It is produced by a combination of events - but at its core, a hurricane is simply a giant energy engine driven by heat , wind and water . Hurricanes get their energy principally from heat, with wind and moisture then shaping the character of the storm. They are particularly dangerous because they can quickly grow into major storms. 1935 Florida Keys storm and Camille in 1969. The deadliest hurricane making US landfall was the 1900 Galveston storm.
Hurricanes are creatures of the Atlantic and Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico.
When similar tropical cyclones occur in the Pacific, they are called typhoons . The death tolls from typhoons have been much higher that those from hurricanes in the North American hemisphere. The University of Hawaii meterology department has an excellent tropical weather page covering the Pacific region. The use of a good, reliable weather radio that can be operated on batteries as well is an absolute necessity for all weather events - especially hurricanes. It also is important you stay tuned to your local EAS system radio and TV stations during hurricane watches or warnings.