Previous Hurricanes Research Articles

Geomorphological impact of Hurricane Irma on Marco Island, Southwest Florida

Hurricane Irma caused significant damage on Marco Island, where it made landfall on September 10, 2017. Pre- and post-hurricane beach profiles were analyzed for an arched spit, “Tigertail,” along the northwestern side of the island, and volumetric quantification of its evolution was estimated using SANDS software. LiDAR data from 2008 to 2017 and Google Earth historical imagery dating back to 1995 were used to compare landscape-level changes as a consequence of the storms that affected the region. The data show that the sand spit evolved dramatically from a relatively small sand bar in 1995. The impact of Hurricane Irma appears to be most significant on the northern end of the spit, where nearly 200,000 m3 of sediment was added by the storm between R-monuments V-311 and V-314. About 95,000 m3 of sediment was removed by Hurricane Irma from the mid-island southward, between V-316 and R-133. Overall, the impact of Hurricane Irma was significant for Tigertail Beach and its surroundings, when compared to previous hurricanes, with a net gain from transport and redeposition of 118,000 m3 of sediment on the barrier island and its surroundings.

Evaluating the Likelihood of Tree Failure in Naples, Florida (United States) Following Hurricane Irma

Trees in residential landscapes provide many benefits, but can injure persons and damage property when they fail. In hurricane-prone regions like Florida, USA, the regular occurrence of hurricanes has provided an opportunity to assess factors that influence the likelihood of wind-induced tree failure and develop species failure profiles. We assessed open-grown trees in Naples, Florida, following the passage of Hurricane Irma in September 2017 to determine the effect of relevant factors on the degree of damage sustained by individual trees. Of 4034 assessed individuals (n = 15 species), 74% sustained no damage, 4% sustained only minor damage (i.e., minimal corrective pruning needed), 6% sustained significant damage (i.e., major corrective pruning needed), and 15% were whole-tree failures (i.e., overturned trees or trees requiring removal). The proportion of individuals in each damage category varied among species, stem diameter at 1.4 m above ground, and the presence of utility lines, which was a proxy for maintenance. We compared our results with the findings of seven previous hurricanes in the region to explore species’ resilience in hurricanes.

Marine Archaeological Survey for the Webster to Seadrift Pipeline Project in Calhoun and Jackson Counties, Texas

Marine Archaeological Survey for the Webster to Seadrift Pipeline Project in Calhoun and Jackson Counties, Texas

An overview of the impact of Hurricane Harvey on chemical and process facilities in Texas

Category 4 Hurricane Harvey with maximum sustained winds of approximately 212 km/h and more than 1000 mm of rainfall reached the densely populated Houston area, Texas, resulting in unprecedented flooding and damage to the onshore industrial facilities. In order to analyze the impact of flood, rainfall, and wind on onshore chemical and process facilities during Harvey, an investigation of the damage suffered by onshore chemical and process facilities is conducted using government incident databases. Based on the locations of the damaged equipment, the corresponding maximum flood depth, accumulated rainfall, and wind speed were identified through online GIS interactive maps and the software ArcGIS. In line with the previous studies in the field of natural-technological accidents (Natechs), atmospheric storage tanks were identified as the most vulnerable type of process equipment. Flooding and unprecedented rainfall were identified as the main causes of Natechs during hurricane Harvey. Further, compared to the common failure modes observed during previous hurricanes, the roof sinking of tanks with floating roofs due to excessive accumulated rainfall was identified as a serious failure mode during hurricane Harvey. In order to reduce the risk of roof sinking in future hurricanes, the design standards of floating-roof storage tanks need to be updated to enable withstanding excessive rainfalls in the future.

Spatial Data modelling to study and improve waste management after hurricanes. The case of French West Indies

Abstract. In the past decades, catastrophic natural disasters such as storms and hurricanes have impacted millions of people around the world: around 33 million of people are affected per year between 2007 and 2016 (Bellow and Wallemacq, 2018). For instance, hurricane Katrina (USA, 2015) caused catastrophic damage from central Florida to Eastern Texas, at least 1836 people died and total property damage was estimated at 125 billion dollars. Furthermore, climate change is likely to increase frequency of most intense categories of hurricanes in some parts of the world and is expected to increase sea levels, leading to more destructive storm surges when hurricanes occur (IPCC, 2013). In the same time, growing populations and rising incomes are expected to place more people and property in harm’s way.Depending on their nature and severity, disasters can create large volumes of debris and waste (Brown et al., 2011). In some cases, debris volume from a single event were the equivalent of 5–15 times the annual waste generation rates of the affected community (Reinhart and McCreanor, 1999). Often, the debris removal process takes months or even years to treated (Pramudita et al., 2014). In France, storm Xynthia (2010) waste generation was equivalent to about 12 normal years (CEPRI, 2012). Thus, waste can overwhelm existing solid management facilities and the presence of disaster waste impacts almost every aspect of an emergency response and recovery effort (Brown et al., 2011). For instance, in the immediate response, disaster debris can cause road blockages. Moreover, if poorly managed, the waste can have significant environmental and public health impacts (Brown et al., 2011), such as water and air pollution.In this paper we present the Depos data modelling (named Depos-model) to improve the management of debris and waste after hurricanes. In the Depos project, funded by the French research agency (ANR), we intend to understand the process of waste management thanks to testimonies on previous hurricanes and to propose a digital modelling of waste management. In the following we do not distinguish debris and waste. The case study is the French west Indies (composed of different territories including the Guadeloupe and Martinique) and the very first island to study is the Island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean Sea where Irma hurricane (2017) had huge impact. This hurricane was the most powerful ever recorded hurricane in Atlantic with sustainable winds of nearly 300 km/h, with a gust to 360 km/h. The research work began with a study from the association Robin des Bois to describe and estimate waste after Irma on Saint Martin. These experts were questioned to identify the key entities and actors involved in hurricane waste management. We set a first data modelling that will be questioned and improved during the next 2 years. The depos-model should be able 1- to replay what occurred during a previous hurricane, 2- to simulate different situations on fictive hurricanes and hopefully 3- to be used after a future hurricane to improve waste management. In this paper we do not include the actors although they are key elements in the modelling. To introduce the data model, we decomposed it in different part. We first present the waste (figure 1) before presenting the transportation of waste to waste treatment areas (figure 3).

Disaster-Related Shelter Surveillance During the Hurricane Harvey Response - Texas 2017.

Hurricane Harvey left a path of destruction in its wake, resulting in over 100 deaths and damaging critical infrastructure. During a disaster, public health surveillance is necessary to track emerging illnesses and injuries, identify at-risk populations, and assess the effectiveness of response efforts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Red Cross collaborate on shelter surveillance to monitor the health of the sheltered population and help guide response efforts. We analyzed data collected from 24 Red Cross shelters between August 25, 2017, and September 14, 2017. We described the aggregate morbidity data collected during Harvey compared with previous hurricanes (Gustav, Ike, and Sandy). Over one-third (38%) of reasons for visit were for health care maintenance; 33% for acute illnesses, which includes respiratory conditions, gastrointestinal symptoms, and pain; 19% for exacerbation of chronic disease; 7% for mental health; and 4% for injury. The Red Cross treated 41% of clients within the shelters; however, reporting of disposition was often missed. These results are comparable to previous hurricanes. The capacity of Red Cross shelter staff to address the acute health needs of shelter residents is a critical resource for local public health agencies overwhelmed by the disaster. However, there remains room for improvement because reporting remained inconsistent.

Increased Seizure Activity in Florida Associated with Hurricane Irma, September 2017

ObjectiveUsing Florida’s syndromic surveillance data, to describe the increase in seizure activity in the days after Hurricane Irma made landfall in 2017IntroductionOn September 10, 2017, Irma made landfall in the Florida Keys as a Category 4 hurricane and subsequently tracked up the west side of the state. Due to the size of the storm, it impacted nearly all of Florida. The Electronic Surveillance System for the Early Notification of Community-based Epidemics (ESSENCE-FL), the state’s syndromic surveillance system, captures 98% of the emergency department (ED) visits statewide and has historically served a vital function in providing near real-time ED data that are used to track post-disaster morbidity and mortality. After previous hurricanes and tropical storms, increases in carbon monoxide poisonings, animal bites, and injuries have been documented. During post-Irma surveillance, an additional increase in seizure-related ED visits was observed.MethodsTwice-daily Hurricane Irma surveillance reports were produced from Sept 10-22, 2017. In addition to specialized queries specific to storm surveillance, analysis was conducted using ESSENCE-FL’s syndrome and subsyndrome categories. The subsyndrome category of Seizure captures ED visits which list the words seizure or convulsion in the patient chief complaint. Daily number of seizure visits were compared against a 28-day baseline using an exponentially weighted moving average algorithm. Additionally, daily seizure visits as a percentage of total ED visits were calculated and plotted.ResultsOn September 11, 12, and 13, ED visits for seizures were increased above the expected levels. On these dates respectively, 336 visits (270 expected, p < 0.01), 349 visits (278 expected, p < 0.01), and 306 visits (267 expected, p < 0.01) seizure visits occurred statewide. September 10 showed the largest increase in seizure visits as a percent of all visits.ConclusionsRoutine post-storm surveillance was able to identify an increase in seizure visits at EDs in Florida. This hurricane-related increase, while not detected using our syndromic surveillance system during previous storms, supports findings of increased emergency medical service calls for convulsions and seizures after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (both in 2005) found by other researchers (Davis et al., 2013). Due to the size, strength, and projected path of Hurricane Irma, stress (a known seizure trigger) is a possible biological explanation for the increase that was observed. A greater understanding of storm-related public health threats allows the Florida Department of Health to better plan for these events and communicate this information to the public and our partners. Post-storm analysis was complicated by large changes in overall ED volumes during and immediately following the hurricane, and further exploration of the association found in this study is encouraged.ReferencesDavis JS, Allan BJ, Pearlman AM, Carvajal DP, Schulman CI., Optimal emergency personnel allocation after a natural disaster, Am J Disaster Med. 2012 Winter;7(1):31-6.

Probabilistic load curtailment estimation using posterior probability model and twin support vector machine

Estimating the potential load curtailments as a result of hurricane is of great significance in improving the emergency response and recovery of power grid. This paper proposes a three-step sequential method in identifying such load curtailments prior to hurricane. In the first step, a twin support vector machine (TWSVM) model is trained on path/intensity information of previous hurricanes to enable a deterministic outage state assessment of the grid components in response to upcoming events. The TWSVM model is specifically used as it is suitable for handling imbalanced datasets. In the second step, a posterior probability sigmoid model is trained on the obtained results to convert the deterministic results into probabilistic outage states. These outage states enable the formation of probability-weighted contingency scenarios. Finally, the obtained component outages are integrated into a load curtailment estimation model to determine the expected potential load curtailments in the grid. The simulation results, tested on the standard IEEE 118-bus system and based on synthetic datasets, illustrate the high accuracy performance of the proposed method.

Effects of Stress Related to the Gulf Oil Spill on Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

To examine the interactive effects of stress related to the Gulf oil spill on mental health of children and adolescents on the Gulf Coast who were also affected by previous hurricanes. A prospective design, with n = 1,577 youth (aged 3-18 years), evaluated pre-oil spill and again post-oil spill for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, previous hurricane exposure, and amount of oil spill stress. Stressors related to the spill were common and were associated with PTSD symptoms. Moreover, there was an interactive effect such that those with high preexisting PTSD symptoms, high previous hurricane exposure, and high oil spill stress had the most elevated post-oil spill PTSD symptoms. This study provides initial evidence linking stress related to the Gulf oil spill to youth mental health symptoms. The effects of the oil spill on youth mental health were most evident among those with cumulative risk.

Not so close but still extremely loud: Recollection of the world trade center terror attack and previous hurricanes moderates the association between exposure to hurricane sandy and posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

BackgroundThe present study examined whether recollections of the World Trade Center (WTC) terror attack and previous hurricanes moderated the relationship between exposure to Hurricane Sandy and related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. MethodsAn online sample of 1000 participants from affected areas completed self-report questionnaires a month after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast of the United States. Participants reported their exposure to Hurricane Sandy, their PTSD symptoms, and recollections of the WTC terror attack and previous hurricanes elicited due to Hurricane Sandy. ResultsExposure to Hurricane Sandy was related to PTSD symptoms among those with high level of recollections of the WTC terror attack and past hurricanes, but not among those with low level of recollections. ConclusionsThe aftermath of exposure to Hurricane Sandy is related not only to exposure, but also to its interaction with recollections of past traumas. These findings have theoretical and practical implications for practitioners and health policy makers in evaluating and interpreting the impact of past memories on future natural disasters. This may help in intervention plans of social and psychological services.

The logistics of household hurricane evacuation

Although there is a substantial amount of research on households’ hurricane evacuation decision making, there is much less research on the logistical issues involved in implementing those evacuations. The limited research on household evacuation logistics has consistently shown that most evacuees stay in the homes of friends and relatives or in commercial facilities rather than in public shelters. However, evacuation logistics—which can be defined as the activities and associated resources needed to reach a safe location and remain there until it is safe to return—encompasses a much broader range of behaviors than this. The present study extends previous research by reporting data on other aspects of evacuation logistics such as departure timing, vehicle use, evacuation routes, travel distance, shelter type, evacuation duration, and evacuation cost. Hurricane Lili evacuation data at the county level are generally consistent with the data from previous hurricanes, but there is notable variation across counties studied here. There were only modest correlations of demographic and geographic variables with the evacuation logistics variables, a result that indicates further research is needed to better understand what happens between the time an evacuation decision is made and the time re-entry is begun. Moreover, research is needed to understand the logistics of evacuation by special populations such as transients and households with disabled members.

Fixed-Offshore-Platform Performance in Hurricane Ivan

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper OTC 18325, "Assessment of Fixed-Offshore-Platform Performance in Hurricane Ivan," by F.J. Puskar, R.E. Spong, and A. Ku, Energo Engineering, and R.B. Gilbert and Y.J. Choi, U. of Texas at Austin, prepared for the 2006 Offshore Technology Conference, Houston, 1–4 May. Hurricane Ivan provided an opportunity to evaluate the American Petroleum Inst. (API) RP 2A design process for fixed platforms to ensure that it provides for well-designed structures. Specific findings and trends are reported related to global platform performance as well as component performance. A quantitative assessment to determine the adequacy of the API RP 2A design process uses a probability-based process that compares analytically predicted platform damage and survival to that actually observed after Ivan. Introduction Ivan was one of several hurricanes in the last 12 years that have damaged or destroyed fixed offshore platforms. Previous hurricanes were Andrew in 1992 and Lili in 2002. Katrina and Rita in 2005 also caused significant platform damage and destruction. These types of events provide an opportunity to determine how fixed platforms in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) perform in hurricanes on both a qualitative and quantitative basis. The qualitative basis includes a review of the typical types of damage to topsides and jackets, as well as the general trends observed, such as the number and type of platforms with wave-in-deck damage. The quantitative basis involves the comparison of observed damage with what would have been predicted by API RP 2A, which is the basis for design of fixed platforms in the GOM. This provides a quantified assessment of the accuracy of API RP 2A and whether it is adequate for design. The full-length paper describes these assessments for Ivan on the basis of an in-depth study performed for the U.S. Minerals Management Service focusing on fixed platforms. Path By late afternoon on 15 September 2004, Ivan was in the east-central GOM, approaching the deepwater oil and gas facilities. During this time, the hurricane was a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with maximum sustained wind speeds of more than 135 miles/hr. Ivan tracked north over the deepwater facilities in the Mississippi Canyon blocks and into the Viosca Knoll (VK) and Main Pass (MP) block areas. The majority of the destroyed or damaged fixed platforms were in the VK and MP block areas. Ivan continued its northerly track through the eastern edge of the Mobile block area, making landfall as a major hurricane with maximum winds of 130 miles/hr on the early morning of 16 September just west of Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Preparing for and Recovering from Hurricane and Tropical Storm Damage to Tropical Fruit Groves in Florida

The estimated destruction to tropical fruit crops caused by recent hurricanes and tropical storms (1992, 1994, 2004, 2005) was in the hundreds of millions of dollars. As with the aftermath of previous hurricanes, growers are currently assessing their options, such as replanting, rehabilitating damaged trees, and repairing equipment and irrigation systems. They are also assessing their economic situation. This document is HS1022, one of a series of the Horticultural Sciences Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date September 2005. HS1022/HS287: Preparing for and Recovering from Hurricane and Tropical Storm Damage to Tropical Fruit Groves in Florida (ufl.edu)

Sweating It out in a Level III Regional NICU: Disaster Preparation and Lessons Learned at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital

Preparations: In New Orleans, Louisiana, we had been through the drill many times before. Annually, disaster preparation is undertaken in conjunction with our Office of Emergency Preparedness when an imaginary hurricane strikes our city and causes catastrophic damage. Sometimes life imitates art. When Hurricane Katrina crossed the state of Florida and entered the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans had a metropolitan population of 1.3 million, with 484000 inside the city limits. Much of the city lies slightly below sea level, whereas the level of Lake Pontchartrain typically is 1 foot above sea level. The Alton Ochsner Foundation Hospital is a 531-bed teaching hospital that is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi River, just west of New Orleans in the Parish of Jefferson. Providing incalculable benefit, the first floor of our hospital stands approximately 6 feet above sea level—12 feet above some of the lowest parts of the city of New Orleans. The NICU, located on the 10th floor of this 11-story hospital, was supporting 25 neonates, many of whom were on mechanical ventilation as Katrina approached the Gulf Coast of the United States. One infant was requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The institution had established an emergency-management manual that, although remaining a perpetual work in progress, is currently 122 pages in length and addresses many topics including responses to loss of utilities, external and internal disasters, and severe weather conditions. The Ochsner model of medical care includes many satellite clinics and a closed medical staff for the hospital. Preparing for a natural disaster involves having a facility that would withstand the storm (externally and internally) and having a staff that can care for patients, their families, and all personnel on campus. According to our procedures, after deciding the “essential staff,” “A” and “B” teams are created. The A-team … Address correspondence to Harley G. Ginsberg, MD, FAAP, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Alton Ochsner Foundation Hospital, 1514 Jefferson Hwy, New Orleans, LA 70121. E-mail: hginsberg{at}ochsner.org

The Kinematic Structure of a Hurricane with Sea Level Pressure Less Than 900 mb

Abstract A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration aircraft recorded the first Doppler radar data in a tropical cyclone with a minimum sea level pressure (MSLP) 50 m s−1 extended to 12 km, higher than has been reported in previous hurricanes. The inner eyewall contained weak ...

Lime-mud layers in high-energy tidal channels: A record of hurricane deposition

Research Article| July 01, 1993 Lime-mud layers in high-energy tidal channels: A record of hurricane deposition Eugene A. Shinn; Eugene A. Shinn 1U.S. Geological Survey Coastal Center, 600 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 Florida 33701 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Randolph P. Steinen; Randolph P. Steinen 2Department of Geology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06268 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert F. Dill; Robert F. Dill 3GeoMarine Inc., San Diego, California 92106 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard Major Richard Major 4Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78713 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1993) 21 (7): 603–606. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1993)021<0603:LMLIHE>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Eugene A. Shinn, Randolph P. Steinen, Robert F. Dill, Richard Major; Lime-mud layers in high-energy tidal channels: A record of hurricane deposition. Geology 1993;; 21 (7): 603–606. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1993)021<0603:LMLIHE>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract During or immediately following the transit of Hurricane Andrew (August 23-24, 1992) across the northern part of the Great Bahama Bank, thin laminated beds of carbonate mud were deposited in high-energy subtidal channels (4 m depth) through the ooid shoals of south Cat Cay and Joulters Cays. During our reconnaissance seven weeks later, we observed lime-mud beds exposed in the troughs of submarine oolite dunes and ripples. The mud layers were underlain and locally covered by ooid sand. The mud beds were lenticular and up to 5 cm thick. Their bases cast the underlying rippled surface. The layers were composed of soft silt- and sand-sized pellets and peloids and in some areas contained freshly preserved Thalassia blades and other organic debris along planes of lamination. The beds had a gelatinous consistency and locally had been penetrated by burrowers and plants. Layers of lime mud had also settled on bioturbated, plant-stabilized flats and in lagoonal settings but were quickly reworked and made unrecognizable by the burrowing of organisms. Thicker, more cohesive (and therefore older) mud beds and angular mud fragments associated with ooids from Joulters Cays have similar characteristics but lack fresh plant fragments. We infer that these older beds were similarly deposited and thus record the passage of previous hurricanes or tropical storms. Storm layers are preserved within channel sediments because migrating ooids prevent attack by the burrowing activity off organisms. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.