Many people think that severe hurricane activity is a recent trend. In actuality, studies show that the United States has been a target of violent hurricanes thru ought its history. To appreciate the full destructive power of hurricanes, a look at the history of hurricane activity in the past hundred years is necessary.

Over a century ago, Texas was hit by a hurricane so strong that it caused the deaths of thousands of people. This was before hurricanes were actually named, so it became known simply as the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 due to the fact that it first made landfall at Galveston, Texas. Not much is known about the hurricane before it made landfall simply because the United States did not have any sophisticated weather monitoring systems in place at that time. Once the storm hit the U.S. coastline, it became the worst weather disaster in United States history. The storm tides measured from 8 to 15 feet high and completely swept over Galveston Island, not to mention much of the nearby Texas coastline. This storm was responsible for the deaths of over 10,000 people. Furthermore, property damage was estimated at roughly $30 million.

In 1919, the Atlantic-Gulf Hurricane slammed into Texas on September 14. The storm brought with it storm surges of up to 12 feet. Although few air pressure measurements still exist from this incident, a ship that was anchored near the Dry Tortugas recorded a measurement of 27.37 inches. This makes the 1919 storm the third most intense in United States history. The storm caused almost 900 deaths, the loss of 10 ships and over $22 million in damages.

In 1938, the northern United States was subjected to the New England Hurricane of 1938. Storm surges swept over coastline stretching from Long Island to Narragansett Bay in Massachusetts. This storm was responsible for over 600 deaths and about $308 million in property damages.

In 1954 Hurricane Hazel battered multiple countries with wind speeds of around 106 and gusts of 130 to 150 mph along the Carolina coastline. After this, it hit Washington D.C. with speeds of 78 mph, with gusts of over 90 mph recorded as far north as New York. All together, Hurricane Hazel caused 400 to 1,000 deaths in Haiti, 100 deaths in Canada, and almost 100 more deaths in the United States. In the end, this storm caused roughly $381 million in damages across 3 countries.

More recently, Hurricane Alicia in 1983 hit the gulf coast in mid-August. With sustained speeds of 96 mph and gusts of over 125 mph, this storm system brought major destruction along its entire path. Additionally, the hurricane spawned no less than 23 tornadoes.

One of the costliest storms in United States history was Hurricane Hugo. It hit the South Carolina coastline in 1989. On September 18, the storm passed over the Leeward Islands and St. Croix in the atlantic. Then it turned northward, and strengthened in the last 12 hours before striking Charleston, SC on September 22. Sustained winds of at least 104 mph were reported, with gusts going as high as 120 mph. All told, Hurricane Hugo was responsible for 5 deaths in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, 24 deaths in the Caribbean and 21 deaths in the United States. This hurricane caused at least $8 billion in damages.

In 2005 the United States was hit with what will be remembered as one of the most devastating hurricanes in American history. On August 23, a few hundred miles south east of the Bahamas, a tropical storm that was eventually known as Katrina formed. The very next day it moved through the northern Bahamas before turning towards southern Florida. After moving over the Miami-Date/Broward county line late on August 26, the storm intensified and became a Category 5 hurricane. On August 28, Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Buras, Louisiana. The maximum winds of the storm was estimated at 125 mph when it made landfall a second time around the Louisiana/Mississippi border.

Although Hurricane Katrina was not the most powerful storm to ever hit the United States, it was the most costly. When everything was over, at least 1,200 deaths were recorded. Storm surge caused by the storm breached the levees at New Orleans and caused catastrophic damage to most parts of the city. This storm occurred towards the end of the 2005 hurricane season. At the beginning of the 2006 season, the damage that was caused was so severe (at least $75 billion) that the city of New Orleans and much of the surrounding areas have still not recovered.

Most people think that the only dangers a hurricane poses are before and immediately after the storm strikes. Usually, the damage that a hurricane causes are forgotten by most people once the storm dissipates. Unfortunately, the after effects can be felt long after the storm leaves an area. The problems that the hurricanes cause can take months or even years to fully recover from. It is not unheard of for people to go without power for days or even weeks if they live within the disaster area of a storm.

With proper preparation, any family can weather a hurricane. Important things to remember when preparing for a hurricane are:

-House Preparation: Make sure all windows and potentially flimsy doors are taped to prevent severe shattering. Remove lose debris from outside the home, these can turn into dangerous objects when the winds rise.

-Communication: Keep every line of communication open. This means having battery operated radios and televisions handy. This will allow you to get all of the latest weather and evacuation related news as quickly as possible. If the authorities order an evacuation, be sure to tell family and friends elsewhere your destination. Also, if the authorities do order an evacuation, be ready to move because they frequently have access to much more accurate data than you do.

-Survival Gear: Make sure you have plenty of food stuffs, medical supplies and other essential items that you may need for at least a few days.

-Backup Power: Many people forget about this last point. Equipping your home with a reliable backup power source can save you a lot of headaches later. Those suffering from the after affects of a hurricane many times have to go without vital services for extended amount of time. They can't depend on the main power grid, which was knocked out during the storm. Even the most basic of amenities such as fresh, refrigerated food and running water are unavailable. This tragic situation could be avoided if they have a reliable backup power source. Modern standby generators are marvels of technology that can offer vast improvements to their homeowners in times of need.

If a home that is equipped with a standby generator loses power during or after a storm, the family living at that home will find their lives largely unimpeded by the inconveniences of no power. Food will be fresh because the refrigerators can still draw power. Water will still run and be heated for hot showers. Lights can stay on all night. Air conditioners can offer a welcome respite from the sweltering heat outside. When used responsibly, a standby generator can restore a sense of normalcy to a family that is beset by adversity and hardship.

This article and its contents are copyrighted by Generator Power Solutions 2006.