Watching Hurricane Florence? Here are some hurricane-related books while you prepare

As someone who lives very near the Outer Banks of North Carolina, you’d better believe that I’m obsessively watching all updates relating to Hurricane Florence. I’ve survived a ton of hurricanes living in this area, but until they hit, it’s hard to tell just how bad it’ll be. When I was in the ninth grade, my area was hit by Hurricane Bonnie, which was a relatively weak storm by the time it got to us; a tornado plowed through our yard, fortunately missing our house. During Hurricane Floyd in 1999, a massive storm, my brother and I played frisbee with the shingles as they flew off of the roof. So, you never really know how it’s going to play out.

I’ve been obsessed with severe weather and meteorology since I was in second grade. Fun fact: if you write fan letters to television meteorologists to tell them how cool and smart you think they are, most of the time, they write you back. I did it more often than I’d like to admit.

Here are a few books if you’re curious about hurricanes:

1. 1. Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans by Don Brown
      Goodreads
      
      It wouldn’t be much of a list about hurricanes without a book detailing the insane devastation that New Orleans and the surrounding areas endured, during and after the storm. This is a graphic novel aimed at young adults and teenagers, but it’s accessible for everyone.

 

1. 1. August Gale: A Father and Daughter’s Journey into the Storm by Barbara Walsh
      Goodreads
      This book examines a hurricane on the coast of Newfoundland in 1935, and a family’s pain.

 

1. 1. Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
      Goodreads
      You probably recognize Jesmyn Ward’s name from her more recent, and very popular book, Sing, Unburied, Sing. In this earlier novel, she examines twelves days in the life of one family, concluding as Hurricane Katrina hit. I’m buying this book as soon as I can. I love the way Ward writes, and I can’t wait to read this one.

 

1. 1. Into the Raging Sea: Thirty-Three Mariners, One Megastorm, and the Sinking of El Faro by Rachel Slade
      GoodreadsA container ship called the El Faro disappeared during Hurricane Joaquin. Slade recounts the last twenty-four hours of the ship and its crew as it dealt with the worst case scenario.

 

1. The Cure for Catastrophe: How We Can Stop Manufacturing Natural Disasters by Robert Muir-Wood
   Goodreads
   

For those of you who will be impacted by Hurricane Florence later this week, please get ready and stock up on water, medicine, pet food, and any other supplies you might need. If the storm gets as strong as they’re saying you might consider evacuating if you’re in a particularly prone region.