Hurricane Ike: top U.S. weather story of 2008
The top U.S. weather story of 2008 was undoubtedly Hurricane Ike. The National Hurricane Center has released its summary of Ike, and here are some of the highlights:
Ike did $19.3 billion in damage to the U.S.--fourth costliest hurricane on record, behind Katrina, Andrew, and Wilma.
Ike did an additional $4.7 billion in damage after it became extratropical. Hurricane-force wind gusts were reported in Cincinnati, and 2.6 million people lost power in Ohio. The $2.2 billion in damage to Ohio rivaled the 1974 Xenia tornado as that state's costliest natural disaster ever. Ike's remnants also caused Kentucky's most widespread power outage in history (600,000 customers). (However, the 2009 ice storm in Kentucky surpassed this total!)
Figure 1. Ike's tremendous storm surge wiped most of the Bolivar Peninsula north of Galveston clean. Image credit: National Weather Service, Houston/Galveston Office.
Figure 2. Standard 20 foot high utility pole on the Bolivar Peninsula, with debris caught about 18 feet high. The pole stands near the intersection of Highways 87 and 124, near High Island, and is about 2 feet above sea level. The combined action of the storm surge and waves on top of the surge (wave run-up) deposited the debris at the top of this pole. Image credit: Ted Eubanks.
Ike produced a 15-20 foot high storm surge along the east side of Galveston Bay and along the Bolivar Peninsula just to the north of Galveston. This was the second highest storm surge recorded in Texas, behind the 22.1 foot surge of Hurricane Carla in 1961. It is likely that the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 and and the 1915 Galveston hurricane had higher storm surges, though, since they were both Category 4 storms. Although Ike was a strong Category 2 hurricane at landfall, its storm surge was characteristic of a strong Category 3 hurricane.
Ike's 10-13 foot storm surge pushed 30 miles inland in Southwest Louisiana, reaching the town of Lake Charles. Isolated areas in Jefferson County, Texas, and Cameron Parish, Louisiana, had surge heights up to 17 ft. Ike's storm surge was 11 feet at Port Arthur, Texas,
Ike killed 20 people in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. Another 34 people from Galveston and the hard-hit Bolivar Peninsula remain missing, according to the Laura Recovery Center, putting Ike's presumed U.S. death toll at 54. This makes Ike the 30th deadliest hurricane in U.S. history. An additional 64 indirect deaths occurred in Texas as a result of electrocution, carbon monoxide poisoning, and pre-existing medical complications. At least 28 direct and indirect deaths were reported in Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Michigan, and Pennsylvania from Ike's remnants. This makes the total death toll from Ike 146, due to direct and indirect deaths, with those people missing presumed dead.
Ike disrupted power to 7.5 million people--the highest ever for a hurricane (Hurricane Frances of 2004 and Hurricane Isabel of 2003 are in second place, with 6 million people affected). The "Superstorm" Blizzard of 1993 (10 million people affected) was the only weather-related disaster to knock out power to more people than Ike in the U.S. Texas and Louisiana had 2.6 million affected, Ohio 2.6 million, and Kentucky 600,000. Power outage figures are difficult to verify and collect, so if anyone has a better list of power outage figures from major weather disasters, I'd like to hear them: jmasters@wunderground.com.
The oil industry was hit hard, with ten offshore rigs destroyed, two large pipelines damaged, and fourteen refineries forced to close. Damage to the Ports of Galveston and Houston, as well as debris in Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel, kept those ports closed after the storm for several days, leaving almost 150 tankers, cargo vessels, and container ships waiting offshore.
Ike damaged Galveston's 14-17 foot high protective sea wall, exposing wooden pilings that support its older sections. The storm also washed away the 70-foot wide beach that helped protect the seawall. As a result, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is undertaking the seawall's first major repair job in its 105-year history. About $10 million will be spent repairing the seawall, and an additional $10 million will be spent dumping 400,000 cubic yards of sand to replenish the lost beach.
Outside the U.S.
Cuba suffered $3-$4 billion in damage, and 2.6 million people were forced to evacuate (23% of the population).
The Southeast Bahamas suffered $50-200 million in damage. Additional heavy damage occurred on the nearby Turks and Caicos Islands.
Haiti probably suffered the most from Ike, with 74 deaths and ruinous flooding.
Jeff Masters
Reader Comments
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You need to fire your lawyer.
You need to fire your shrink.
and RHODRI PHILLIPS
Published: Today The Sun
An amazing image may show the fabled sunken city of Atlantis.
It shows a perfect rectangle the size of Wales lying on the bed of the Atlantic Ocean nearly 3½ miles down.
A host of criss-crossing lines, looking like a map of a vast metropolis, are enclosed by the boundary.
Location ... 620 miles off Africa
They seem too vast and organised to be caused naturally.
And last night the possibility of an extraordinary discovery had oceanographers and geophysicists captivated.
The site lies 620 miles off the west coast of Africa near the Canary Islands — a location for Atlantis seemingly suggested by the ancient philosopher Plato.
He believed it was an island civilisation sunk by an earthquake and floods around 9,700BC — nearly 12,000 years ago.
The “grid” showed up on Google Ocean, a Google Earth extension that uses a combination of satellite images and marine surveys.
Re: CANADIAN HEALTHCARE
Rainmound- "If I was given the option, I'd prefer the canadian model - it WILL work better, kids will get healthcare, therefore will be less sick as adults because they get their vitamins, therefore my business spends less on health care in the long run.
We forget those words "in the long run" in this country!"
Don't know if that's Atlantis or not, but it's sure hard to argue with the possibility.
Definetly the footprint of man.
With all due Respect Shep,
sometimes it's not the lawyer --but he who who has the largest reserves....often he who has the most money wins in our court system. The big boys know this and just repeal or challenge till the little guy has no more funds....
another case of the HAVE and the HAVE NOTS
WOW!!
You "do" have the option. Move to Canada or Europe. That will give you the change you believe in. Try Quebec first.
Back to the weather - it is beautiful here this morning!
Say what Willis??
Lets not go do anything rash now... the US is a great country and you should only leave it on Vacation :)
I knew you'd "fly down" with outstretched talons to drag Quebec off the map.
Hard to cover a pile of poo poo that big, though.
I "do" love the true Canadian spirit, and their sniper skills when protecting our troops.
ROTFL
As for moving Shep. HELL NO! I LOVE my real estate -- I LOVE my Gulf. Running away doesn't solve anything...... being proactive does......
that's why www.PORTLIGHT.com was created (right here in fact) by the people for the people. People have to awaken from their slumber, question authority, take responsibility and consequences for their actions --this includes the Banksters, wallstreetwalkers and the Corporatacy
When people are well fed they seem to just amble along....Hungry Bellies will change things I imagine --seems to wake people up.
Here's an Idea!!!,how about hospitals being all "non-profit" organizations...it only seems right!!!,hospitals should be there to help the comunities there in NOT make $$$$$,what a shame!!
the world is changing and america needs to be the one to lead the world once again!!!AMERICA needs some minor changes,moving is not a option,this is our country too and in time I hope this happens....anyone remember how long it took before clinton's first stimulus started working and brought us to a surplus,I believe it started in ernest about 2 years after it passed!!!so we have a loooooong way to go....
OK, I have to ask... why can't you just be part of the World... why must you "lead the world". Look where you have "lead the world" so far.
Here's another idea. Move into a smaller house that will let you afford insurance. I don't support other people's drug habits and I sure as heck don't want to support the "keep up with the Jones" lifestyle of others. There is "no defense". Get real!
There's a price as well to everyone wanting to live in "Paradise". Whether it be S Fla, Gulf Coast or Martha's Vineyard. "Mocking birds in a nest". Mouths wide open waiting for mommy.
I have no sympathy for you who can not "afford" your lifestyle. What part of that do you not accept?
Anyone who can't afford health insurance needs to take a long look. After the "Jones factor" weeds out, then and only then will the "less fortunate" become a real reflection.
I have see groups of over 100 together at one time.. its a site to see. MissNadia would have seen even larger groups then that I would assume, especially when the salmon are running the rivers.
I'm a uninsured waiter at a local italian resturant,31 yrs old renting a perfect studio apt. looking out over the GOM,my father is retired and not rich,my mother is a school teacher and not rich(the private school she works for does not provide her insurance)...what should I do if I get sick????,get another job???GET REAL!!!thats ridiculus!!! hows about treating every patient equally regardless to wealth..
Mirror Site
New Section includes Mt Redoubt
I am also trying something new with these link
Display Current
don't tell me thats the view from your porch!!!???....
ROFLMAO... no
Its about a 3 mile walk or 5 minute drive.
The view from my porch is what the eagles here are looking to eat :)
I have the Oregon Scientific WM-918 Wireless system. I have no idea what they are worth down there. You can buy them from Costco online.. and you have Costco there... so I assume you can also.. thats the best price.
DO NOT buy the expensive software programs that you can buy online. There is a site on here that has Free software thats as good if not better.
Ummm I just reread your post... where/what is SRQ?
MY Turf!!!!
So, let's see. You live in "paradise" in an "Ocean View" on a waiter's take home and you can't afford insurance.
Here's a "get real" idea. Stop kidding yourself that you're able to live on your own in a manner that doesn't threaten to dip into my pocket book and move back in with Mom and Dad where you can buy your own insurance and re-evaluate your priorities.
"You" are the quientessential case in point.
Who are "you" kidding? Yourself.
Nope.. just no flowers,,, other then that.. looks exactly the same.. as a matter of fact.. just as sunny right now.
Interesting; and yes that location has speculated before.
Indeed, in the North Sea, there is evidence to suggest other previous settlements from before the Stone Age...
Who knows? If the sea levels rise as much as speculated - we could talking about the fabled civilisations of the Netherlands...
OMG... tell me thats your stir stick talking.
Oh, so you've already "bought" this month's health insurance premium....See what I mean?
I feel much better now with helping you out.
When you're at the bottom of your hole, quit digging.
Nah...fly swatter.
The accident is catastrophic in costs..talk about a chain and weight, b/4 you have have a chance to get over the starting line. Did he receive extraordinary trauma care -- YOU BET, is he alive because we do in this country have some of the best trauma care in the world YOU BET...... was he and is he a contributing member to society Yes..........but the costs are beyond comprehension -- and has a long road ahead being a responsible individual.
So yes, there are others who abuse the system..... I don't want to carry them either....but I think you were a bit harsh on Stillwaiting -- my son also lives close to the ocean in St. Pete....but like Still --- this ain't no luxury housing!!
Off to worklurk
South Florida StormWatch
I am glad you said it.. I was going to say it for you, but not so eloquently :)
sparing the fly swatter? , I belong in the hearth? or both ? ROTFL
from dailymal uk
Hopes dashed as Google Ocean image of 'lost city of Atlantis' proves to be nothing of the sort
By David Derbyshire and Niall Firth
Last updated at 3:47 PM on 20th February 2009
For a few tantalising hours researchers appeared to have solved one of the greatest mysteries of the ancient world - the location of the mythical underwater city of Atlantis.
More than 600 miles off the coast of Africa and nearly 3.5 miles below the surface lay a mysterious grid of lines and markings that closely resembled the streets of a city.
The image - discovered on the internet mapping tool Google Earth - lay in an area of the Atlantic long thought to be a possible location for the fabled lost city.
There were just two problems.
First, the grid of streets, walls and ancient buildings turned out to be the size of Wales.
False hopes: Google said the grid-like markings, thought to reveal the location of mythical underwater city Atlantis, are an artifact of its map making process
Even given the supposedly advanced technology, that meant Altantis was 20 times the size of Greater London.
And second, the grid of lines doesn't actually exist on the sea floor.
According to Google, the pattern is an "artifact" of its map making process.
Details for the ocean maps on Google Earth come from sonar measurements of the sea floor recorded by boats - and the area around the Canaries was mapped by boats travelling in a series of straight lines.
The admission was a blow to Atlantis hunters who are convinced the city still lies undiscovered below the waves.
The grid can be found by anyone using the latest version of Google Earth on their computer. It lies in the Canary Basin, 620 miles west of the Canary islands, and east of the Konstantinov Ridge.
'It's true that many amazing discoveries have been made in Google Earth - a pristine forest in Mozambique that is home to previously unknown species, a fringing coral reef off the coast of Australia, and the remains of an Ancient Roman villa, to name just a few,' said a spokesman for Google.
"In this case, however, what users are seeing is an artifact of the data collection process. Bathymetric (or sea-floor terrain) data is often collected from boats using sonar to take measurements of the sea-floor.
'The lines reflect the path of the boat as it gathers the data. The fact that there are blank spots between each of these lines is a sign of how little we really know about the world's oceans."
Greetings from Germany
Yup, thats off Google Earth ver 5
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