Report: Miami & Va. Beach at risk for hurricane storm surge
Posted by JAC on 3/28/2010, 7:43 am
 Miami and Virginia Beach are vulnerable to a Category 5 hurricane, according to a report to be released Monday. (Courtesy of NOAA) By Patrick Wilson The Virginian-Pilot © March 28, 2010 VIRGINIA BEACH Virginia Beach and Miami are almost completely different in terms of culture, population and nightlife. But according to a report, there's at least one similarity. The two cities are the top two areas of the country most at risk for residential damage from storm surge of a Category 5 hurricane, according to a report to be released Monday. The findings come from a study by The First American Corp. of 13 metropolitan areas along the Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico. A Category 5 hurricane could cause $39 billion worth of residential damage and affect more than 250,000 properties in Virginia Beach and surrounding areas, the report says. "These are the properties that would be subject to storm surge," said Howard Botts, First American's executive vice president and director of database development. However, waters off our coast are considered to be too cool for a Category 5 storm to hit the state. The last three tropical storms to make U.S. landfall in Virginia were Doria in 1967, Dean in 1983 and Danielle in 1992, said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wakefield. None were at hurricane strength when they hit. Although Hampton Roads is often affected by hurricanes that make landfall in North Carolina, a storm must take an unusual track to make landfall in Virginia, he said. A Category 1 hurricane striking the Virginia Beach area could cause $7.4 billion in residential damage in Hampton Roads, the report said. That's just to structures; it doesn't count vehicles, furniture and other contents, Botts said. "It is true that storm surge is going to do more damage than wind in most cases," said Bob Spieldenner, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. "That's the big thing for us, is making sure people understand they live in a storm surge area and what the impacts would be in that area." To find out more about your flood risk, enter your address at FloodSmart.gov or contact your local emergency management agency. Patrick Wilson, (757) 222-5150, patrick.wilson(at)pilotonline.com |
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