DON’T BE FOOLED BY LACK OF HURRICANE ACTIVITY IN

ATLANTIC BASIN ON AUGUST 20, 2013

Walter Hays, Global Alliance for Disaster Reduction, Vienna, Virginia, USA 

162 YEARS OF HISTORY: ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC BASINS

CHRONOLOGY OF 2013’s STORMS

• ANDREA - Tropical storm; June 5

• BARRY - Tropical storm; June 19

• CHANTAL – Tropical storm; July 7

• DORIAN – Tropical Storm; July 22

• ERIN – Tropical Storm; August 14

• FERNAND --

• GABRIELLE –

AUGUST 20, 2013

DON’T BE LULLED INTO A STATE-OF-

UNPREPAREDNESS!(National Hurricane Center)

According to weather records dating back to 1851, the first

hurricane DID NOT FORM until after Aug. 20 in 48 of the 161 years, and in 25 of then, it formed on or after Sept. 1

THREE COSTLY EXAMPLES:

HURRICANE SANDY; OCT., 2012

HURRICANE; IKE, SEPT., 2008

HURRICANE ANDREW; AUGUST 26, 1992

Sandy, a super storm, caused an estimated 72 deaths and $65 billion in

damage

CAT I HURRICANE SANDY: OCTOBER 24

SANDY: RAIN IN HAITI

RAIN IN CUBA; OCT 25

RAIN BEGINS IN FT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA; OCT. 26

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND

REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE: OCT. 29

SUPER STORM SANDY: OCT. 29-30, 2012

NEW JERSEY: ATLANTIC CITY UNDER WATER

NEW JERSEY: OCEAN FRONT FLOODING

NEW JERSEY: STREETS FLOODED

FLOODING IN BROOKLYN, NY

$360 MILLION STORM SURGE, NEW HAVEN, CT: OCT. 30

HURRICANE IKE

Ninth Named Storm of 2008 Hurricane Season

September 3-13

• The number of deaths was low because of excellent forecasts and preparedness.

• Millions were safely evacuated.

• Economic losses from damaged homes and infrastructure were estimated at about 8 billion dollars.

•

• HAITI, BAHAMAS (GRAND TURK ISLAND), CUBA, AND USA (TEXAS) HIT HARD BY SURGE, WIND AND RAIN• CRUISE LINERS AFFECTED• GULF OIL PRODUCTION SHUT DOWN • OIL TANKER CRISIS AND OIL STORAGE FIRE

• The seawall in Galveston held, ...

• But, downtown Galveston and Houston became flooded ghost towns (because of the evacuation) with downed trees, debris, shattered glass, and damaged infrastructure.

• 7,500 national guards were activated by Texas Governor, Rick Perry, to help in search and rescue operations.

• Thousands of homes and businesses in Texas and SW Louisiana were damaged or flooded

•

• An estimated three million were left without power and water.

• Restoration of power and water, would require help from throughout the Nation and take several weeks.

• Texas’ and Louisiana’s oil production—20 percent of USA’s production– and Texas’ petrochemical industries survived with only

minor problems.

•

HURRICANE ANDREW; AUGUST 26, 1992

A MAJOR DISASTER