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Hurricanes: Their Impact

Hurricanes don't always impact land, but if they get too close, or pass over land, it can be very impactful. Classic examples include Katrina in 2005, which rolled over Louisiana and devastated the state. More recent examples include Harvey in Texas (flooding rains for days), Florence in the Carolinas (several feet or rain), Dorian in the Bahamas (180 mph winds, with hurricane-force winds for 3 days), and others.

The main three threats of a hurricane are: wind, rain and storm surge.

Winds, obviously, can destroy buildings and other property.

Rain, mostly when the hurricane moves slowly through, can cause flooding.

Storm surge can bring massive waves along the beaches, destroying coastal homes and other property.

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