Hurricane Names
Storm Terms
Storm Warnings
Hurricane Categories

2008 Hurricane Names:
Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gustav, Hanna, Ike, Josephine, Kyle, Laura, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paloma, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky, Wilfred

2007 Named Hurricanes and Tropical Storms:
Subtropical Storm Andrea 5/9-5/11
Tropical Storm Barry 6/1-6/2
Tropical Storm Chantal 7/31-8/1
Hurricane Dean 8/13-8/23
Tropical Storm Erin 8/14-8/19
Hurricane Felix 8/31-9/5
Tropical Storm Gabrielle 9/8-9/11
Hurricane Humberto 9/12-9/14
Tropical Storm Ingrid 9/12-9/17
Tropical Storm Jerry 9/22-9/24
Hurricane Karen 9/24-9/29
Hurricane Lorenzo 9/25-9/28
Tropical Storm Melissa 9/28-9/30
Hurricane Noel 10/28-11/2
Tropical Storm Olga 12/11-12/13

2006 Named Hurricanes and Tropical Storms:
Tropical Storm Alberto 6/10-6/14
Tropical Storm Unnamed 7/17-7/18
Tropical Storm Beryl 7/18-7/21
Tropical Storm Chris 8/1-8/4
Tropical Storm Debby 8/21-8/26
Hurricane Ernesto 8/24-9/1
Hurricane Florence 9/3-9/12
Hurricane Gordon 9/10-9/20
Hurricane Helene 9/12-9/24
Hurricane Isaac 9/27-10/2

2005 Named Hurricanes and Tropical Storms:
Tropical Storm Arlene 6/8-6/13
Tropical Storm Bret 6/28-6/30
Hurricane Cindy 7/3-7/7
Hurricane Dennis 7/4-7/13
Hurricane Emily 7/11-7/21
Tropical Storm Franklin 7/21-7/29
Tropical Storm Gert 7/23-7/25
Tropical Storm Harvey 8/2-8/8
Hurricane Irene 8/4-8/8
Tropical Depression 10 8/13-8/14
Tropical Storm Jose 8/22-8/23
Hurricane Katrina 8/23-8/30
Tropical Storm Lee 8/28-9/2
Hurricane Maria 9/1-9/10
Hurricane Nate 9/5-9/10
Hurricane Ophelia 9/6-9/17
Hurricane Philipp 9/17-9/23
Hurricane Rita 9/18-9/26
Tropical Depression Nineteen 9/30-10/2
Hurricane Stan 10/1-10/5
Subtropical Storm (Unnamed) 10/4-10/5
Tropical Storm Tammy 10/5-10/6
Subtropical Storm (Unnamed) 10/4-10/5
Hurricane Vince 10/8-10/11
Hurricane Wilma 10/15-10/25
Tropical Storm Alpha 10/22-10/24
Hurricane Beta 10/26-10/31
Tropical Storm Gamma 11/14-11/21
Tropical Storm Delta 11/22-11/28
Hurricane Epsilon 11/29-12/8
Tropical Storm Zeta 12/30-1/6/06

2004 Named Hurricanes and Tropical Storms:
Hurricane Alex 7/3-8/6
Tropical Storm Bonnie 8/3-8/13
Hurricane Charley 8/9-8/14
Hurricane Danielle 8/13-8/21
Tropical Storm Earl 8/13-8/15
Hurricane Francis 8/25-9/8
Hurricane Gaston 8/27-9/1
Tropical Storm Hermine 8/27-8/31
Hurricane Ivan 9/2-9/24
Hurricane Jean 9/13-9/28
Hurricane Karl 9/16-9/24
Hurricane Lisa 9/19-10/3
Tropical Storm Matthew 10/8-10/10
Subtropical Storm Nicole 10/10-10/11
Tropical Storm Otto 11/29-12/3

2002 Named Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
Tropical Storm Aurthur 7/14 - 7/16
Tropical Storm Bertha 8/4 - 8/9
Tropical Storm Christobal 8/5 - 8/8
Tropical Storm Dolly 8/29 - 9/4
Tropical Storm Edouard 9/1 - 9/6
Tropical Storm Fay 9/5 - 9/11
Hurricane Gustav 9/8 - 9/12
Tropical Storm Hanna 9/12 - 9/15
Hurricane Isadore 9/14 - 9/27
Tropical Storm Josephine 9/17 - 9/19
Hurricane Kyle 9/20 - 10/12
Hurricane Lili 9/21 - 10/4

2003 Named Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
Tropical Storm Ana - 4/20-24
Tropical Storm Bill - 6/29-7/2
Hurricane Claudette - 7/8-17
Hurricane Danny - 7/16-21
Hurricane Erika - 8/14-17
Hurricane Fabian - 8/27-9/8
Tropical Storm Grace - 9/30-10/2
Tropical Storm Henri - 9/3-9/8
Hurricane Isabel - 9/6-9/19
Hurricane Juan - 9/24-29
Hurricane Kate - 9/26-10/7
Tropical Storm Larry - 10/1-10/6
Tropical Storm Mindy - 10/10-10/14
Tropical Storm Nicholas - 10/13-10/23
Tropical Storm Odette - 12/4-12/7
Tropical Storm Peter - 12/7-12/11

Storm Terms

• Tropical Wave - A large low pressure system in the tropics and subtropics
• Tropical Depression - A weak storm system with winds of 38 mph or less and rotary movement only on the water's surface.
• Tropical Disturbance - A group of thunderstorms that moves together through the tropics for at least 24 hours, but with no noticeable circular motion.
• Tropical Storm - A storm with distinct rotary movement and winds 39-73 mph.
• Hurricane - A circular windstorm in tropical or subtropical climates with a defined eye and winds of at least 74 mph. Tropical cyclones, the general term for all large-scale circular windstorms in the tropics and subtropics, are called hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, eastern Pacific ocean, and near Hawaii. Tropical cyclones in the north Pacific Ocean are called typhoons.

Storm Warnings

• Tropical Storm Watch - An advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center when tropical storm conditions, with winds of 39 to 73 mph, could threaten a coastal area within 24 to 36 hours.
• Tropical Storm Warning - An advisory issued when winds of 39 to 73 mph are expected. Tropical storm warnings probably will not be issued before hurricane warnings.
• Hurricane Watch - An advisory issued when hurricane conditions are a threat within 24 to 36 hours. It precedes a Hurricane Warning. Chances are 1-in-3 the center part of the watch area will be hit. There's a 1-in-4 chance any location in the watch area will be hit, a 1-in-5 chance for the edges of the watch area. Sustained winds are between 39 to 73 MPH.
• Hurricane Warning - An advisory that says hurricane conditions are expected in a specific area within 24 hours. That means a 1-in 2 chance the central part of the warning area will be hit and 1-in-3 chance for the edges of the warning zone. All areas in the warning zone are likely to be affected, even if the hurricane grazes by. Sustained winds are 74 MPH or more.

Hurricane Categorys
Hurricanes are rated on a scale from 1-5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with 5 being the strongest or most intense. Category 3, 4, and 5 storms are considered major hurricanes.

• Category 1 Hurricane - Wind speeds of 74 to 95 mph. Storm surge is 4 to 5 feet. Barometric pressure is 28.94 inches or higher. Minimal damage, primarily to foliage, unanchored mobile homes and poorly constructed signs.
• Category 2 Hurricane - Wind speeds of 96 to 110 mph. Storm surge is 6 to 8 feet. Barometric pressure is 28.50 to 28.93 inches. Damage moderate, mobile homes heavily damaged, some damage to roofs and windows of homes.
• Category 3 Hurricane - Wind speeds of 111 to 130 mph. Storm surge is 9 to 12 feet. Barometric pressure is 27.91 to 28.49 inches. Damage extensive, some structural damage to buildings, foliage torn from trees and mobile homes destroyed. Who could forget Betsy in 1965? Other category 3 storms include the following: Opal in 1995, which struck Northwest Florida and Alabama; and Frederic (1979) and Elena (1985) which both struck the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast.
• Category 4 Hurricane - Wind speeds of 131 to 155 mph. Storm surge is 13 to 18 feet. Barometric pressure is 27.17 to 27.90 inches. Damage extreme, homes heavily damaged, complete destruction to mobile homes and large trees uprooted. Andrew (1992) ranks as the costliest hurricane on record, but not the most intense or deadliest. Hugo in 1989 was a category 4.
• Category 5 Hurricane - Winds greater than 155 mph. Storm surge more than 18 feet. Barometric pressure less than 27.17 inches. Damage extreme, homes heavily damaged, complete destruction to mobile homes and large trees uprooted. Damage can be catastrophic with small buildings blown away or overturned and trees destroyed. Hurricane Camille, which devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1969, killed 256 people and left $1.4 billion damage.

Tropical storms that never strengthen into hurricane status should still be taken seriously. Keep in mind the wrath of Claudette (1979) and Gordon (1994), each did $400 million damage.

Video Reference Materials:
Residents of Orleans & Jefferson Parish have the following choices of education videos available throughout the year. These videos are available at all library branches.

1. Surviving the Storm It's Up To You
2. Against the Wind: Protecting your Home from Wind Damage
3. Jim Brown's Hurricane Handbook
4. Family Disaster Plan/Disaster Supply Kit
5. Surviving the Hurricane with Dr. Bob Sheets
6. Cooking Up a Storm
7. Adventures of the Disaster Dudes
8. Jason & Robin's Awesome Hurricane
9. Adventure Cheniere Caminada Remembered

Literary Reference Materials:
These books are available FREE-OF-CHARGE to any interested individuals. Please call your Local Emergency Preparedness Office for nearest location. Click here for the phone number.

1. Repairing Your Flooded Home - FEMA
2. #234 Coastal Construction Manual - FEMA
3. #55 Retrofitting Flood-Prone Resident Structures - FEMA
4. #114 Emergency Management Guide for Small Business & Industry - FEMA #6025
5. Against the Wind - FEMA/ARC #247