Question

hurricanes: nature’s wildest storms
by erin ryan
tell whether each statement is true or false.

1. when a hurricane warning is issued, a hurricane will definitely hit landfall within 24 hours.
2. from 1953 to 1978, all tropical storms were given male names.
3. the great galveston hurricane hit florida in 1903.
4. hurricanes form over warm ocean water.
5. hurricanes begin to lose strength when they hit land.
6. more people were killed by hurricane katrina than by the great galveston hurricane.
7. hurricanes in the northern hemisphere rotate counterclockwise.
8. the center of a hurricane is called the eye.
9. hurricanes are given names and tropical storms are not.
10. category 4 hurricanes have winds over 155 miles per hour.
11. mobile homes are a safe place to stay during a hurricane.
12. hurricanes were not given official names before 1953.
13. hurricane katrina flooded the city of new orleans in 2005.
14. scientists can make hurricanes change direction.
15. a levee keeps ocean water away from cities.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each statement based on hurricane knowledge:

1. Hurricane warnings don’t guarantee landfall (false).
2. 1953 - 1978: storms had male/female names (false, as they included female too).
3. Great Galveston Hurricane hit Texas (not Florida) in 1900 (false).
4. Hurricanes form over warm ocean water (true).
5. Hurricanes lose strength over land (true, no warm water fuel).
6. Katrina (2005) killed fewer than Galveston (1900) (false).
7. Northern Hemisphere hurricanes rotate counterclockwise (true).
8. Hurricane center is the eye (true).
9. Hurricanes/tropical storms are named (false, they are named).
10. Category 4 hurricanes have ≥131 mph (≤155 is Category 3; so false, Category 4 is 131–155? Wait, Saffir - Simpson: Cat 4 is 131–155 mph, Cat 5 >155. So “over 155” is Cat 5, so this statement is false (Cat 4 is up to 155).
11. Mobile homes are unsafe in hurricanes (false).
12. Before 1953, hurricanes had no official names (true, they used latitude/longitude or code names).
13. Katrina flooded New Orleans in 2005 (true).
14. Scientists can’t control hurricane direction (false).
15. Levees aim to keep water out of cities (true, they hold back water).

Answer:

1. False
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. True
8. True
9. False
10. False
11. False
12. True
13. True
14. False
15. True