In the wake of news that Hurricane Norbert is getting ready to hit the Pacific Coast, it’s time for left coasters to batten down the hatches. If we’ve learned anything from Hurricane Katrina, Gustav, Fay, and Ike, it’s that hurricanes are prime opportunities for innovation.
Take the humble umbrella. In the past few years, it’s evolved from a fragile, constantly-inverting eyesore to an elegant, technologically advanced and even dependable tool. Some of these umbrellas even provide weather advisories--perfect for those off of Mexico’s Pacific Coast and Baja California who will soon feel Hurricane Norbert’s wrath.
Hurricanes have also inspired other creative efforts. There is a plethora of hurricane-inspired fashion appropriate for any weather conditions. And specially-designed rain galoshes ensure that no matter when Hurricane Norbert strikes, designer shoes won’t bear the brunt of bad weather. There is even hurricane-inspired photography for the art fiends out there.
As us left coasters get ready for Hurricane Norbert, enjoy these 47 hurricane-inspired inventions.
46 Ways to Prepare for Hurricane Norbert
42
My Day Electronic Paper Umbrella
41
Flickr Documentaries
Hurricane Gustav
40
Virtual Compassion
Sharing Photos of Hurricane Ike
39
Extreme Hurricane Street Tubing
Tropical Storm Fay Mishap
38
Storm Photography from Space
NASA Hurricane Imagery
37
Bumperella
Non Lethal Umbrella
36
Disaster Inspired Fashion
Lorick Collection Influenced by Hurricane Ike or Hurricane Hannah?
35
Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Street Art
Banksy Paints New Orleans
34
Hurricane HDR
Hurricane Ike Inspired Photography
33
Footwear Umbrellas
Shuella Shoe Protectors
32
Umbrella Predicts Rain
Ambient Umbrella Gives 12 Hour Warning
31
Hands Free Umbrella
'Nubrella' Will Not Invert
30
Double-Stemmed Umbrellas
Tandem Umbrella For Lovers
29
Umbrella Apparel
From Gutter to Gown With ‘The Umbrella Project'
28
Hurricane Chic
Fashion From Debris
27
Fashion Raingear
Jean Paul Gaultier Umbrellas
26
Environmental Wake-Up Calls
Global Warming Puts Hurricanes on Steroids
25
Rain Filtering Umbrellas
The Filterbrella
24
Anti-Collision Umbrellas
Polite Umbrella
23
$5.29 Gas Prices
Hurricane Ike Brings Record Gasoline Prices to Mid-America
22
Eco-Friendly Charging Umbrellas
Parasolar
21
Biodegradable Umbrella
The Bamboo Brelli
20
Unbreakable Fighting Umbrellas
New Philippine Secret Weapon
19
Offensive Rain Gear
The 'F the Rain' Umbrella
18
Umbrella Art
En-JOI the Rain
17
Hurricane Angelina
Angelina Jolie's South of France Nickname
16
Fashion Inspired by Disasters
Hurricane Gustav Pants
15
Light Saber Umbrella
LED and Rain Protector Together at Last
14
Novel Celebrity Products
Rihanna's 2nd Umbrella Collection
13
Flamenco Umbrellas
WW & Co. Gets Funky
12
Music in the Rain
DAP Umbrella
11
Profane Umbrella
10
Celebrity Raingear
Rihanna Umbrellas for Spring 2008
9
Solar Powered Patios
Umbrella Glows for 8 Hours
8
Anti-Inside Out Umbrella
GustBuster
7
The Smart Umbrella
Flashes on Days it Will Rain (So You Don't Forget)
6
Eco Umbrellas Made of Garbage
The Eco Brolly
5
Umbrellas Inspired By Nature
The Parashell
4
Learning From Natural Disasters
Contrasting Hurricane Gustav and Katrina
3
Hurricane Weather Simulator
Disney's New StormStruck Exhibit
2
Hurricane Video Montages – Reporters Blasted by Hurricane Gustav
Reporters Blasted by Hurricane Gustav
1
Google Hurricane Alerts
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