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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPotentially catastrophic storm surge for Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina
If Irma makes a trek up the East Coast from Miami to southern South Carolina as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane, as the models currently suggest, the portions of the coast that the eyewall touches will potentially see a massive and catastrophic storm surge, breaking all-time storm surge records and causing many billions of dollars in damage. Even areas up to a hundred miles to the north of where the center makes landfall could potentially see record storm surges. The area of most concern is the northern coast of Florida, the coast of Georgia, and the southern coast of South Carolina, due to the concave shape of the coast, which will act to funnel and concentrate the storm surge to ridiculous heights. If we look at wundergrounds storm surge maps for the U.S. East Coast, we see that in a worst-case Category 3 hurricane hitting at high tide, the storm tide (the combined effect of the storm surge and the tide) ranges from 17 20 above ground along the northern coast of Florida, and 18 23 feet above ground along the Georgia coast. If Irma is a Cat 4, these numbers increase to 22 28 feet for the coast of Georgia. This is a Katrina-level storm surge, the kind that causes incredible destruction and mass casualties among those foolish enough to refuse to evacuate.
https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/hurricane-irma-extreme-storm-surge-threat-us-and-bahamas
longship
(40,416 posts)haveahart
(905 posts)Egnever
(21,506 posts)Will be hard even for the knuckleheads to deny climate change after this.
I really hope those models are wrong and the east coast does not take the pummeling it is looking like it is about to get.
greymattermom
(5,751 posts)instead of climate change. You don't need a scientist to use a thermometer. Surely they won't prevent folks from talking about ocean temperature.
haveahart
(905 posts)I don't know if we can handle much more. One home gone in Houston and the other half-way so my stepdaughters are staying together and trying to make it with one child and no jobs. They both have sought to get those temp jobs with FEMA @ $15-16/hr. No luck yet. Food and clothing from some shelters.
Now we are awaiting Irma in FL while nieces travel back here (Maryland) for safety but dreading what might happen to their homes in FL.
Daughter in Duluth, GA nervous but thinking they will be ok to stick it out.
Give us all positive thoughts and prayers. I am drained emotionally and financially. Unemployed daughter here with two children and huge medical bills from husband who passed two years ago with pancreatic cancer.
Nothing stays the same. We will make it through as we always have. Stronger together!
DU is my fav outlet. Keeping in the political fray is a great relief as I care for spouse trying to heal from two back surgeries seem to have made little or no difference for his nerve pain and caused unmentionable problems from opioids which he is trying to get off of.
I thought, "damn, why us" Then I saw pictures and videos of St. Marteen, and Barbuda. Feeling grateful for many things right now.
RandySF
(58,513 posts)I know it's good to get this information out, but I also know it also adds to worry. Best wishes to you and your family.