Hurricane Wilma: A Case Study

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Hurricane Wilma A Case Study

• Mari Holmstrom
• Environmental Geology

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Outline

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

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Hurricane

• Definition
• 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

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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

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Hurricane Wilma Track
October 25 Weakened to extratropical storm
October 24 (Category 3) Contact with Florida
around 630 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
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Tropical Depression forming
Hitting Yucatan Peninsula
Hitting Florida
Dissipating in Atlantic
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Who was Impacted

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

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Preparedness

• Mexico
• 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

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Impact of hurricane
Deaths 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
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Impact on Economy

• Mexico
• Tourism industry affected
• 7.5 miles of beaches destroyed
• Florida
• Sugar crop halted
• Citrus industry affected

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Disaster Response

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

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Reconstruction

• Mexico
• 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

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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?

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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

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References

• http//ladeltaweather.com/hurricanecenter/
• http//edition.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/11/29/hurrican
  e.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/h2
  005_wilma.html
• http//www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/
  wilma.html
• http//www.ultimatecitrus.com/Wilma/