A、In the Atlantic near the equator. B、In the islands of the Caribbean. C、In the countries of Central America. D、In the states of

Hurricanes are storms that often begin in the Atlantic near the equator and then move west. They often hit the islands of the Caribbean, the countries of Central America, Mexico, and the southern states of the United States between August and November each year. In a hurricane the wind blows at more than seventy-five miles an hour; it can tear trees out of the ground and the roofs off houses. However, the greatest damage in a hurricane is caused by water, by the heavy rain and high waves which come with the hurricane.
    The National Hurricane Center is located in Miami, Florida. The responsibility of the scientists at the center is to follow hurricanes and to warn the places that are in danger. They are very successful; the number of people who are killed in hurricanes is now much lower than fifty or sixty years ago. In spite of all their experience, however, the scientists of the National Hurricane Center cannot always correctly predict the movements of a hurricane. Sometimes a hurricane changes direction quickly and hits a place that is not prepared. People who ignore hurricane warnings and who do not obey police orders to move to safety can also cause problems. In 1969, in spite of many warnings, Hurricane Camille caused more than 300 deaths along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.