of Mexico, Tropical Storm Isis is growing
stronger everyday, and heading in the direction of Florida. Florida
sticks out like a sore thumb, I tell you!
The reason my state is such a target is that it is surrounded by warm
water... a hurricane's fuel. It makes hurricanes stronger. The Gulf of
Mexico is to Florida's west, and then it is surrounded by the
Continental Shelf. If you've ever been to one of Florida's beaches,
when you go out swimming, as you go out farther it gets deeper and
deeper, then finally drops into a massive, deep undersea valley. The
area where it's shallow before it drops off is what's called the
Continental Shelf. Lots of warm shallow water there.
In any case, I hope that any Floridians reading this are keeping
themselves informed, and hopefully preparing to evacuate. If you
absolutely MUST stay put, take every safety measure possible. Board up
your windows, have plenty of food and water and batteries, etc. etc.
Please be careful!!
This is Mckenzie, signing off for now.
Author's
Note: If you would like to learn more about Ivan and any other
hurricanes, go to
http://www.weather.com.
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