Katrina, Andrew, Agnes, Hugo. They have such friendly names, but there is nothing kind about hurricanes. These violent storms whip up winds anywhere from 74 to 200 mph. They also churn up huge waves and torrential rains that can cause flooding and devastation, not just along coasts, but hundreds of miles inland as well.

Hurricane season usually runs from June through November for people living along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States and along the Gulf of Mexico. Although more than 100 "disturbances" a year have the potential to turn into hurricanes, on average only 10 of these become tropical storms, with six becoming full-fledged hurricanes.*