Effects of Hurricane Georges in Louisiana

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Hurricane Georges
Satellite image of hurricane over the Southern United States. The storm has no eye and obscures most of Mississippi and Alabama. Louisiana can be seen on the left and Florida on the right.
Hurricane Georges making landfall in Mississippi
Tropical storm
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds70 mph (110 km/h)
Lowest pressure970 mbar (hPa); 28.64 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities3 indirect
Damage$30.1 million (1998 USD)
Areas affectedSoutheast Louisiana
Part of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season
History

Effects

Other wikis

The effects of Hurricane Georges in Louisiana included $30.1 million in damage and three deaths. Forming from a

Category 2 storm made landfall in Mississippi before dissipating on October 1. Before landfall, about 500,000 residents in Louisiana evacuated from low-lying areas. The mayor of New Orleans declared a state of emergency to allow federal assistance into the state. After nearly 1.5 million people were urged to evacuate coastal areas, officials described the evacuation as "probably the largest [...] we have ever achieved".[1]

Numerous homes located outside the

beach erosion took place due to the slow movement of the hurricane. Precipitation statewide peaked at 2.98 inches (76 mm) in Bogalusa, and wind gusts reached 82 mph (132 km/h). In the wake of the hurricane, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened 67 shelters throughout the state, and covered insurance claims totalling $14,150,532, including from Puerto Rico and Mississippi. The Clinton administration appropriated $56 million in disaster relief to regions in Louisiana for recovery from Tropical Storm Frances
and Hurricane Georges.

Background

A map of a path across a portion of the Atlantic Ocean. The track starts near the Cape Verde Islands, and heads generally west-northwestward. South America is depicted on the lower-left side of the map
Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression
Main articles: Hurricane Georges and Meteorological history of Hurricane Georges

Hurricane Georges began as a

Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.[2]

Over the following five days, the hurricane tracked through the

Category 2 hurricane. The storm made landfall three days later near Biloxi, Mississippi, with winds of 105 mph (169 km/h). Upon landfall, the hurricane's forward motion slowed to an eastward drift. Georges dissipated on October 1 near the Atlantic coast of Florida.[2]

Preparations

At 9:00 am

Central Daylight Time (CDT) on September 25, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for coastal regions of Louisiana east of Morgan City. The following day, the watch was upgraded to a hurricane warning when the storm neared landfall. A hurricane watch was also issued for areas between Morgan City and Intracoastal City. When forecasts indicated a landfall east of the state, the hurricane watch was canceled and the hurricane warning amended to a tropical storm warning. By September 29, all tropical cyclone warnings and watches were discontinued.[2]

A map of rainfall in the southern United States. The heaviest rainfall is in southern Mississippi and Alabama and the Florida panhandle
Total rainfall in the United States from Georges

During September 25–26, large-scale evacuations took place in response to forecasts suggesting a landfall near

State of Emergency to allow federal assistance into the affected areas during the immediate aftermath of the hurricane. A curfew was instituted for those who ignored evacuation orders or could not leave the city.[5]

Approximately 500,000 people evacuated from

Louisiana Superdome. In Plaquemines Parish, about 15,000 residents evacuated and 2,300 took refuge in public shelters.[3] Grand Isle's 1,500 residents were ordered to evacuate for the fourth time in a month. Due to the large-scale evacuations, 175 off-duty state troopers and 250 national guard troops were deployed to help speed up the process. Only two highways, U.S. Route 90 and Interstate 10 lead in and out of New Orleans; heavy rains from previous storms flooded parts of US 90, hindering preparation efforts.[6] Lt. Col. Ronnie Jones of the Louisiana state police noted that the evacuation was "probably the largest [...] we have ever achieved".[1]

Impact

Islands with large areas of foliage and beaches. The date stamp is "9 25 '98".
Islands that are flooded and defoliated. The date stamp is "10 1 '98".
Chandeleur Islands before (top) and after (bottom) Hurricane Georges

Compared to the record-breaking rainfall in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, Hurricane Georges produced relatively little precipitation in Louisiana, peaking at 2.98 inches (76 mm) in Bogalusa.[2] The worst damages were confined to the southeastern portion of the state, concentrated in the Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes. A storm surge of 8.9 ft (2.7 m) was recorded in Gardene Bay before power at the recording station failed. Gale-force winds impacted most of the parish and gusts peaked at 82 mph (132 km/h). The combination of high winds and surge cut power to most of the area and flooded at least 50 homes, all of which were located outside the levee system.[3] A lighthouse on one island was partially submerged in the Gulf of Mexico, nearly 1,200 feet (370 m) from land following severe beach erosion. Six-foot (1.8 m) sand dunes on the islands were completely eroded by the storm, leaving boardwalks formerly situated atop the dunes suspended near the water's surface.[7]

In

Orleans Parish, a storm surge of 5.81 ft (1.77 m) destroyed 85 fishing camps constructed on wooden pilings. Winds gusting up to 68 mph (109 km/h) left 80,000 residences without power in the parish. Throughout the state, a total of 160,000 homes and businesses lost power due to the hurricane.[3] Georges is blamed for three indirect fatalities; two men collapsed and died due to medical conditions aggravated by the stress of the evacuation, and another died as the result of a house fire sparked by an emergency candle that was tipped over. Damages from the storm totaled approximately $30.1 million.[3]

Aftermath

Rough waves on a lake. A railroad is situated along the bottom of the image on an embankment. A fishing hut is present near the lake.
Lake Pontchartrain during Hurricane Georges

Before Hurricane Georges, FEMA issued disaster declarations for Ascension, Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Plaquemines, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Terrebone, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes. The declaration allowed residents to receive individual and public assistance.[8] Including relief funds to Puerto Rico and Mississippi associated with Georges, a total of $14,150,532 insurance claims was paid for by FEMA.[9] The Clinton administration appropriated $56 million in post-disaster funds for regions impacted Tropical Storm Frances and Hurricane Georges in Louisiana.[10]

Throughout the state, officials opened 67 shelters and deployed 1,200 FEMA personnel to Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

Louisiana Superdome returned to their homes; however, Mayor Marc Morial requested that the residents stay in the Superdome for their own safety.[12] In attempts to prevent major flooding in the aftermath of Georges, the United States National Guard provided the Gulf Coast with 1.25 million sandbags. Rescue teams flew nearly 50 missions in response to calls for help from stranded residents.[13] The United Methodist Committee on Relief deployed its disaster response team on September 29 to the state to assess damages wrought by Georges.[14] Thomas Michot, a United States Geological Survey ecologist, surveyed the islands following the storm and stated that "the single most important line of defense standing between New Orleans and future hurricanes had all but disappeared".[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Jerry Schwartz (September 28, 1998). "Hurricane Georges Slams Into Gulf Coast (News)". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d John L. Guiney (January 5, 1999). "Hurricane Georges Tropical Cyclone Report". National Hurricane Center. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e "NCDC Event Report: Louisiana Hurricane". National Climatic Data Center. 1999. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
  4. ^ "Hurricane Georges forces evacuation". The Minnesota Daily. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Associated Press. September 28, 1998. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Mary Dejevsky (September 28, 1998). "Georges heads for New Orleans". The Independent. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
  6. ^ "Hurricane Georges heading toward Big Easy". Associated Press. September 27, 1998. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  7. ^ "Hurricane Georges Damages Chandeleur Islands—New Orleans' First Line Of Storm Defense". ScienceDaily. United States Geological Survey. October 5, 1998. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  8. ^ Government of the United States (September 23, 1998). "Designated Counties for Louisiana Tropical Storm Frances and Hurricane Georges". Federal Emergency Management Agency. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
  9. ^ Government of the United States (March 7, 2008). "Significant Flood Events". Federal Emergency Management Agency. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
  10. ^ Government of the United States (October 2000). "Accomplishments of the Clinton-Gore Administration". Government of the United States. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2009.
  11. ^ "Recovering From Georges' Fury". CBS News. September 29, 1998. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "Hurricane Georges blasts Gulf Coast with rain, wind". The Winona Daily News. Winona, Minnesota. Associated Press. September 29, 1998. p. 1. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "National Guard mobilized to help with aftermath of Hurricane Georges". Associated Press. September 29, 1998. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2009.
  14. ^ "UMCOR: Hurricane Georges News, October 2, 1998". United Methodist Committee on Relief. October 2, 1998. Archived from the original on September 19, 2008. Retrieved May 19, 2009.
  15. ^ Kyle Donaldson (August 12, 2008). "Documenting the Aftermath of Hurricane Georges". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on May 7, 2009. Retrieved May 19, 2009.

External links

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