Top selling items in advance of Hurricane Charley in 2004: Beer... you guessed it, and Strawberry Poptarts. I better get on it... Image by flickr user Rachel D.
A quick look at some of the things that make hurricanes super deadly in your city:
Top wind speeds Roosevelt Island Tram can operate in: 50 miles per hour
Hurricane wind speeds: 111 miles per hour
Percentage of US population threatened by hurricanes: 12
Most hurricane prone city in Florida: Miami
Number of hurricanes Miami can expect every 12 years: 1
Number of hurricanes projected this year in US: 6
Vital statistics needed to forecast hurricanes: El Nino and La Nina (strong variations in ocean surface temperatures)
Ocean surface temperature variations this year: Neutral
Last time ocean temperatures were neutral: 2005
Result: Hurricane Katrina and Rita
Percentage of New Orleans flooded: 80
Damaged caused: $80 billion
Cost of potential hurricane damage in Eastern Seaboard: $100 billion
Cost of flood insurance in high risk areas: Up to $350,000/year
Median US income: $29,000
Human death toll due to Katrina: 1464
Total hurricane deaths in US between 1970-1999: 589
Deadliest hurricane in history: 1970 Bhola Cyclone
Total fatalities: 500,000
Most dangerous activity during a hurricane: Driving
Percentage of hurricane deaths as a result of storm surges: 90
Percentage of flood-related deaths occurring in vehicles: 80
Feet of water required to float a bus: 6
Number of months New York subway would be out of service if flooded and corroded with hurricane salt waters: Months, Even Years