HURRICANE IKE SURGE

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HURRICANE IKESURGE
Hurricane Ike Storm Surge
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Hurricane Size
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Wind Diameter
TS Winds425 nm Hurr Winds..225 nm
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Ike-Alicia (1983) Comparison Similar Structure
Significant size difference
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Evacuation Decisions

• It was only a Category 2 storm
• We do not evacuate for a category 2 storm
• We have a sea wall that is 15-17 feet high
• It will not be that badI have been through a lot
  worse (Alicia cat 3 storm)
• My house is elevated and the surge will not get
  that high
• I feel safer at home than fighting the traffic
  like I did in Rita

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Evacuation Decisions

• Wrong decisions were made by individuals.
• Decisions made by officials were made very late.
• No one was understanding the storm surge danger.
• Not since Hurricane Carla in Texas or the 1915
  Hurricane in the Galveston area has a storm
  surge of this magnitude happened.

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Certain Death

• Some people lost their lives because it was
  advertised as only a Category 2 storm.
• Last minute evacuation and rescue operations
  saved many other lives.
• Difficult convincing people that they could face
  certain death when Ike was not even a major
  hurricane.
• The SSHS failed by not accurately describing the
  danger that IKE was bringing to the Texas Coast.

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Gene Hafele Meteorologist In Charge Houston/Galves
ton National Weather Service Gene.hafele_at_noaa.gov
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Forecast and Response to Hurricanes Gustav and
Ike Se Louisiana SW LouisianaAndy Patrick
MICNWS Lake Charles, La.
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• Hurricane Gustav
• Landfall on the morning of Sept. 1 near
  Cocodrie, La.
• Main impacts were inland rainfall and tornadoes
• Maximum Storm Surge 2-3 feet
• SW Louisiana parishes evacuated including
  Calcasieu (Lake Charles area)

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• Hurricane Ike
• Landfall on Galveston Island on early morning
  hours Sept. 13
• Wind gusts to hurricane force were common, but
  no official report of sustained hurricane force
  winds across SE Texas and SW Louisiana.
• Extensive storm surge and flood inundation
  across SE Texas and SW Louisiana (Worse than
  Hurricane Rita!)

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Lessons Learned NWS Lake Charles Decision
Support Services

• Along with NWS Products, essential decision
  support services were crucial in communicating
  the threat
• Web-based Multimedia Briefings helped communicate
  the storm surge threat (especially during
  Hurricane Ike)
• Go-To Meetings were conducted with a wide variety
  of stakeholders in SW Louisiana and Se Texas
  (from Governors office to Emergency Managers to
  Navigational Groups)
• Participation in Televised Press Conferences at
  the local EOC (several with Governor Bobby
  Jindal)
• Post Storm Inundation mapping helped to assess
  impact of Ike across SE Texas and SW Louisiana
• Very positive feedback from users on these
  services

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Lessons Learned Challenges during Hurricane Ike

• Gustav evacuees may have been more reluctant to
  evacuate during Ike (especially across south
  central Louisiana)
• Saffir Simpson Scale vs. Storm Surge
• Hydrologic Impacts of Ikes Storm Surge for the
  Calcasieu and Sabine Rivers
• High astronomical tides after landfall led to
  prolonged higher water levels coast and increased
  flood inundation over the inland rivers and
  tributaries. Happened with Hurricane Rita as
  well.

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Communication Is Everything!

• Ken Graham
• Meteorologist-in-Charge
• New Orleans/Baton Rouge

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From Products to ServicesGetting Word Out When
Time Is Critical

• NWS Chat
• Webinars
• Impact Graphics
• Probability of Surge, Wind, Flood, Tornado
• Briefings
• Press Conference
• 700MHz/800MHz Radio

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Kenneth.Graham_at_noaa.gov
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