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The Caribbean

The Caribbean. Danger from Above The 1995 Hurricane Season. 1995 Hurricane Season. T he third most active year for hurricanes in the North Atlantic Basin since records began. 19 storms – 11 developed into hurricanes 3 storms made a direct hits to the Caribbean

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The Caribbean

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  1. The Caribbean Danger from Above The 1995 Hurricane Season

  2. 1995 Hurricane Season • The third most active year for hurricanes in the North Atlantic Basin since records began. • 19 storms – 11 developed into hurricanes • 3 storms made a direct hits to the Caribbean • Note: So far 2012 has had 19 named storms, 2010 & 2011 also had 19 storms • The busiest year was 2005 with 28 storms, 15 became hurricanes – four were Category 5 including Katrina

  3. Saffir-Simpson Scale • Category 1 winds 118-152 km/h • Category 2winds 154-176 km/h • Category 3winds  178-208  km/h • Category 4winds  210-248 km/h • Category 5winds   >248 km/h

  4. The three main storms to affect the eastern Caribbean Islands were:  Tropical Storm Iris (26-27th August, 1995) Hurricane Luis (4-6th September, 1995) Hurricane Marilyn (15-16th September, 1995).

  5. Tropical Storm Iris • Affected most of the Lesser Antilles • If this storm had hit as a hurricane there would have been extensive damage as many islands were affected

  6. Hurricane Luis Iris & Luis • Formed only a week after Iris • HUGE storm – Category 4 • >1000km diameter • Direct hit to Antigua-Barbuda, St. Maarten and Anguilla • Extensive Damage

  7. Hurricane Marilyn • Formed east of Barbados • Intense Category 3 • Passed through the Lesser Antilles and directly hit St. Thomas

  8. Geography Antigua Barbuda Low limestone island Some areas up to 30m above sea level Most of island only a few feet above sea level Surrounded by coral reefs • Hilly volcanic area in the south west • Flatter area in the north east • Many beaches & lagoons • Surrounded by coral reefs

  9. Environmental Damage • Erosion of the beaches • damage to mangroves, sea grass beds and coral reefs • Sandbars protecting lagoons split • beaches were covered with thick mats of dead sea grass • Sand and debris was deposited in the mouths of many of the west coast wetlands resulting in water stagnation. • The vegetation within 40 m of the shoreline suffered salt infiltration and all the vegetation suffered from wind damage.

  10. Four Seasons Nevis – Before & After

  11. Infrastructure Damage • extensive damage to infrastructure and housing in the affected islands. • telephone and electricity services were interrupted • In Antigua and Barbuda after Hurricane Luis most of the hotels were forced to close for the remainder of the year for extensive rehabilitation. • As a result, stop-over visitor arrivals fell by 15% from 1994 levels • this negatively impacted employment and income. • Dominica - substantial damage to roads and sea defenses and the banana crop was virtually eliminated as there was widespread destruction of food crops.

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