One of the most destructive forces of nature is the hurricane. Hurricanes that strike the United States occur primarily in the Atlantic and travel into the Gulf of Mexico. With winds up to 190 miles per hour, nothing stands in the way of the most extreme Category 5 hurricanes. Hurricanes destroy cities, homes, agriculture and anything in their way due to strong winds and heavy rain. Recently, scientists have supported the idea that the increase in the annual number of hurricanes is linked to global climate change. The United States must protect its citizens from hurricanes through emergency notification systems, emergency neighborhood cooperation efforts, and reduce its contribution to global climate change. The article published in Scientific American presents the concept that the increasing frequency of hurricanes is the result of anthropogenic forces. . Global warming is one of the major factors contributing to the increase in the number of hurricanes. Hurricanes are fueled and intensified by warm ocean waters, which have risen due to global warming. According to the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, “There was an average of one additional tropical cyclone for every 0.1 degree Celsius increase in sea surface temperature and one hurricane for every 0.2 degree Celsius increase” (Scientific American). Rising global temperatures caused by climate change can be linked to rising water temperatures. Globally, warm ocean areas have nearly tripled in size since the beginning of the 20th century, from about 17 million square miles to more than 46 million square miles (Scientific American). As the oceans have warmed, there has undoubtedly been a resulting increase in the number of hurricanes. This idea of ​​rising… middle of paper… focusing on communities coming together in times of need is essential to survival. Faced with a projected future of increased hurricane frequency, urban Americans must learn to adopt new methods to combat the natural threat. The 2008 hurricane season in Cuba included two major hurricanes that resulted in only seven deaths, a number that pales in comparison to the number resulting from Hurricane Katrina. (Hot Cities) Education and strong neighborhoods that care for their residents are the cornerstones of Cuban hurricane survival success, and therefore must be assimilated into American culture. Additionally, steps must be taken to reduce America's contribution to climate change, which is believed to be the driving force behind warming oceans and hurricanes. Better-warned, informed, and educated Americans will be better suited to survive future hurricanes.