The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-06-20
WEATHER BUREAU PREPARED FOR
HURRICANE SEASON.

| the Weather Bureau Of the United States
Department of Agriculture is concerned
although the worst OF these tropica,
storms may not occur for month OF
more. The Weather Bureau. however
is prepared and has put It's special hurri-
cane service into operation. All its sta
tions along the South Atlantic and Gull
Coast have been instructed to be ready to
send out warnings to all within reach
with the utmost speed.
Every available means is used in dis
tributing thoroughly and quickly word OF
the approaching storm. Telegraph tele-
phone, printed bulletins, newspapers,
courlers. rockets. flags, and lanterns are
employed. Boats are sent to places that
cannot otherwise be reached. Flag and
lantern Signals are displayed at SO points
on the South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts,
and the display men at these places also
distribute the warnings by telephone and
in person.
Radio is Indispensable, not only in coll
lecting the reports on which the warnings
warnings. especially to ships at sea. I'm
til the advent of the radio communication
it was impossible to warn ships after they
nNlC Jul VI SAblAN VI AdiA* &NNetAAJ Ga
ships are now equipped with wireless. and
an elaborate series Of bulletins containing
weather information. forecasts, and
warnings is broadcast twice daily from
naval radio stations and at 2-hour inter-
walls when hurricane has been detected.
In this way ships are kept advised and
are enabled to avoid storms that other
wise they could not escape.
No hurricane has reached our shores
unannounced for many years. The eco
nomic value Of the warning service con-
Quoted by the Weather Bureau can be
reeoned in millions, to say nothing Of the
large saving in human life. Last year the
marine losses were very small, consider
ing the number and intensity of the hur-
ricanes. Only one vessel is positively
known to have been lost and the assump
ton that it's wireless apparatus was out
OF order so that it could not obtain the
warnings sent out for five days in sue
cession regarding hurricane in the Ca
rlbean sea.
Additional funds have been provided by
congress for the work of sending out hur-
ricane warnings. Extensions in the SER
vice July 1 win include the establishment
OF fun meteorological stations with train
ed meteorologists in charge at Browns
vile. Tex, and Appalaehicola, Fla, the
detailing of an observer to Burwood, La,
during the season, the securing OF addi-
tional weather. tide. and sea-SweH re-
ports from points along the Gulf coast
and an increase in the number OF ship OBJ
servers. number of special stations are
in the islands OF the West In
dies and on the coast of Central and
South America. and cooperative arrange
ments have been made for securing OBJ
from Cuba and Mexico. Dur
ing the hurricane season observations are
thus obtained from nearly 80 places out
side of the United States, supplemented
by reports from ships.
Observations from ships at sea are of
great Importance, and as many as posi-
Bile are obtained. 1t is great problem to
secure observations promptly and con-
stantly from areas in or near the storm
center. More ship reports are needed,
but since all ship captains naturally shun
the danger zone when hurricane warnings
are issued, It Is very difficult to obtain
these observations. Last year reports |
were obtained from about ESQ individual /
ships. About 5000 observations were re-
,eived during the season.
The hurricane season in the Gulf Of |
Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the /
waters of the Atlantic may
begin as early as June and last until No
although about 80 per cent of the
hurricanes occur in August, September. /
md October. Occasionally an entire sea-
ION may pass without a hurricane, while |
It other times there may be a number of /
-. Z u-E.~
lge for a season is or 4, and OF these
,nly or 3 a year affect the coast Of the
United States.
Hurricane" is a distinctive name. de-
lived from the Carib word ''huracan,"
meaning a high wind, and applied to a I
ype of tropical storm Of great severity.
These storms are Of the same general
character and comparable in violence to
he typhoons OF the Philippines and near
" regions OF the Western Pacific and
lso the cyclones OF the Indian ocean.
They move at first in a westerly direc-
ion. most Of them recurring northward
nd eastward when they enter the gem
raj easterly atmospheric drift in higher
attitudes. They have no such thing as a
ormal track; no two OF them taking the
anne path. Although they frequently
orm IN the same locality, one may strike
s far west as the coast Of Texas or pass
II into the Atlantic without coming with
4 several hundred miles OF the United
tates
Hurricanes are by far the most violent
( al general storms experienced in this
ountry. They are attended by clouds OF
nSy blackness. downpours OF rain and
-inds Of a velocity sonnet times exceeding
s5 miles an hour. High tides, which in
ndate the country in Iow-ying sections
re the most destructive and dreaded ef-
sct Of the storm. Before the Weather
bureau Of the United States Department.
Agriculture began its hurricane warn
lg service the loss OF life and destruction !
{ property from hurricanes on the South
-tlantic and Gulf Coasts were appalling. /
Iany ships in the open waters We're lost
r seriously damaged when taken una /
ares by these terrible storms. II