Introduction

1
Introduction

• Justification of study
• Objectives
• Methods
• Analysis and discussion
• Summary and conclusion

Pictures from CAEYE.com. Internet. Online. The
Commercial Appeal
2
Justification of Study

• On July 22, 2003 a windstorm moved through
  Memphis/Shelby county in the early morning hours
  causing millions of dollars of damage. In order
  to decrease the impact of the windstorm in terms
  of damage and economic loss, there must be
  increased recovery and response planning to help
  mitigate for future storms.

3
Objectives

• Causes of the storm
• Assess the damage from the event
• Show the history of windstorms in Memphis/Shelby
  County
• Show recovery planning
• Introduce plans for mitigation

4
Data Sources and Methods

• Interviews with
• FEMA
• NOAA
• NWS
• Reporters
• Memphis Links
• Insurance Adjusters
• Local People
• Professors

• Methods
• Post disaster Inventory
• Content analysis of risk communication
• Statistics
• Frequency
• Categorizing

5
July 22, 2003

• Approximately 700 a.m.

Pictures from CAEYE.com. Internet. Online. The
Commercial Appeal
6
Bow Echo Storm

• 10 mile wide swatch
• 2000 homes severely damaged
• 1 fatality and 6 related deaths
• 1300 utility poles
• 2000 transformers
• 250 trees completely down
• 500,000 people without power
• Wind gusts topped 100 mph
• 84 mph at channel
• 61 mph at airport
• 77 mph at Agricenter
• 102 mph at AutoZone
• 500 Million in damage

7
Courtesy NWS Scott McNeil et. al
8
National Weather Service sent out 20 min.
warning, but it was taken lightly because of
phrasing of severe thunderstorm with high
winds
9
What is a bow echo storm?

• An arched/bowed out line of thunderstorms, having
  enhanced straight line winds at surface.

10
(No Transcript)
11
Bow Echo Convective SystemsSurface Patterns

• General East-West frontal boundary
• Strong surface convergence
• Warm humid air rises rapidly
• Bow echo often moves parallel to front with
  slight component toward warm sector
• Strong surface winds, 100 mph

12
Upper Level Patterns

• Straight or anti-cyclonically curved
  mid/upper-level flow near a ridge axis
• Ascending warm air cools condenses into cloud
  droplets and ice crystals
• Ice falls melting into rain
• Simultaneously, cool-dry air is blowing aloft
  into the storm
• Cools the air making it heavy, creating
  downbursts

13
What is a derecho?Johns Hirt 1987

• Area of wide damage and/or convective gusts 50
  kts or greater
• Major axis length of at least 400 km
• Reports must show chronological progression
• There must be at least three reports separated by
  64 km or more, of either F1 damage or convective
  gusts of 65 kts or greater
• No more than three hours can lapse between wind
  events

14
Doppler measures 58 mph wind (component away from
radar) Calculations (Cosine times measured wind)
yield over 100 mph wind over East Memphis 800 ft
agl
100 mph
15
As bow echo moves away from the radar you can get
a better idea of actual wind speeds. McNeil
et.al

• 109 mph at 1500 ft agl

16
Characteristic of Bow Echo

• Strong downbursts of wind
• Associated with significant damaging surface
  winds near apex of the bow
• Usually occur in the summer

17
How often does this type of wind storm
occur?How intense was this storm?
18
Saffir Simpson Hurricane Scale

• Category 1 Hurricane winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt)
• No real damage to buildings.
  Damage to unanchored mobile homes. Some damage to
  poorly constructed signs.
• Also, some coastal flooding
  and minor pier damage.
• - Examples Irene 1999 and
  Allison 1995
• Category 2 Hurricane winds 96-110 mph (83-95
  kt)
• Some damage to building roofs,
  doors and windows. Considerable damage to mobile
  homes. Flooding
  damages piers
• and small craft in unprotected
  moorings may break their moorings. Some trees
  blown down.
• - Examples Bonnie 1998,
  Georges(FL LA) 1998 and Gloria 1985
• Category 3 Hurricane winds 111-130 mph (96-113
  kt)
• Some structural damage to
  small residences and utility buildings. Large
  trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly
• built signs destroyed.
  Flooding near the coast destroys smaller
  structures with larger structures damaged by
  floating debris. Terrain may be flooded well
  inland.
• Category 4 Hurricane winds 131-155 mph (114-135
  kt)
• More extensive curtain wall
  failures with some complete roof structure
  failure on small residences. Major erosion of
• beach areas. Terrain may be
  flooded well inland.
• - Examples Hugo 1989 and
  Donna 1960
• Category 5 Hurricane winds 156 mph and up (135
  kt)
• Complete roof failure on many
  residences and industrial buildings. Some
  complete building failures with small utility

19
1956-2003

• 68 windstorm events recorded since 1956
• Highest wind speed was February 25, 1956 78 Kts.
• There is an average of 4 storms per year since
  1956
• The average time for these storms were 1254 p.m.
• This storm was different because it occurred in
  the early morning

20
(No Transcript)
21
Assessing the Damage

• The temperature was in the mid 90s
• Crime increased, looting, burglaries
• Massive amounts of debris
• Rebuilding of structures
• Declared disaster area by President

Pictures from CAEYE.com. Internet. Online. The
Commercial Appeal
22

• Memphis/Shelby County was without power for 15
  days
• Traffic Lights were not operational
• Danger from electrocution
• MLGW needed outside aid

Pictures from CAEYE.com. Internet. Online. The
Commercial Appeal
23

• Property damage
• Insurance Claims
• Psychological Impact
• Clean up time

Pictures from CAEYE.com. Internet. Online. The
Commercial Appeal
24

• Traffic was affected
• Trees
• Downed lines
• Debris
• People looking

Pictures from CAEYE.com. Internet. Online. The
Commercial Appeal
25

• This storm lead to a series of events that
  followed
• Transportation
• Communication
• Travel
• Gas shortage

Pictures from CAEYE.com. Internet. Online. The
Commercial Appeal
26

• The storm destroyed hundred year old trees
• Opened houses to looting
• Food waste

Pictures from CAEYE.com. Internet. Online. The
Commercial Appeal
27
Economic Impact

• How much money did Memphis/Shelby County lose?
• How much money in food was lost?

Pictures from CAEYE.com. Internet. Online. The
Commercial Appeal
28
Estimated Food Losses-Summer Storm 2003
29
Total 116,068,440
30
Insurance Claims

• For example
• State Farm Insurance Company
• Auto Claims 1350
• 3200 per car 4.25 Million
• Housing claims 10,000
• Total housing damage 37.5 Million

Pictures from CAEYE.com. Internet. Online. The
Commercial Appeal
31
Memphis/Shelby Response

• FEMA
• Emergency Operations Plan
• Identify Hazard
• Anticipate Needs
• Manage Essential Service
• 16 Emergency Services

• MLGW (priority)
• Supply power of emergency operations
• Utility substations
• Pumping stations
• Hospitals

32
What can we do to prepare for future occurrences?

• Mitigation strategy
• Emergency Assessment
• Threat detection and emergency classification
• Hazard and environmental monitoring
• Population monitoring and assessment
• Damage Assessment

33
Protective Response

• Protective action selection
• Revise early warning system
• Reverse 911
• Siren protocol
• Increase radar technology
• Create product to correct angle discrepancies
• Protective action implementation
• Cut trees, under ground utilities usage
• Resistant or resilient infrastructure

34
Incident Management

• Agency notification, mobilization
• Knowledgeable local authorities
• Changing the wording of the storm intensity
• External coordination
• Establish outside help strategies and procedures
• Public information
• Help public identify risks of area
• Explain emergency preparedness

35
Relief

• TEMA
• Local Churches
• FEMA
• U.S. Federal Government
• American Red Cross
• Salvation Army
• Care
• World Relief

36
Future Research

• Research is needed to characterize local
  mitigation preparedness networks
• Identify ways of increasing community support and
  knowledge
• Create an early warning system
• High wind disaster recovery in Memphis

37
Questions Discussion
38
Special Thanks

• Sammy Cruz FEMA
• Joe Lowry FEMA
• Dr. John Gnuschke University of Memphis
• Scott McNeil NWS (radar images)
• Jonathan Howell NWS
• Dr. Lensyl Urbano University of Memphis
• Dr. Hsiang-te Kung University of Memphis
• Dr. Arleen Hill University of Memphis