35.7 million – Estimated July 1, 2008, population most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes: the coastal portion of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Approximately 12 percent of the nation’s population lived in these areas.

10.2 million – The 1950 coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Seven percent of the nation’s population lived in these areas at that time.

251 percent – Percentage growth of the coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas between 1950 and 2008.

180,155 – Collective land area, in square miles, of the coastal areas from North Carolina to Texas.

3 – The number of the nation’s 20 most populous metro areas in 2008 that were within Atlantic or Gulf coastal areas from North Carolina to Texas. These areas are Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas (sixth); Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, Fla. (seventh); and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. (20th).

8 — The number of hurricanes during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. Five were major hurricanes at Category 3 strength or higher.

Ana – The name of the first Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico/Caribbean storm of 2009. The second storm will be named Bill.

17.9 million – Estimated 2008 coastal population of Florida, accounting for half (50 percent) of the coastal population of the states stretching from North Carolina to Texas. Among the Sunshine State’s coastal population, approximately 10.6 million lived along the Atlantic and 7.3 million along the Gulf.

1 percent – Percentage growth of Florida’s coastal population between 2007 and 2008.

Fay – The only storm on record to make landfall four times in the state of Florida, and to prompt tropical storm and hurricane watches and warnings for the state’s entire coastline (at various times during its August 2008 lifespan).

1950 – The year the Weather Bureau officially began naming hurricanes.

2005 – In one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, 28 named storms form, 15 of them hurricanes, seven of which are major, and four reach Category 5 status. For the first time, the alternate Greek alphabet scheme for naming storms has to be employed.

455,056 – Estimated population of New Orleans on July 1, 2005 — about two months before Hurricane Katrina struck.

311,853 – Estimated population of New Orleans on July 1, 2008 — three years after Hurricane Katrina struck.

29,431 – The population of Homestead, Fla., near the point of landfall of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. In 2007, the population of Homestead was 56,601.

37,789 – Population of Galveston, Texas, at the time of the city’s “Great Storm” on Sept. 8, 1900, which killed more than 8,000 people.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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The list includes:

– Developing a Family Plan

– Creating a Disaster Supply Kit

– Having a Place To Go

– Securing Your Home

– Having a Pet Plan

For more information, visit nhc.noaa.com.

Related lists:

• States With Most Hurricanes
• Deadliest U.S. Hurricanes
• Deadliest Hurricanes in Texas History
• The 5 Categories Of Hurricanes
• What To Do in Hurricane-Force Winds
• Tips For Protecting Pets In An Emergency

*More than 500 of 600-900 estimated deaths lost on ships at sea. The Texas estimate of deaths was 284.

Sources: Texas Department of Insurance, National Hurricane Center, Texas Weather by George Bomar

Related lists:

• States With Most Hurricanes
• America’s Deadliest Hurricane
• Deadliest U.S. Hurricanes
• Deadliest Hurricanes in Texas History
• The 5 Categories Of Hurricanes
• What To Do in Hurricane-Force Winds
• Tips For Protecting Pets In An Emergency

According to the center’s database, 96 major hurricanes in the Atlantic have struck the U.S. coast since 1851. The states with the highest number of hurricane strikes are:

1. Florida, with 113 hurricanes, 37 of them major storms and two that reached Category 5 status (the strongest and most destructive of hurricanes).

2. Texas, with 60 total hurricanes, 19 of them major. The majority (23) were Category 1 storms, and none were Category 5.

3. Louisiana, with 52 total hurricanes, 20 of them major. One of those storms was a Category 5, and four were Category 4 storms.

4. North Carolina, with 50 total hurricanes, 12 of them major storms. No Category 5 hurricanes have made landfall in North Carolina, but there has been one Category 4 storm.

5. South Carolina with 30 hurricanes, six of them major. Two Category 4 hurricanes have made landfall on the South Carolina coast.

The remaining top-ranked states for hurricane strikes are, in descending order, Alabama with 26, Georgia with 23, Mississippi with 16, New York with 12, Connecticut and Massachusetts with 11, Virginia with 10 and Rhode Island with nine.

For detailed statistics and information about hurricanes and the United States, go to the National Hurricane Center Web site.

Related lists:

• States With Most Hurricanes
• Deadliest U.S. Hurricanes
• Deadliest Hurricanes in Texas History
• The 5 Categories Of Hurricanes
• What To Do in Hurricane-Force Winds
• Tips For Protecting Pets In An Emergency

Which are the deadliest hurricanes of all time?

Weather Underground compiled a list of 30. Here are the Top 10, with year, states most affected, and number of deaths reported:

1. Great Galveston (TX) Hurricane (1900): 6,000-8,000

2. Lake Okeechobee (FL) Hurricane (1928): 2,800

3. Katrina (LA, MS, FL, GA, AL) (2005): 1,833

4. Cheniere Caminanda (LA) (1893): 1,100-1,400

5. Sea Islands (SC, GA) (1983): 1,000-2,000

6. GA/SC (1881): 700

7. Great Labor Day Hurricane (FL Keys) (1935): 408

7. Last Island (LA) (1856): 400

9. Audrey (SW LA/N TX) (1957): 390

10. LA (Grand Isle) (1909): 350

To find out more about these, and to see the rest of the list, visit Weather Underground.

Related lists:

• States With Most Hurricanes
• Deadliest Hurricanes in Texas History
• The 5 Categories Of Hurricanes
• What To Do in Hurricane-Force Winds
• Hurricane Preparedness Tips

Funnel clouds pop up quickly, and seemingly out of nowhere, giving people in their path little time to react. Wind speed can top 300 miles per hour, turning uprooted trees and objects into murderous missiles. An estimated 60 people are killed by tornadoes each year in the United States alone in addition to the millions of dollars in damage.

What can you do to protect yourself? Here’s one list, courtesy of “How Stuff Works.”

1. Determine the best locations for shelter at home and work.

2. Conduct tornado safety drills with your family.

3. Prepare an emergency supply kit.

4. Make an inventory of your possessions.

5. Know how your community sends its warnings.

6. Know the difference between a “watch” and a “warning.”

7. Stay away from windows.

8. Don’t bother opening windows.

9. Get in position.

10. Mobile home residents need to take extra precautions.

To read more about these safety tips and others, visit howstuffworks.com.

Pets are often overlooked during disasters and emergencies, as seen during California wildfires in which 15,000 pets were displaced. PetFirst Healthcare, based in Jeffersonville, Ind., recommends that pets be included in families’ emergency plans. Brent Hinton, PetFirst chief executive officer and former head of the Kentucky Humane Society, suggests these steps to increase the chance of pet survival in an emergency:

• Identify a shelter — During mass evacuations or relocation, many disaster shelters, including Red Cross, will not accept pets due to health and safety regulations. Hinton suggests identifying alternative shelter in advance. Ask family, friends or others outside your area if they are able to shelter your pets, and research pet friendly hotels and motels.
• Pack a pet-survival kit — Include pet food, bottled water, medications, veterinary records, food dishes, toys, a leash or pet carrier and a current pet photo in case the pet becomes separated.
• Bring pets indoors — Never leave pets outside or tied up during disasters. Find a safe indoor location to prevent them from running away due to anxiety or fear.
• Separate dogs and cats — They may normally get along, but pets can act irrationally in the event of an emergency.

If there is no alternative to leaving pets behind, Hinton recommends the following:

• Confine pets inside — Provide dry food, because moist and canned food may spoil, as well as plenty of water.
• Outside notice — Place a notice outside the building, advising what pets have been left and where they are located inside.
• Phone numbers — Provide the owner’s mobile phone numbers, along with the name and number of the pet’s veterinarian.

For more information, visit PetFirst Healthcare online.

Source: PetFirst Healthcare

Source: FEMA

Related lists:

• States With Most Hurricanes
• Deadliest U.S. Hurricanes
• Deadliest Hurricanes in Texas History
• The 5 Categories Of Hurricanes
• What To Do in Hurricane-Force Winds
• Tips For Protecting Pets In An Emergency