Hurricanes are causing more and more damage throughout the Gulf Region, mainly because the population is constantly growing.  

When a hurricane is sighted ,television and radio stations broadcast a hurricane watch. This means that a hurricane may hit the area in the following 36 hours. If the weather gets worse there is a hurricane warning, which means that a hurricane is expected in the area in the following 24 hours. 

Many things can be done to protect yourself and your property  during a hurricane: 

  • Keep emergency supplies of food and water.
  • Keep a battery-powered radio ready in case the power goes out. Listen to the instructions you get.
  • Keep the gas tank of your car full, in case you have to leave quickly.
  • Protect your house by nailing plywood over the windows and doors. Tie down loose objects.
  • Find out which roads are best to take you away from the storm.
  • Leave your house as soon as you are ordered to evacuate.



hurricane evacuation sign

Hurricane evacuation sign in New Orleans
Image: Photo by Infrogmation, CC BY 2.5 ,
via Wikimedia Commons


Words

  • broadcast = to send out a radio or TV programme 
  • cause = lead to
  • constantly = all the time, very often 
  • emergency = if something unexpected happens  
  • evacuate = to bring people away from a dangerous place to where it is safe 
  • expect = to think that something will happen 
  • in case = if something happens  
  • instructions = here: what the experts tell you to do
  • loose = not fixed
  • nail = to put metal into something with a hammer 
  • plywood = a material made of many layers of wood that makes it strong 
  • property = your house and the land that it is on 
  • protect = guard, defend
  • sight = see, observe, notice 
  • supplies = food and other things you need to survive  
  • tie down = bind together, fix