Caribbean hurricanes Irma and Maria 2017
In 2017, Category 5 Hurricane Irma caused devastation in the Caribbean, then Hurricane Maria brought a new wave of destruction. Find out how we helped.
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Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are all tropical storms. When they hit, they can be destructive and even deadly, depending on how powerful they are.
This year, ShelterBox responded after Hurricane Beryl flattened parts of the Caribbean
Find out more about what hurricanes are, the difference between hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones, and other interesting facts.
Key facts about hurricanes
What is a hurricane?
Hurricanes and typhoons are cyclonic weather systems that form in the tropics and have sustained wind speeds of more than 74 miles per hour.
Some of the most destructive hurricanes occurred in the last 20 years, including Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The combined damage of these three hurricanes is estimated to a whopping 317.9 billion US dollars. (National Geographic)
What’s the difference between a hurricane, a typhoon and a cyclone?
Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are all tropical storms.
The only difference is where they form. Hurricanes form in the tropical Atlantic and the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Typhoons form in the West Pacific Ocean and cyclones form south of the equator, off the coast of places such as Australia and Madagascar.
How is hurricane strength measured?
The Saffir-Simpson scale is the standard scale for rating the severity of a hurricane as measured by the damage it causes.
Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage. Category 1 and 2 storms are still dangerous, however, and require preventative measures. (NHC)
What causes hurricanes and typhoons?
Hurricanes and typhoons are delicate and need specific conditions to form and persist. The sea temperature needs to be at least 27°C, which is why they only form in the tropics.
The air above the sea heats up via convection and this warm, moist air rises. As the atmosphere heats up, the pressure changes and lowers at the surface.
Wind from the surrounding areas then rushes in to fill the space left by this area of low pressure, while the earth’s rotation causes the wind to spiral and become cyclical.
The eye of the storm tends to form once the wind speed reaches 74 miles per hour – the point at which a tropical storm is reclassified as a hurricane or a typhoon.
These storms are fuelled by high humidity, so a change of wind or dry air can make them weaken and eventually dissipate.
When and where do hurricanes occur?
Hurricanes form in the Atlantic and the eastern Pacific, during what is called the hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. Usually, there will be between six and eight hurricanes spread across this period.
Having three or more simultaneous hurricanes usually only happens once in a decade.
How are hurricanes named?
Since the early 1950s, hurricanes have been named after women.
In 1980, men’s names were introduced, and now the storms are named alphabetically, alternating between male and female names.
The names are repeated every six years, but if a storm is particularly severe, then the name is retired from use.
The word hurricane may have originated from either Hurakan, the ancient Mayan god of wind, storm and fire, or Huracan, the god of evil, in the Caribbean language of Taino.
Why disasters are not natural
Hurricanes, cyclones, and other extreme weather events are not ‘natural disasters’.
The term ‘natural disaster’, despite being widely used, is problematic.
Using the word ‘natural’ ignores the role that humans have in the disaster, assuming that the event would happen anyway and there is little that we can do to prevent it.
It’s actually the decisions we make that create a disaster.
Factors like living conditions and poverty, government capacity to prepare and respond, as well as the process of rebuilding and how efficient that would be, are all factors that will define whether a disaster occurs as a result of the natural hazard.
Hazards are inevitable – but the impact they have on society is not.
Read more about the importance of avoiding the term ‘natural disaster’.
Why disasters are not natural
Impact and challenges
What impact do hurricanes and typhoons have?
In the simplest terms, hurricanes and typhoons can be deadly, causing severe damage to buildings and infrastructure.
When a hurricane hits, people need to decide whether to stay in their homes or evacuate to safer ground. In some cases, there is nowhere safe to go, and many people worry about leaving their homes for fear of looting.
When Hurricane Irma hit the Caribbean in September 2017, it was so powerful that very few buildings could withstand it – you’d need a reinforced concrete building to survive unscathed.
Floodwater is also a major danger. Aside from the damage it could cause to buildings and infrastructure, the main cause of death in a hurricane or typhoon is drowning due to storm surges and flooding.
How can ShelterBox help?
Dealing with the aftermath of a hurricane or typhoon can be very challenging. Whole communities can be destroyed, from people’s homes to vital infrastructures such as roads, communication lines, power and medical supplies.
Despite the challenges, we often respond to places that are hit by tropical storms. After Hurricane Irma and Maria wreaked havoc in 2017, we provided aid to over 2,000 families across five islands in the Caribbean. See how we supported families.
At its peak, Hurricane Irma was twice the strength of the Great Storm of 1987 – the most violent storm to ever hit the UK.
In pictures: hurricanes Irma and Maria
On 27 August 2017, a tropical wave left the west coast of Africa. Within 4 days it had become Hurricane Irma – the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.
But the devastation didn’t stop there. Almost two weeks later, Hurricane Maria hit the same islands that took the brunt of Irma’s wrath.
We’re looking back to one of the worst hurricane seasons in the Caribbean, in pictures. Take a look and see how we’ve helped families like Amy’s in Barbuda.
We provided Amy with a tent for her and her family to stay in until they can start rebuilding their home.
Many thanks to Dr Adam Lea, a Senior Research Scientist at University College London in the department of space and climate physics.
Explore The Gallery
When severe flooding caused devastation across the north and south of Pakistan, father of four, Abdul, lost his home and his livelihood. After receiving a ShelterBox tent, Abdul and his family told us they were joyful to have a roof over their heads.
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