When a natural disaster strikes, the aftermath can be as devastating as the actual event. In the case of hurricanes, their destruction can take months and even years to clean. The loss of homes, businesses, property, and valuables can never be fully restored, but fortunately there are a number of Gulf Coast hurricane relief efforts to aid this region of the US when powerful storms sweep through the area.
A Hurricane’s Destruction
When dealing with a hurricane, damage occurs from three main sources: high winds, the storm surge, and heavy rainfall. Hurricanes are categorized by their wind speed, with even the weakest storms measuring winds at 74-95mph. When these high winds meet the shore line, it pushes the water onto the shore. This is particularly dangerous during high tide and in low-lying areas. Heavy rains cause further flooding, and the high winds will easily knock down trees, power lines, and other structures whose foundations are weak with water saturation. Worst of all, storms can last for many hours and can travel for hundreds of miles, making the potential for damage far-reaching and difficult to predict.
Finding Help
Survivors of a hurricane need a great deal of help in the days, weeks, and even months following the storm. Specialty equipment is a must for disaster-stricken areas. Since electricity, clean water, food, and other essentials can be scarce or even impossible to find for an extended period of time, it is important to ensure the area has access to mobile support equipment. Showers, sleeping units, restrooms, laundry services, and healthcare units that can run off of generators are imperative to the health and well-being of survivors, volunteers, and workers cleaning and rebuilding the area. In the most heavily damaged areas, it is not uncommon to see entire base camps consisting of mobile facilities to ensure everyone in the area receives the basic care they need as their homes, neighborhoods, and towns are rebuilt.
