1 / 16

Hurricane Wilma: A Case Study

Hurricane Wilma: A Case Study. Mari Holmstrom Environmental Geology. Outline . Introduction to Hurricanes Introduction to Hurricane Wilma Timeline of Events Preparation Impact Disaster Response Reconstruction What was learned Future recommendations. Hurricane. Definition

zaltana
Download Presentation

Hurricane Wilma: A Case Study

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Hurricane Wilma: A Case Study Mari Holmstrom Environmental Geology

  2. Outline • Introduction to Hurricanes • Introduction to Hurricane Wilma • Timeline of Events • Preparation • Impact • Disaster Response • Reconstruction • What was learned • Future recommendations

  3. Hurricane • Definition • Tropical cyclones with winds exceeding 74 mph • Circulation • Counterclockwise around center in NH, opposite in SH • Inverse relationship between central pressure and wind speed • Stages of Development • Tropical Depression • Tropical Storm • Hurricane

  4. Facts about Hurricane Wilma • Set numerous records for strength and seasonal activity • Most active season • Third category 5 to form in October • Within top five costliest hurricane in Atlantic • Third costliest storm in U.S. history

  5. Hurricane Wilma Track • October 25 • Weakened to extratropical storm • October 24 (Category 3) • Contact with Florida around 6:30 a.m. • October 22 (Category 2) • Wilma hits Yucatan peninsula • October 18 • Tropical Storm Wilma reaches Category 1 hurricane strength and becomes a hurricane • October 20 (Category 4) • First Atlantic hurricane to have below 900 mb central pressure at Category 4 • October 17 • Tropical Depression 24 becomes Tropical • Storm Wilma • October 19 (Category 5) • Most intense hurricane recorded in Atlantic • October 15 • Tropical Depression 24 develops

  6. Tropical Depression forming Hitting Yucatan Peninsula Hitting Florida Dissipating in Atlantic

  7. Who was Impacted • Florida • Collier, Palm Beach, Naples, and Monroe County • Yucatan Peninsula • Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Cancun • Cuba

  8. Preparedness • Mexico • Red Alert declared • Tourists told to return home • Classes suspended • Residents advised to take refuge inland • Cuba • Preparations to evacuate four western provinces • More than 368,000 people ordered to evacuate • Florida • Mandatory evacuation of Monroe County and Collier County residents • Hurricane shelters opened • County offices, schools, and courts closed • Curfews in Lee and Collier counties

  9. Impact of hurricane

  10. Impact on Economy • Mexico • Tourism industry affected • 7.5 miles of beaches destroyed • Florida • Sugar crop halted • Citrus industry affected

  11. Disaster Response • Mexico • Red Cross • Cuba • USAID/OFDA • Florida • National Guardsmen • Search and Rescue • Ice, water, and meals trucked in • Disaster Medical Assistance Teams

  12. Reconstruction • Mexico • Water and power restored in days • Reflection of growing experience • Beach repair could take up to 3 years • Hotels/resorts reopened in 2006 • Florida • Residents moved back within a week • New hurricane and weather center opened in March 2006 in Key West

  13. What was learned • Accurate hurricane forecasting • Time of impact • Direction of movement • 2005 peak of cycle b/w high and low intensity seasons • Winds same direction and same speed • Warm water available • Possibly caused by global warming?

  14. Recommendations • Good preparation and response • Mandatory evacuation • Make sure residents leave • More evacuation routes • Stages of evacuation? • More research on hurricane season cycle • Keep extensive data collection

  15. References • http://ladeltaweather.com/hurricanecenter/ • http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/11/29/hurricane.season.ender • http://www.mexiconews.com/mx/miami/15703.html • http://www.weather.gov/storms/wilma/ • www.bonitanews.com/hurricane/wilma • http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/h2005_wilma.html • http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/wilma.html • http://www.ultimatecitrus.com/Wilma/

More Related