Having grown up in Oklahoma, I've seen enough tornadoes to last a lifetime. Now, living on the West Coast, I've rattled through a couple of bone-shaking earthquakes. But I've never outlasted a hurricane. Unless of course, you are talking about the liquid kind. And then, I would have to say I've just barely survived a few of those.

Unlike its weather-related counterparts, which often hover around for a long time before blasting you with magnificent force, the Hurricane cocktail is a stealthy little devil that comes on strong -- and fast.

Innocently garnished with an orange slice and a cherry, the ruby concoctions look more like Kool-Aid than potent potions. But don't let looks fool you. Inside that glass is a sweetly cloying mixture that can pack quite a punch.

Legend has it that the fruity red beverage was created during World War II when liquor such as whiskey was in low supply. In order to purchase just one case of these liquors, liquor salesmen forced bar owners to also buy cases and cases of rum, which was plentiful. In an effort to use the abundance of rum that the famous New Orleans French Quarter bar, Pat O'Brien's, acquired courtesy of those salesmen, the recipe for the Hurricane evolved.

The Hurricane was not actually named after the weather phenomenon, but came instead when a glass shaped like a hurricane lamp was first used to serve the heady rum drink.

In honor of the fine folks who weathered the recent hurricanes that hit our coastal regions, here are a couple of Hurricane recipes:

Hurricane Recipe 1

1.5 oz. light rum
1.5 oz. dark rum
1 oz. orange juice
1 oz. fresh lime juice
¼ c. passion fruit juice, or 1 tablespoon passion fruit syrup
1 tsp. superfine sugar
1 tsp. grenadine
Cherries with stems, and orange slice to garnish
Ice cubes

In a cocktail shaker, mix the rum, passion fruit juice or syrup, other juices and the sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add the grenadine and stir to combine. Add ice and shake. Half-fill a hurricane glass (or other tall vessel) with ice. Strain drink into glass. Add ice to fill. Garnish with orange slice and cherries.

Hurricane Recipe 2

1 oz. light rum
1 oz. dark rum
1 oz. Bacardi 151 rum
1 oz. lime juice
½ oz. grenadine
2 oz. orange juice
3 oz. passion fruit juice
1 teaspoon of sugar
ice
cherries and orange slices

Combine all ingredients except ice and grenadine in 12 oz. glass and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add grenadine and stir. Add ice to fill to 12 oz. and stir. Garnish with cherry and orange slice.

Note: If you are concerned about your Hurricane being too strong, in either recipe, cut the rum a bit and simply add a bit more orange juice. As they say at Pat O'Brien's, "Have fun!"