User:TheNobleSith/Effects of Hurricane Jeanne in Florida

Hurricane Jeanne infrared satellite image, taken at landfall on the Florida coast (September 26, 2004 at 12:15 a.m. EDT).

Effects of Hurricane Jeanne in Florida is focused on the impact of the hurricane on the state in September 2004. Schools closed in East Central and Southeastern Florida on Friday,September 21. Slightly under 3 million people were evacuated. A similar number of people were left without electricity. Nevertheless, recovery was eased somewhat by the fact that the area had been heavily affected just weeks earlier by Hurricane Frances, thus preparing emergency and power crewsTotal estimated losses were $6.9 billion, and 4 people died of direct and indirect injuries.

Preparations

Preparations began in earnest suddenly on Thursday, September 20. The sudden nature of the preparations was due to the unexpectedness of the threat; even the 11PM advisory the night before had kept the storm safely offshore of the area. People rushed to buy supplies,causing supply shortages and long gasoline lines. Voluntary evacuation orders were issued, county officials and the NHC coordinated with the Red Cross and other relief agencies, and canals were drained in anticipation of the storm.

On Friday, citizens continued to prepare, and stores areawide ensured that there would be no more shortages by restocking mid-rush. Standard preparation materials, such as plywood and shutters, flashlights, and batteries, were in good supply.. Schools were open,but classes were then cancelled starting Monday. Evacuations continued, with many residents heading for the Keys, citing the error of their ways in evacuating to areas farther north in the state ahead of Hurricane Frances. Others, however, were inclined to remain, for a variety of reasons, prompting Governor Bush to issue a statement urging people to evacuate. Officials rushed to turn schools into shelters, but noted difficulties associated with the shortage of suitable schools due to damage sustained in the previous hurricane. After weeks of recovering from Hurricane Frances, and on the verge of reopening, the Palm Beach Zoo braced for the storm by evacuating birds and small animals to solid buildings such as restrooms and restaurants.Lion Country Safari took similar measures. All told, by Saturday morning, the beginning of the storm and end of preparations, just under 3 million people had been evacuated

Impact

Storm Surge and Rainfall

Storm surge was not exremely prolific, with maximum amounts along the coast of about 6 feet. This was slightly below what had been initially feared by the Melbourne NWS , and far below what was expected from SLOSH simulations. In Palm Beach County, surge heights were generally minimized, the county being on the southern side of the storm (and thus the wind was pushing water away from the shore). Maximum surge was about 4 feet in north county, which was actually slightly above SLOSH estimations. In Martin County, both North and South Hutchinson Islands were cut off by storm surge damage to the bridge.

Rainfall totals generally were not extremely high, and certainly not as high as in most places during Hurricane Frances.

Effect on Treasure Coast Beaches

Jeanne, along with Frances, caused the worst beach erosion and dune destruction in recent memory. South of Ambersand Beach, for instance, Jeanne eroded under at least 5 houses and destroyed all wooden beach access walkways. Together,the two storms completely destroyed the park and seawall at Wabasso Beach. At Disney's Vero Beach Resort, 60 of the 250 feet of dunes were destroyed, and heavy damage was sustained by the beach access boardwalk there. In Indian River Shores, the 1850 feet of dunes was nearly completely destroyed, and all beach access walkways were rendered unusable. Between Indian River Shores and Vero Beach, multiple access walkways were rendered unusable, and two 100-foot blacksill dunes were destroyed.