Hurricane Wilma: A Case Study Mari Holmstrom Environmental Geology

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

Hurricane Definition Circulation Stages of Development 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

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

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

Tropical Depression forming Hitting Yucatan Peninsula Hitting Florida Dissipating in Atlantic

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

Preparedness Mexico Cuba Florida 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

Impact of hurricane Deaths Mexico 8 7.5 billion Cuba 12 700 million 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 Mexico Florida Tourism industry affected 7.5 miles of beaches destroyed Florida Sugar crop halted Citrus industry affected

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

Reconstruction Mexico Florida 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

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?

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

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/