Did you know that at one time, hurricanes were named after women only?
Why are hurricanes named after women?
Hurricanes were named after women between the years of 1953 and 1979. The National Hurricane Center in Miami decided to start giving female names in 1953, when it began naming storms.
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However, the practice was thought of as being sexist – so they switched to using male and female names – alternating – from 1979 on. We now use a more formal system of issuing storm warnings and inform the public about which hurricane is headed their way. This system ensures that people have a chance of being prepared before any storm makes landfall nearby.
The first hurricane to receive a feminine name was “Anita” in 1953. The first hurricane to receive a masculine name was “Luisa” in 1979, although the storm was renamed to “Cora”.
I admit that I didn’t know this information about hurricanes, especially how they are named! Even though it probably seems unnecessary, I think the whole issue of female names for hurricanes is interesting. It’s nice to know that not all hurricanes are named after men.
However, do you think that female names for hurricanes and tropical storms are sexist? Do you think that it’s okay for all hurricanes to be named after men?
What Was The First Hurricane Name?
The first hurricane name was George in 1947. The first female name was Bess in 1949. Why
How Are Hurricane Names Chosen – Male or Female?
Hurricane names are chosen by the World Meteorological Organization’s Hurricane Committee. They select a new name for each hurricane season, and try to use names that have not been used in the previous 20 years. This new name is usually chosen from a list of pre-existing names ordered by the phonetic alphabet.
Once you have exhausted the alphabet at the letter Z, the names are chosen based off the Greek alphabet.
In 2012, 72 names will be on the list to choose from. This means that by 2017, 72 different names will have been used during the past 20 years. The most common name for a hurricane has been “Katrina,” with 9 occurrences in the past 4 decades.
Interestingly, the names for hurricanes are taken from a list of hurricane names of 1,056 female and 44 male names. This started in 1953 when the United States Weather Bureau named the first hurricane after a woman. Now all of the hurricane names are from this list, with Florence being the most popular name, followed by Wilma and then Irene.
Why Are Hurricanes Named After People?
Hurricanes are named after people or human names to help streamline any communications about the hurricane. It makes it easier for governors, meteorologists and the public to understand the storm’s history and how it will develop.
It also gives a name to something that happens all over the world, and helps people know if their area is in the path of a hurricane or tropical cyclones. This allows people to prepare for what is coming their way.
Is Katrina A Retired Hurricane Name?
Yes. Katrina was retired in 2005 due to the devastation and death toll it caused to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. This means that the name has been permanently removed from the list – and will never be used for another hurricane again. Katrina is now only a reminder of a terrible storm that changed thousands of lives forever.
Are Hurricanes Named After Females More Deadly?
I am sure that some people will say yes! However, if you look at the numbers, you will find that although it is true that female hurricanes have caused more deaths than males, the difference is very small.
Since 1979, female hurricanes have caused about 10% more deaths than male hurricanes. This is a very small difference, and not necessarily worth retiring names just yet. However, we must always be aware of the dangers that hurricanes can cause and of the damage that they can do to our property and communities.
Conclusion
Although the practice of naming hurricanes after women was thought of as sexist, it seems that it works. Since 1979, we have used names from a male and female list.
I think that people should be aware that although male names are still the most popular list of names for hurricanes, there are female names on the list. I believe that this awareness is important to keep people informed and to make sure that they are prepared if a hurricane does make landfall near them.