HurricaneFelix2007

Hurricane Felix 2007

Hurricanes are powered by heat energy from the warm ocean. When water vapor is pulled into the storm it condenses as it cools and it falls as rain.
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The strength and damage of a hurricane is assessed by the Saffir-Simpson Scale which is based on five cetegories; one being the lowest, and five being the highest. The Saffir-Simpson scale is based on wind speed and barometric pressure. 1. A hurricane has a different name depending on where it is located in the world. In the U.S. we call it a Hurricane, in the Indian Ocean it is called a Cyclone, and in the Western Pacific Ocean it is called a Typhoon. When a hurricane is in the northern hemisphere it circulates counter clockwise. Due to the Coriolis Effect no paths of the hurricane cut the equator. This is because paths turn to the right on the Northern Hemisphere and to the left on the Southern Hemisphere. Once the hurricane hits the equator it fades away.

A Hurricane is defined as a violent, tropical, cyclonic storm of the Western North Atlantic having winds speeds of or excess of 72 mph. Hurricane Felix was a Category five hurricane that struck Central America. Looking at the Saffir-Simpson scale we can see that a category five hurricane is the most catostrophic level. A category five hurricane on the scale is said to blow down all trees, take roofs off buildings (which make structures weaker) and much more. Looking at the category of the hurricane it is no suprise that the destruction it left behind was enormous. It was a hurricane that was very destructive and it took many lives with it as well. The Hurricane began on August 31st 2007 with a tropical wave passing through Windward Island. It began to strengthen and became a major Hurricane and it began on its way to Central America. //The Eye of Cat4 Hurricane Felix. The Visible Satellite of the Tropical Depression Felix.//

Hurricane Felix was a category five hurricane and was capable of causing major damage. When Hurricane Felix was on its way to Central America it was considered very dangerous. There was a fear of a repeat of hurricane Mitch which killed about 10,000 people in the late 90's. If you’re wondering what is considered a hurricane, is a storm going at least 75 mph and can be found in the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. In a span of twenty-four hours on the 2nd Day of September in 2007, Hurricane Felix turned from a Category 1 Hurricane to a Category 5 hurricane. In the second twelve hours, the Hurricane changed from a Category 2 to a Category 5. This hurricane was going fast and wasn't going to stop for anything or anyone. In figure 1.3 The highest winds were about 155 mph or more. This hurricane was on its way to destroy lives, homes, and oil industries. Hurricane Felix swept through Southern Caribbean, passed by Central America and Mexican Yucatan Peninsula. Category five hurricanes are not very common. In figure 1.1 Felix slammed into Nicaragua and Honduras destroying villages with winds and heavy rains. Tourists that were on vacation were taken to a safe location. About 40,000 Hondurans were sent to shelters while about 15,000 other Hondurans were forced to stay in their homes while the hurricane pasted through. They risked their lives of their family and friends. They believe that Global warming is to blame for these stronger tropical cyclones that occur in the Atlantic Ocean. Felix winds were going 135 mph and on its way to damage more property in Honduras and Belize. Thirteen days before Hurricane Felix hit another Category 5 hurricane went through the same tracks and that was Hurricane Dean. Hurricane Dean caused 11 deaths in Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Hurricane Felix has a major impact on the oil industry because it forces to evacuate their employees from working and to make sure all their workers are safe from the hurricane. All these oil industries worry about is the damage on their oil docks.In figure 1.2 Many industry oil companies are forced to shut down the output of million of barrels a day. This is mainly 80 percent of where their sales come from. They sell to everyone all around the world. They have a reputation to keep up with and if they don't produce what is demanded then buyers look to purchase oil somewhere else. Oil barrels are a billion dollar business and when they have to shut down for a couple of days they are losing thousands by the seconds. When that happens millions of dollars are lost daily.These oil industries provide oil for gas like Conoco Phillips and Valero. Oil companies have no choice but to stop production due to a deadly hurricane. These oil docks get destroyed from piping to just massive destruction. While these hurricanes are taking place many people are out of jobs for a while. Repairs on oil docks are a major factor to getting back on track with the oil industries. It will take them a while to adjust back to their normal schedules. Oil industries have no choice but to jump their oil prices high up there to make money. They most likely lost millions of dollars that then need to make up for by charging consumers outrageous prices. We can protest by not purchasing oil but it’s a necessity and we can't live without oil. So when these natural disasters take places it affects everyone world wide. It seems like oil industries have no choice to increase prices and have the power to because they know it’s a needed necessity. At the same time they make their money back quickly by charging high prices. It looks like the oil industry is to blame but really they have no choice because Hurricane Felix is the one taking millions away. So when a Hurricane takes place it not only destroys a couple people’s lives it affects many people because of the increase of oil. Oil is very expensive and needed. Hurricane Felix is a perfect example of self destruction. We are responsible to a certain extent with global warming. Just because Hurricane Felix isn't taking place in the United States doesn't mean it can't effect use in the long run. The U.S. was effected by the oil industry. When they oil industry shut down thats when the US and other countries play the prices. Central America need millions to restablish the countries.
 * __ What was its effect on the oil industry? __**

No one can ever prepare for a Natural disaster like Hurricane Felix. We mainly depend on communication. Felix was a very dangerous that hit Central America very hard. Even though it lasted last than a week it must have felt like forever for those who experienced it from the beginning. Hurricane Felix ended on September 5th 2007. Many lives were impacted but, many were lost. An estimated 11,000 died in the hurricane nightmare. The hurricane lasted only a few days but, left a memorable mess.It affected area like Sourthern Windward Islands, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and ABC Islands. Due to the death toll, the name Hurricane Felix was retired. It was retired on May 13th, 2008 by the World Meteorological Organization. The name will not be used again in any Atlantic storms to come in the future. //Figure 1.1// People in Honduras return to their home to find that there is nothing left but, pecies of there home.Hurricane Felix slammed into Honduras taking everything in that village. wtop.com //Figure1.2
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The oil industry was forced to to shut down due to Hurricane Felix. They lost millions in the damage that was caused to the docks. Millions were lost in oil sales. // pmthink.com //Figure 1.3 This chart shows how Hurricane Felix was changing throughout its way to Central America. This is why Hurricane Felix was placed in// Category 5. 4.bp.blogspot.com/.../ s400/Felix+09-02-07.gif 1. "The Saffir-Simpson Scale | WAVY.com." //WAVY.com | News, Weather and Traffic for Hampton Roads, Virginia and North Carolina//. Web. 10 Dec. 2009. [].
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[|www.dictionary.com] [|www.bloomberg.com] [|www.news.com.au] [|www.rigzone.com] [|www.aoml.noaa.gov] http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/a-13-2007-08-21-voa63-66721957.html