User:Mitchazenia/Effects of Hurricane Opal in Florida

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Hurricane Opal at peak intensity
Hurricane Opal at peak intensity

The effects of Hurricane Opal in Florida was the worst since Hurricane Eloise in 1975.[1] Five people were killed in Florida (out of 69).

Contents

[edit] Preparations

Hurricane watches were in place by the morning of October 3, 1995 for an area from Pensacola to Morgan City, Louisiana. The watch was extended six hours later to Suwannee River, Florida. A tropical storm warning was issued for the same area twelve hours later at 2100 UTC.[1] A hurricane warning was released for Florida and Alabama from Mobile to Anclote Key in Florida. The earlier released tropical storm warning was yet again extended east, this time to Venice, Florida on October 4. All were discontinued by October 5.[1]

Over one million people were evacuated prior to Hurricane Opal, which prevented storm deaths but many people found themselves in wind-prone areas such as highway evacuation roads, parked in service areas, or any last-minute shelter that they could find.[2]Evacuations include the area of Escambia County south of U.S. Route 98 were included in the evacuation, not because of the storm surge, but isolated flooding.[3]

[edit] Impact

Estimated sustained wind speeds were 115 mph as Opal moved ashore with the highest observed wind speeds at 83 mph gusting to 144 mph at Hurlburt Field in Mary Esther. Other wind speeds across Northwest Florida were 62 mph with gusts to 71 mph at Pensacola airport, 59 mph with gusts to 77 mph at Pensacola Naval Air Station and 80 mph with gusts to 115 mph at Eglin AFB in Valparaiso. Highest storm surges were 10 to 15 feet from Navarre Beach to east of Destin with eight to 12 feet on Santa Rosa Island from Fort Pickens to east of Pensacola Beach. The most rainfall in Opal occurred at Ellyson Field where 15.45 inches fell on October 3 and 4. Lowest sea level pressure was 955 mb at Pensacola Naval Air Station.[4]The greatest 24 hour rainfall immediately associated with Opal was 3.97 inches of rain recorded Tampa's International Airport on the 4th.[5]

Rainfall amounts up to seven inches caused relatively minor flooding in northeast Collier County but aggravated flooding which had continued since Tropical Storm Jerry in August.

Several tornadoes were spawned by Hurricane Opal. A tornado briefly touched down on October 4 as Opal moved ashore causing damage east of the center in the Fort Walton Beach area. Several trees and power lines were blown down. The tornado caused $10,000 in damage.[6]

[edit] Aftermath

Amazingly enough, nearly a mile of Highway 98 near Eglin Air Force Base was completely destroyed. The pavement was nearly replaced by mounds of sand left behind after storm surge.[7] None died as a direct result of storm surge. This is quite unusual, considering the strength and landfall location of Opal. The outer fringes of Hurricane Opal caused tidal flooding and beach erosion from the lower Keys to Collier County. In Collier County, near high tide on October 4, Everglades City Airport was under water and minor street flooding was reported in Naples and in the extreme south portion of the county. In Key West, major beach erosion, with estimated restoration costs of near $3 million, occurred and streets in Old Town were inundated with sea water. Minor beach erosion occurred in Collier County.[8]

In Walton County, hardest hit areas were Santa Rosa Beach and Sandestin where a reported 50 percent of homes were damaged or destroyed. Panama City Beach, in Bay County, reported about 25 percent of homes and businesses were a total loss. In easternmost Bay County, Mexico Beach suffered severe storm surge damage with a high percentage of beachfront buildings destroyed. Further east, Gulf County saw its worst damage along the Saint Joseph Peninsula and Cape San Blas where a large percentage of homes were damaged or destroyed.[9] Franklin County escaped major damage with several businesses receiving minor flooding in Apalachicola. Out on St George island, Bruce State Park received serious damage to its beachfront access road and its buildings-causing the park to be closed for an extended period.[9]

Damage along the coastlines of Taylor and Dixie counties was confined to mainly minor flooding of low lying buildings along the waterfronts as well as some road damage. No confirmed deaths or injuries reported in these counties. One man was fatally injured in DeFuniak Springs when a tree fell on him as he was clearing debris from his yard. [9]

Minor flooding to homes and roads along the immediate shorelines or near the mouth of rivers emptying into the Gulf of Mexico occurred from Levy County south to Charlotte County. In Levy County, a total of up to ten homes received minor water damage from storm surge at Yankeetown and Cedar Key. Total damage estimated was $50 thousand in Levy County. In Citrus County, a couple of homes received minor water damage from storm surge along the Citrus River. Total damage estimated in Citrus County from storm surge was $1,000.[5]

In Hernando County, 75 structures near the shore, mainly porches and sheds received minor water damage from storm surge. Total damage estimated in Hernando County from storm surge was $60 thousand. In Pinellas County, a couple hundred homes and businesses received minor to moderate water damage from storm surge immediately along the intercoastal waterway from Sand Key south to St. Petersburg Beach.[5] Total damage estimated from storm surge and wind in Pinellas County was $400 thousand. In Hillsborough County, two to four foot storm surge caused minor flooding to several homes immediately along Bayshore Drive and Davis Island near Downtown Tampa. Total damage estimated from storm surge and wind in Hillsborough County was $50,000.[5]

In Manatee County, up to five residences along the coast received minor flooding from storm surge. Total damage in Manatee County from storm surge estimated at $10,000. Tropical storm force winds of up to 40 mph were common along the West coast of Florida from Levy County to Sarasota County during the 4th.[5] The strongest one minute gust recorded was 49 mph at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St Petersburg at 1454 EST on the 4th. Nearly 5,000 residents in Pinellas and Pasco Counties were without power on the 4th due to numerous downed power lines from tropical storm force winds.[5] Major beach erosion was reported along the beaches of Lee and Sarasota Counties, considerable beach erosion occurred in Pinellas County and minor erosion occurred in Manatee and Charlotte Counties.[5]

[edit] See also

  • Effects of Hurricane Opal in Alabama

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c B. Max Mayfield (1995-11-29). Hurricane Opal Preliminary Report. NHC. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
  2. ^ United States Military (2007). Introduction. U.S. Military. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
  3. ^ United States Military (2007). Introduction. U.S. Military. Retrieved on 2007-02-08.
  4. ^ National Climatic Data Center (1995). Event- Hurricane Opal- 03 Oct 1995, 1200 CST (2). NOAA. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g National Climatic Data Center (1995). Event- Hurricane Opal- 04 Oct 1995, 0700 EST. NOAA. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
  6. ^ National Climatic Data Center (1995). Event- Tornado- 04 Oct 1995, 1625 CST. NOAA. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
  7. ^ http://www.geocities.com/hurricanene/hurricaneopal.htm
  8. ^ National Climatic Data Center (1995). Event- Hurricane Opal- 03 Oct 1995, 1200 CST. NOAA. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
  9. ^ a b c National Climatic Data Center (1995). Event- Hurricane Opal- 04 Oct 1995, 0000 EST. NOAA. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.