Hurricane Wilma A Case Study Mari Holmstrom Environmental

Hurricane Wilma: A Case Study Mari Holmstrom Environmental Geology

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

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

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

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) October 18 October 20 Storm Wilma reaches Category 1 Wilma hits Yucatan Tropical (Category 4) First peninsula hurricane strength and becomes abelow 900 October 17 Atlantic hurricane to have hurricane mb central pressure October 19 (Category 5) 24 becomes Tropical Depression at Category 4 October 15 Most Wilma Depression 24 Stormintense hurricane recorded in Tropical Atlantic develops

Tropical Depression forming Hitting Yucatan Peninsula Hitting Florida Dissipating in Atlantic

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

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

Impact of hurricane Deaths Damages (In US Dollars) Mexico 8 7. 5 billion Cuba 12 700 million Florida 35 20. 6 billion Total At least 63 At least 28 billion

Impact on Economy n Mexico n • n n Tourism industry affected 7. 5 miles of beaches destroyed Florida n n Sugar crop halted Citrus industry affected

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

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

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

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

References n n n n 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/h 2005_wilma. html http: //www. ncdc. noaa. gov/oa/climate/research/2005/wilma. html http: //www. ultimatecitrus. com/Wilma/