Hurricane Omar
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | October 13, 2008 |
Extratropical | October 18, 2008 |
Dissipated | October 21, 2008 |
Category 4 major hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 130 mph (215 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 958 mbar (hPa); 28.29 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 1 indirect |
Damage | $80 million (2008 USD) |
Areas affected | Venezuela, Leeward Antilles, Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico |
IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season |
Hurricane Omar was a powerful
Throughout the eastern Caribbean, Omar affected numerous islands, most of which only recorded minor impacts. Large swells and heavy rains impacted the
Meteorological history
On September 30, a well-developed
Located to the southeast of a broad and deep
With very warm sea surface temperatures, high ocean heat content, low wind shear, and a moist air mass, Omar quickly reached its peak intensity early on October 16 as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 130 mph (210 km/h).[1] During the intensification phase, the forward motion of the hurricane increased to 20 mph (32 km/h).[8] Once in the Atlantic Ocean, Omar began to rapidly weaken, with winds decreasing by 50 mph (80 km/h) in 12 hours. Visible satellite images depicted an exposed low-level circulation with convection displaced to the east due to a combination of very high wind shear and dry air. By October 17, most of the deep convection associated with the system dissipated; however, a brief decrease in wind shear allowed Omar to re-strengthen to its secondary peak, with winds of 85 mph (137 km/h). During this phase, convection redeveloped around the center and an eye reformed. Later that day, the trough that caused the rapid northeastern motion bypassed Omar, leading to decreasing movement.[1]
A weakening storm, Omar continued towards the northeast due to a mid to upper-level ridge located south of the system and the mid-latitude westerlies to the north. Late on October 17, wind shear increased once more as Omar tracked over waters below 26 °C (79 °F). Around 0000 UTC on October 18, Omar weakened to a tropical storm as deep convection associated with it dissipated. Twelve hours later, while still producing tropical storm-force winds, the storm degenerated into a remnant low-pressure area. The remnants of Omar persisted until 0600 UTC on October 21, when they dissipated about 805 mi (1,296 km) west of the Azores.[1]
Preparations
On October 15, the governor of the
On Sint Maarten, officials advised residents to start all necessary actions to prepare for a hurricane. Residents were told to clear their yards of any debris or lose furniture that could become airborne during the storm, place shutters over windows and doors and assist elderly neighbors with shuttering their homes, and mariners should find a safe haven. A curfew from 10:00 p.m. on October 15 to 10:00 a.m. on October 16 was put in place. Due to the possibility of flash flooding, residents were to unclog and free up all waterways around their homes. Officials also warned people to stay away from areas prone to landslides until the "all-clear" was given. Owners of livestock were advised to have insured that they were secured in holding areas. As a precaution, the water supply would be shut down from 8:00 p.m. October 15 to 8:00 a.m. October 16. Four public areas, St. Peters Community Center, Dutch Quarter Community Center, Genevieve de Weever School, and the Salvation Army building would be used as emergency shelters.[11]
All public activities, flights, and schools were either closed or canceled on Puerto Rico. Eighteen shelters were open on the eastern part of the island.[10] Also, on Anguilla, residents in the Sandy Ground, Valley Bottom, Welches and Mount Fortune areas were placed under evacuation orders. Shelters were opened throughout the island for those in need of shelter. Schools and government offices were also closed and visitors were told to leave the island.[12]
Impact
Omar produced moderate damage throughout numerous islands, amounting to at least $80 million (2008
While it was moving little over the south-central Caribbean, Omar brought prolonged tropical storm conditions to the
The island of Dominica suffered severe damage from Hurricane Omar. The village of Scotts Head, with a population of 450, was cut off from the rest of the country as roads were extensively damaged. The village also suffered water losses, electricity shortage, and landline telephones were cut off. Ports throughout the country were severely damaged. All barge access for hauling sand and stones were destroyed. The airport also sustained some damage. Seven boats ran aground during the storm.[16] Minor damage was reported in Anguilla. Two hotels sustained roof damage, downed treed knocked down power lines causing scattered power outages, and the rough seas caused severe beach erosion. Three cargo ships and seven boats ran aground and two other boats sank.[17]
In
In Puerto Rico, a man died after he collapsed from cardiac arrest while trying to install storm shutters on his home.[23] As a tropical wave, the precedent to Omar produced heavy rains over the island, causing minor flooding.[24] After passing by Puerto Rico a second time, Omar produced locally heavy rains, which caused minor street flooding.[25]
On
In the
Aftermath
The damage dealt to the agricultural sector of Antigua and Barbuda fueled major concerns for "food security" in 2009. The government allocated about $33,897,420 to help develop and repair the industry. Significant expansions of croplands were discussed, 15,000 sq ft (1,400 m2) area, to help promote growth of the sector.[32]
On October 29, in the wake of Omar, President George W. Bush signed a major disaster declaration for the United States Virgin Islands, allowing public aid to assist the islands. The Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA, had received 60 requests for public assistance throughout the area. Monetary value for the assistance was estimated at $3 million and growing. Twenty-five departments and agencies were approved of for federal support, namely the U.S. V.I. Department of Public Works. Several non-profit organizations also received support from FEMA, while those that did not meet the criteria were referred to the Small Business Administration's low-interest loan program.[33]
On Dominica, Omar's close pass to the island left 30 families homeless and severely hampered the fishing community. On December 15, the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Development Bank approved $9.16 million for assistance to those affected by Omar on the island and to restore the infrastructure damaged by the hurricane.[34] On December 18, the government of Dominica invested $4 million in aid for the fishing communities impacted by Omar. A total of 140 fishermen were provided with $250 per week for a total of four weeks. Sixty-two of which continued to receive funds due to their circumstances. The government also purchased 121 boat engines to distribute to fishers. Another $794,000 was spent to repair 47 boats and construct another 28 that had been damaged or destroyed by Omar. The government also bought replacement fishing gear.[35]
See also
- Tropical cyclones in 2008
- List of South America tropical cyclones
- List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes
- Hurricane Klaus (1984) – took a similar unusual west-to-northeast track in Puerto Rico and northern Leeward Islands.
- Hurricane Lenny (1999) – was the last unusual west-to-east track in the Caribbean sea.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h John L. Beven II and Chris Landsea (February 3, 2009). "Hurricane Omar Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ^ Avila (October 13, 2008). "Tropical Depression Fifteen Discussion One". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ^ Stewart (October 14, 2008). "Tropical Storm Omar Discussion Five". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ^ Stewart (October 14, 2008). "Tropical Storm Omar Discussion Six". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 4, 2009.
- ^ Franklin (October 15, 2008). "Hurricane Omar Discussion Seven". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
- ^ Pasch (October 15, 2008). "Hurricane Omar Discussion Eight". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
- ^ Stewart (October 15, 2008). "Hurricane Omar Discussion Nine". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
- ^ Beven (October 16, 2008). "Hurricane Omar Discussion Eleven". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 7, 2009.
- ^ Gregory R. Francis (October 15, 2008). "Virgin Islands Government Makes Final Preparations For Anticipated Impact of Hurricane Omar". Government of the United States Virgin Islands. Retrieved December 22, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ a b "Hurricane Omar lashes Virgin Islands". ABC News. ABC News Australia. October 17, 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ Roddy Heyliger (October 15, 2008). "Press Statement Hurricane Omar October 15th 2008". Emergency Operations Center. Retrieved December 22, 2008. [dead link]
- ^ "Hurricane Omar Closes in on Northern Leeward Islands, BVI". The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency. October 15, 2008. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Effects of Hurricane Omar on the ABC and SSS Islands" (PDF). Meteorological Service Netherlands Antilles and Aruba. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-10-26.
- ^ "Effects of Hurricane Omar on the ABC and SSS Islands" (PDF). Meteorological Service Netherlands, Antilles, and Aruba. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 15, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ The Government of St. Maarten (October 16, 2008). "St. Maarten Emerges Unscathed After Passage of Hurricane Omar". Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (October 16, 2008). "Hurricane Omar Situation Report #2". Reliefweb. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
- ^ a b "Hurricane Omar impacts five CDERA Participating States". Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency. October 16, 2008. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ a b Dale Destin (October 31, 2008). "Hurricane Omar Antigua and Barbuda Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 25, 2009. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
- ^ Anika Kentish (October 17, 2008). "Omar floods homes, damages crops in Antigua". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ Brian Ho (October 20, 2008). "Heavy Crop Loss …Massiah says assistance needed for farmers following Omar". Antigua Sun. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ Brian Ho (2008). "Agricultural losses amount to $11M". Antigua Sun. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
- ^ "Our million dollar roads". Antigua Sun. November 28, 2008. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
- ^ "Category 3 Hurricane Omar Slams Northern Caribbean". Fox News. Associated Press. October 16, 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ "Puerto Rico Event Report: Heavy Rain". National Climatic Data Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
- ^ John Marino (October 16, 2008). "Hurricane Omar weakens after surging into Atlantic". Reuters. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
- ^ a b "NCDC Event Report: St. Croix Flood". National Climatic Data Center. 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Steve Bullock (2008). "Oil spills spreading in St. Croix after Hurricane Omar destroyed 40 boats". Fox40. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ Aldeth Lewin (October 22, 2008). "Omar's damage estimate now at $5.3 million". The Virgin Islands Daily News. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved December 22, 2008.
- ^ A. L. Dawn French and Chamberlain Emmanuel (October 20, 2008). "Waves of Hurricane Omar" (PDF). National Emergency Management Organisation. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 16, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
- ^ Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (October 16, 2008). "Hurricane Omar impacts five CDERA participating states". ReliefWeb. Retrieved May 12, 2009.
- ^ International Monetary Fund (May 16, 2009). "IMF Executive Board Approves US$3.4 Million in Emergency Natural Disaster Assistance for St. Kitts and Nevis". The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency. Archived from the original on May 28, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
- ^ "Agriculture ministry to get over $30M, says Cort". Antigua Sun. December 3, 2008. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
- ^ Susan Mann (December 18, 2008). "USVI had costly face-off with Hurricane Omar". Caribbean Net News. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
- ^ "CDB lends Dominica over US$9 million". Antigua Sun. December 15, 2008. Archived from the original on December 21, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
- ^ Sean Douglas (December 18, 2008). "Fishermen to benefit from revamp in fisheries sector". Dominica News. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008. Retrieved December 21, 2008.
External links