Most people run from hurricanes – but we get right in the middle of them --[Reported by Umva mag]

While anxious homeowners were watching floodwaters rise as a hurricane hurtled towards them, Bryce Poole and his friends were grabbing a boat.

‘Classes got cancelled and we didn’t want to sit around. We cruised through the flooded streets like it was no big deal. There were definitely too many beers involved,’ he recalls.

Then aged 19 and well accustomed to powerful storms rolling through North Carolina as they made their way up the eastern seaboard, Bryce says there was always a ‘buzz’ in the air when a hurricane was on the way. 

People, he says, just wanted to party. ‘It’s probably because we’ve been through so many that people only care if it’s a major one. Anything category two or less, people just don’t get fazed.’

Hurricane parties are a staple of southern culture in the US. Hailed as both genius and idiotic, they are testament that some reach for bottles of booze rather than bottles of clean water.

Thought typically a hallmark of university towns, the phenomenon of riding out extreme weather events by hunkering down with your friends and alcohol is not uncommon. Similar events happen in areas which see heavy snowfall.

For many, these wild nights buffeted by the elements turn into fond memories. Those who have lived lives far from the hurricane belt may look at these gatherings as irresponsible or downright dangerous, and they can be. 

But for those involved, it’s simply part of growing up in the path of hurricanes.

‘You might as well be with friends’ 

Kate McElroy, 23, grew up used to major storms. A military child, she recalled witnessing similar typhoons while her father was stationed in Japan.

‘I remember watching the typhoon roll in over the Pacific and seeing locals surf the massive waves the storm brought. It was pretty cool to witness,’ she told Metro. 

During her final year of university in 2020, Kate said she and her flatmates began hosting mini ‘hurricane parties’, attempting to re-create cocktails from the local bars while riding out the storm.

‘One part of me thinks that it’s a camaraderie thing. The variety of emotions that come with an impending natural disaster can be eased with the company of family or friends (and copious amounts of alcohol). 

‘The thought process is: if everything gets destroyed, might as well be with friends. But there is absolutely a danger with it.’

Stay smart and trust your instincts

There is a point when the fun of hurricanes ends. When water rises unexpectedly or trees begin falling around you, it’s important to stay smart and trust your instincts- and of course, listen to local government advisories for evacuations.

North Carolina residents like Olivia Loyack, 25, agree.

Living in the third most likely state to see hurricanes make first landfall, North Carolinians are more than familiar with the storms. They tell Metro they can sense when a storm is more serious than others.

‘If you are going to go out and party during a huge storm, it’s better to prepare to stay where you are. It would be more dangerous to try and leave a sheltered area during a bad storm,’ Olivia says.

‘I think it’s easy to view a hurricane as an act of some higher power, so why not drink and have fun if it’s going to happen anyway? Hurricanes happen so frequently that it’s just a good excuse to get together and witness the might of nature.’

Partying through the storm (literally) is a way to see friends and make sure those you care about are safe in one place, Olivia says.

‘I love the wind and the rain,’ she adds. ‘It’s incredible to stand on my porch and witness the downpour. I also like to go out and stand in the rain or go sit on my patio in the rain. It’s a sort of recharge.’

Hurricane categories and what they mean

Though hurricane parties are common regardless of categories, people tend to not throw them if the storm is actually serious. If the storms are Category 2 or below, you’ll often find parties in person at bars or at people’s homes. If the storm is more severe, locals often evacuate.

Category 1

• Winds of 74–95 mph and some uprooted trees are common. Coastal areas often flood.

Category 2

• Winds of 96–110 mph, with trees and signs may be uprooted and some coastal flooding. Water and electricity shortages may also occur.

Category 3

• Winds of 111–129 mph, with extensive damage. Small buildings may be structurally damaged, and low-lying coastal areas may flood severely. Evacuations are often common at this level.
• Famous category 3 hurricanes: Hurricane Fran, Hurricane Otto, Hurricane Caroline

Category 4

• Winds reach 130–156 mph, with extreme damage. Trees and signs may be blown down, and roofs may be extensively damaged. Flat inland areas often flood at this point.
• Famous category 4 hurricanes: Hurricane Hazel, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Ida

Category 5

• Winds of more than 156 mph with catastrophic damage. Buildings are destroyed, and small buildings may be overturned.
• Famous category 5 hurricanes: Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Andrew

Why do people take the risk?

Robert Meyer, co-director of Wharton’s Risk Management and Decision Processes Center, explains that people choose to party during a hurricane because humans tend to be optimistic of life.

‘It’s an interesting paradox that when things like hurricanes are approaching, people are very aware that it’s going to happen,’ the University of Pennsylvania marketing professor explains. ‘They tend to think the really bad consequences are going to happen to someone else.

‘People are collectively optimistic, or collectively ignorant.’

By having a party, people feel safer because they’re with other friends, Mr Meyer says, adding that there’s a ‘misguided’ sense that because you’re with other people, you are ‘immune’.

‘People tend to underestimate the risk that’s there,’ Meyer adds.

‘The instinct to be with other people is just fundamentally being human.’

Despite the inherent risk – not to mention, the multiple warnings issued by local and state governments – hurricane parties persist year after year. But think long and hard before you sign up for one.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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