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Going, Going, Gone? The Effects of Hurricane Remnants on Inland Areas Duane Barrett, P.E., CFM. Today’s Co-Presenters. Mayhem is coming. A Fact of Life. Tropical events are a “fact of life” along our coasts. They will come. They will NOT stop at the coast!
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Going, Going, Gone? The Effects of Hurricane Remnants on Inland Areas Duane Barrett, P.E., CFM
Today’s Co-Presenters Mayhem is coming.
A Fact of Life • Tropical events are a “fact of life” along our coasts. • They will come. • They will NOT stop at the coast! • Storm remnants will continue inland. Hurricane Ike Source: NOAA
How Far? How Bad? • Distance traveled inland varies from event to event. • A number of hurricane events have produced extraordinarily powerful and long-lived remnants.
Galveston Hurricane - 1900 The Great 1900 Storm weakened to a tropical depression, but then strengthened to hurricane status before returning to the Atlantic!
Hurricane Carla - 1961 Hurricane Carla hung on as a tropical depression from the Red River through the central U.S. and eastern Canada!
“Chicago, Chicago, …” According to a local meteorologist, the City of Chicago has been seriously affected by rainfall & flooding from hurricane remnants at least 17 times!!!
Ike Comes to Call … Hurricane Ike came ashore in Galveston, TX at 2:10 a.m. CDT on Sept. 13, 2008, with sustained winds of 110 mph (Category 2) and a 13-foot storm surge.
… and Brings Along the Rain Houston-area rainfall depths reached 12-16 inches. Ike continued to drop rain across the central U.S. even after losing its status as a tropical storm at the Oklahoma /Arkansas state line. NASA's TRMM Satellite Assesses Hurricane Ike's Rainfall Credit: SSAI/NASA, Hal Pierce
Hurricane Ike Rainfall Houston, TX Maize, KS Kirksville, MO West of Storm Track
Midwest Merger Ike merged with existing weather systems to create heavy rainfall through the Midwest. • Oakland Hills, Iowa ……….. 7.60” • Peotone, Illinois ……….…... 10.40” • South Bend, Indiana …........ 10.94” • South Haven, Michigan ….… 6.68” • Fairfield, Ohio ……….………. 7.08” • Murrysville, Pennsylvania …. 5.41”
He Huffed, and He Puffed … • Ike not only brought heavy rainfall. • He brought the wind along as well. Hurricane Ike from the International Space Station (Source: NASA)
Hurricane Ike Inland Winds Beaver Falls, PA Walnut Ridge, AR
Surf’s Up! • Location: 120 miles inland • Lake Area: 21,000 acres • Ike passes to the East. • Wind Direction: North • Fetch Length: 4 to 7 miles • Wind Speed: 80-90 mph • Wave Height: 6 to 7 feet
Lake Conroe Dam Lake Conroe Dam After Hurricane Ike (Photo by San Jacinto River Authority) Damage to Rip-Rap on Face of Dam
Wave Action = Higher Flood Wave action effectively increases the lake flooding elevation and increases flooding risk. 1% Flood Level Wave Action
An Inland Shift • We’re getting better at predicting tracks and warning & evacuating coastal residents. (Ike vs. Rita) • Inland residents may not be as well prepared. • A recent study shows that from 1970-1999, 59% of storm-related fatalities were due to flooding from heavy rainfall.
U.S. Tropical Cyclone Deaths Account for possible hurricane-related flooding and other effects, even if you are well inland!
What are the Odds? What are the odds of your community being affected by a hurricane remnant? Are you really likely to be hit? If you live in Texas (or Chicago), you are!!! Chicago!
In Closing • Tropical events will come. • They will impact coastal & inland areas. • They will bring rain. • They will bring wind. • They will “make” weather. • They will create unusual circumstances. • Their scope & longevity require coordination between agencies on a nationwide basis in order to adequately address public safety!