HURRICANE IRENE After Landfall in North Carolina on August 27, 2011 A Historic Storm 1, km ( mi) Wide A 950 mb Hurricane August 27-?, 2011 Dr. Walter Hays, Global Alliance For Disaster Reduction

2011’s NINTH STORM DEVELOPED INTO FIRST HURRICANE OF SEASON ON AUGUST 22nd

AUG 27: LANDFALL AND FORECAST

8:00 AM AUG 27 LANDFALL IN NC The National Hurricane Center’s advisory said that Hurricane Irene reached land five miles northeast of Cape Lookout and 60 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras. Irene had weakened to a CAT 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 135 kph (85 mph).

AUG 27: PIER COLLAPSE; THE FIRST FAILURE

AUG 27: KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC WAITING FOR WHAT IS TO COME

AS EXPECTED: At 8:30 a.m., Progress Energy said that almost 200,000 customers had lost power in North Carolina, with the number expected to grow..

BAD NEWS: “At 14 mph, the storm is moving more slowly than expected, which is not good as far rainfall, because the storm will just sit there and dump rain.”

WHAT TO EXPECT AS IRENE CONTINUES UP THE EAST COAST Storm surge (8-12 ft in outer banks, North Carolina; 4 ft in Virginia Beach; also a strong surge in Long Island) and tides of (2-3 ft)—flooding and potential for deaths, especially if people drive through standing water.

WHAT TO EXPECT Rain (2-12 in over a wide area from the eye)—major flooding Wind ( mph)—damage to trees, homes, buildings, and infrastructure Tornadoes---possible

WHAT TO EXPECT Beach erosion and mudslides-- irreversible loss due to major changes in he landscape.

NOTE: Because of the counter- clockwise circulation of the rain and wind bands about the eye, it is always SAFEST to be on the WEST side of the storm’s eye

NOTE: REMEMBERING HURRICANE BOB A DEADLY EAST COAST HURRICANE AUGUST 16, 1991

AUG 16, 1991: HURRICANE BOB’S PATH

HURRICANE BOB Bob brushed the Outer Banks of North Carolina as it moved north- northeastward on August 18 th and August 19 th, and intensified into a Cat 3 hurricane shortly thereafter.

HURRICANE BOB (continued) Bob made landfall twice in Rhode Island as a Cat 2 hurricane on August 19 th As it continued inland, Bob weakened, and made landfall in Maine as a strong tropical storm early on August 20.

HURRICANE BOB’S IMPACTS Bob caused extensive damage throughout New England, totaling approximately $1.5 billion (1991 dollars; $2.42 billion 2011 USD). Seventeen fatalities were reported.