Hurricane Wilma: Hurricane Wilma: A Case StudyA Case Study

Mari HolmstromMari Holmstrom

Environmental GeologyEnvironmental Geology

OutlineOutline Introduction to HurricanesIntroduction to Hurricanes Introduction to Hurricane Introduction to Hurricane

WilmaWilma Timeline of EventsTimeline of Events PreparationPreparation Impact Impact Disaster ResponseDisaster Response Reconstruction Reconstruction What was learned What was learned Future recommendationsFuture recommendations

                                                                                                                                                                                                 

HurricaneHurricane DefinitionDefinition

Tropical cyclones with winds exceeding 74 Tropical cyclones with winds exceeding 74 mphmph

CirculationCirculation Counterclockwise around center in NH, Counterclockwise around center in NH,

opposite in SHopposite in SH Inverse relationship between central pressure Inverse relationship between central pressure

and wind speedand wind speed Stages of DevelopmentStages of Development

Tropical DepressionTropical Depression Tropical Storm Tropical Storm HurricaneHurricane

Facts about Hurricane WilmaFacts about Hurricane Wilma

Set numerous records for strength Set numerous records for strength

and seasonal activity and seasonal activity Most active seasonMost active season Third category 5 to form in OctoberThird category 5 to form in October Within top five costliest hurricane Within top five costliest hurricane

in Atlanticin Atlantic Third costliest storm in U.S. historyThird costliest storm in U.S. history

Hurricane Wilma TrackHurricane Wilma Track

October 15October 15Tropical Depression 24 Tropical Depression 24 developsdevelops

October 17October 17Tropical Depression 24 becomes Tropical Tropical Depression 24 becomes Tropical Storm WilmaStorm Wilma

October 19 (Category 5)October 19 (Category 5)Most intense hurricane recorded in Most intense hurricane recorded in AtlanticAtlantic

October 22 (Category 2)October 22 (Category 2)Wilma hits Yucatan Wilma hits Yucatan peninsulapeninsula

October 24 (Category 3)October 24 (Category 3)Contact with Florida around 6:30 Contact with Florida around 6:30 a.m.a.m.

October 25October 25Weakened to extratropical Weakened to extratropical stormstorm

October 18October 18Tropical Storm Wilma reaches Category 1 Tropical Storm Wilma reaches Category 1 hurricane strength and becomes a hurricanehurricane strength and becomes a hurricane

October 20 (Category 4)October 20 (Category 4)First Atlantic hurricane to have below 900 First Atlantic hurricane to have below 900 mb central pressure at Category 4mb central pressure at Category 4

Tropical Depression forming

Hitting Yucatan Peninsula

Hitting Florida Dissipating in Atlantic

Who was ImpactedWho was Impacted

FloridaFlorida Collier, Palm Beach, Naples, and Monroe Collier, Palm Beach, Naples, and Monroe

CountyCounty Yucatan PeninsulaYucatan Peninsula

Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and CancunPlaya del Carmen, Cozumel, and Cancun CubaCuba

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

PreparednessPreparedness MexicoMexico

Red Alert declaredRed Alert declared Tourists told to return homeTourists told to return home Classes suspendedClasses suspended Residents advised to take refuge inlandResidents advised to take refuge inland

CubaCuba Preparations to evacuate four western provincesPreparations to evacuate four western provinces

More than 368,000 people ordered to evacuateMore than 368,000 people ordered to evacuate FloridaFlorida

Mandatory evacuation of Monroe County and Collier Mandatory evacuation of Monroe County and Collier County residentsCounty residents

Hurricane shelters openedHurricane shelters opened County offices, schools, and courts closedCounty offices, schools, and courts closed Curfews in Lee and Collier countiesCurfews in Lee and Collier counties

Impact of hurricaneImpact of hurricane

DeathsDeaths DamagesDamages

(In US Dollars)(In US Dollars)

MexicoMexico 88 7.5 billion7.5 billion

CubaCuba 1212 700 million700 million

FloridaFlorida 35 35 20.6 billion20.6 billion

TotalTotal At least 63At least 63 At least 28 At least 28 billionbillion

• • •

Impact on EconomyImpact on Economy

MexicoMexico Tourism industry Tourism industry

affectedaffected 7.5 miles of 7.5 miles of

beaches beaches destroyeddestroyed

FloridaFlorida Sugar crop haltedSugar crop halted Citrus industry Citrus industry

affectedaffected

Disaster Response Disaster Response

MexicoMexico Red CrossRed Cross

CubaCuba USAID/OFDAUSAID/OFDA

FloridaFlorida National GuardsmenNational Guardsmen

Search and RescueSearch and Rescue Ice, water, and meals trucked inIce, water, and meals trucked in Disaster Medical Assistance TeamsDisaster Medical Assistance Teams

ReconstructionReconstruction

MexicoMexico Water and power restored in daysWater and power restored in days Reflection of growing experienceReflection of growing experience Beach repair could take up to 3 yearsBeach repair could take up to 3 years Hotels/resorts reopened in 2006Hotels/resorts reopened in 2006

FloridaFlorida Residents moved back within a weekResidents moved back within a week New hurricane and weather center opened in March New hurricane and weather center opened in March

2006 in Key West2006 in Key West

What was learnedWhat was learned

Accurate hurricane forecastingAccurate hurricane forecasting Time of impactTime of impact Direction of movementDirection of movement

2005 peak of cycle b/w high and 2005 peak of cycle b/w high and low intensity seasonslow intensity seasons Winds same direction and same Winds same direction and same

speedspeed Warm water availableWarm water available

Possibly caused by global warming?Possibly caused by global warming?

RecommendationsRecommendations

Good preparation and responseGood preparation and response Mandatory evacuation Mandatory evacuation

Make sure residents leaveMake sure residents leave More evacuation routesMore evacuation routes Stages of evacuation?Stages of evacuation?

More research on hurricane season More research on hurricane season cyclecycle Keep extensive data collectionKeep extensive data collection

ReferencesReferences http://ladeltaweather.com/hurricanecenter/http://ladeltaweather.com/hurricanecenter/ http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/11/29/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/11/29/

hurricane.season.enderhurricane.season.ender http://www.mexiconews.com/mx/miami/15703.htmlhttp://www.mexiconews.com/mx/miami/15703.html http://www.weather.gov/storms/wilma/http://www.weather.gov/storms/wilma/ www.bonitanews.com/hurricane/wilmawww.bonitanews.com/hurricane/wilma http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/

h2005_wilma.htmlh2005_wilma.html http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/

wilma.htmlwilma.html http://www.ultimatecitrus.com/Wilma/http://www.ultimatecitrus.com/Wilma/