A hurricane party is a social event held by people in the coastal United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 who live in hurricane valley between Maine

Maine

Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...

 and Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

. The event is held during a hurricane just as any other party would. However the guests are typically allowed to stay with the host for 3–5 days (weather permitting) and guests, in return, bring hurricane supplies such as radios, food, etc.

Background

Hurricane parties were formed by people living in the southern

Southern United States

The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...

 hurricane areas of the United States, especially in the New Orleans area. Events are held by people who, for differing reasons, cannot or choose not to evacuate

Emergency evacuation

Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...

 during a hurricane warning. Hosts may also lack hurricane supplies, therefore they invite others to stay with them so as to share supplies and company. However, these events are usually more centered around the people and the socialness of the event, yet they are not necessarily done with diversion as an objective.

Another rationale for hosting hurricane parties is the expectation that power service may be lost for days or even weeks. As a result most perishable items, particularly frozen meats, will surely be wasted after the storm. In order to make good use of these items, grilling is an important aspect of many hurricane parties, as a way of "cleaning out the freezer."

Party supplies and customs

Although the guests are expected to bring survival kits and other materials such as food and electronic equipment, the host is primarily responsible for supplying a minimal amount of each for all guests involved. The host will also be required to have enough space in his/her house for the people invited, as well as having prepared the house for the coming hurricane (i.e. window boarding).

Also, in an adult environment, alcohol

Alcohol

In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....

 will most likely be present, as is customary in some locations to drink according to the intensity of the hurricane. However, such behavior has in the past resulted in injuries due to irresponsible behavior.

Cultural references

Cowboy Mouth

Cowboy Mouth

Cowboy Mouth is a rock band based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Their name usually means "One with a loud and raucous voice". The nucleus of the band formed in the 1990s, and they have become a powerhouse live act whose performances have been likened to "a religious experience."Some of their most...

recorded the song "Hurricane Party" about the excesses of a particular hurricane party for their 1999 live album All You Need is Live.

External links

• "What is a hurricane party?". eSSORTMENT.