Hurricanes Law & Legal Definition

Hurricanes gather heat and energy through contact with warm ocean waters. Evaporation from the seawater increases their power. Hurricanes rotate in a counter-clockwise direction around an "eye" and have winds at least 74 miles per hour. When they come onto land, the heavy rain, strong winds and heavy waves can damage buildings, trees and cars.

Hurricane damage to your home is covered by your homeowners insurance policy. Your policy not only covers physical damage to your dwellings, yard, and landscaping, but it also provides you the benefit of living expenses while your home is being repaired. Your business owners policy typically covers damage by a hurricane. In addition to physical damage to your business, the policy also provides for lost income and business interruption..

Laws also exist dealing with price gouging. In the wake of recent hurricanes, many essential consumer goods, services, materials, merchandise, supplies, equipment, resources, or other articles of commerce which include food, ice, generators, lumber, chain saws and gas were in scarce supply. Whereany person or business has charged excessive prices for these essential commodities following hurricanes, these parties have committed an illegal act under state law.

Some state statutes, which vary by state, expressly provide that it is illegal to charge "unconscionable prices" for goods or services following a declared state of emergency. This includes both the renting and selling of commodities. Individuals or businesses found guilty of price-gouging may be fined. In some cases, other penalties may apply, such as higher fines for violations against a senior citizen or handicapped person.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, causing many areas in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama disaster areas and disrupting the lives of many evacuees.