United States News
See other United States News Articles
Title: Hurricane Sandy: Experts See Record "Destruction Potential" In Storm Surges
Source:
CBS
URL Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162 ... ion-potential-in-storm-surges/
Published: Oct 28, 2012
Author: CBS
Post Date: 2012-10-28 22:21:05 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 3813
Comments: 5
KENSINGTON, Md.As residents along the eastern seaboard brace themselves for the full impact of Hurricane Sandy, experts warn that water from storm surges will likely pose the greatest danger. Water usually kills and does more damage than winds in hurricanes, and the National Hurricane Center has described the storm surge threat as "life-threatening." In this case, seas will be amped up by giant waves and full-moon-powered high tides. That will combine with drenching rains, triggering inland flooding as the hurricane merges with a winter storm system that will worsen it and hold it in place for days. Play Video Sandy bringing "tremendous" storm surge, "incredible" wind Louis Uccellini, environmental prediction chief for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told The Associated Press that given Sandy's due east-to-west track into New Jersey, that puts the worst of the storm surge just north in New York City, Long Island and northern New Jersey. "Yes, this is the worst case scenario," he said. In a measurement of pure kinetic energy, NOAA's hurricane research division on Sunday ranked the surge and wave "destruction potential" for Sandy — just the hurricane, not the hybrid storm it will eventually become — at 5.8 on a 0 to 6 scale. The damage expected from winds will be far less, experts said. Weather Underground meteorologist Jeff Masters says that surge destruction potential number is a record and it's due to the storm's massive size. "You have a lot of wind acting over a long distance of water for hundreds of miles" and that piles the storm surge up when it finally comes ashore, Masters said. Even though it doesn't pack much power in maximum wind speed, the tremendous size of Sandy — more than 1,000 miles across with tropical storm force winds — adds to the pummeling power when it comes ashore, he said. Air, train, transit disruptions from Hurricane Sandy Hurricane Sandy storm tracker and forecast maps The storm surge energy numbers are bigger than the deadly 2005 Hurricane Katrina, but that can be misleading. Katrina's destruction was concentrated in a small area, making it much worse, Masters said. Sandy's storm surge energy is spread over a wider area. Also, Katrina hit a city that is below sea level and had problems with levees. National Hurricane Center Director Rick Knabb said Hurricane Sandy's size means some coastal parts of New York and New Jersey may see water rise from 6 to 11 feet from surge and waves. The rest of the coast north of Virginia can expect 4 to 8 feet of surge. 57 Photos U.S. prepares for Hurricane Sandy The full moon Monday will add 2 to 3 inches to the storm surge in New York, Masters said. "If the forecasts hold true in terms of the amount of rainfall and the amount of coastal flooding, that's going to be what drives up the losses and that's what's going to hurt," said Susan Cutter, director of the hazards and vulnerability research institute at the University of South Carolina. Cutter said she worries about coastal infrastructure, especially the New York subways, which were shutting down Sunday night. Klaus Jacob, a Columbia University researcher who has advised the city on coastal risks, said, "We have to prepare to the extent we can, but I'm afraid that from a subway point of view, I think it's beyond sheer preparations. I do not think that there's enough emergency measures that will help prevent the subway from flooding."
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: NYC Offers Storm Challenges Above Ground and Below (#0)
By The Associated Press NEW YORK October 29, 2012 (AP) From the trains underground to the skyscrapers overhead, New York City has a slate of features that threaten to make hurricanes a unique urban disaster: —SUBWAY: The system that carries 5 million riders on an average weekday sits anywhere from one story to 180 feet underground. While pumps clear 13 million to 15 million gallons of water out of the subway on an average day, they would likely be overwhelmed if a storm surge sent water pouring down subway entrances and sidewalk grates. For example, a 1992 winter storm that packed an 8-foot storm surge knocked out a commuter train line for 10 days. To help protect the subway system, Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered it shut down at 7 p.m. Sunday; the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's buses and commuter rails also will be halted. The MTA was shut down 14 months ago during Hurricane Irene, for the first time for weather-related reasons. —UNDERGROUND POWER: Manhattan alone has some 21,000 miles of power lines beneath its streets. Con Edison has said most of the belowground equipment is sealed to protect it from flooding, but the utility said Sunday it was considering cutting power to 17,000 customers in Lower Manhattan if the surge is severe enough to threaten underground lines there, as saltwater is more damaging to equipment if power is on. —STEAM, WATER AND GAS: Those lines are nestled in the 30 feet of ground below the power and telecommunications lines. Because cool water and hot steam pipes is a bad combination, Con Ed is considering shutting down the service — used for hot water, heat and air conditioning. —SEWERS: Unlike more modern wastewater systems, New York's carries sewage and storm runoff in the same pipes to treatment plants. Even moderate storms often overwhelm the system and force officials to release untreated sewage into the city's waterways. —TALL BUILDINGS: Gusts from the superstorm are expected to hit 70 to 80 mph in New York City and could be 10 to 15 mph higher on the high floors of tall buildings. Most New York buildings are designed to handle the winds forecast from the coming storm, but there's always the possibility of loose debris breaking windows, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. High-rise residents can also face the loss of elevator service and water if power goes out. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/nyc-offers-storm-challenges-ground-17584732
It is not easy reconstructing 'molded minds'... NWS is estimating a 11.5ft storm surge as things stand now.
It is not easy reconstructing 'molded minds'... It's getting worse, Obama and FEMA are involved!!!!!!! Disaster in inevitable now, 110% certain. Obama's watch stopped on 24 May 2008, but he's been too busy smoking crack to notice.
Climate Change. Welcome to the Anthropocene. The First of the Post Arctic Ice Melt Storms.
Yeah, I've noticed that it's warmer in the summer, and cooler in the winter!
Obama's watch stopped on 24 May 2008, but he's been too busy smoking crack to notice.
#2. To: All (#1)
#3. To: Brian S (#2)
(Edited)
NWS is estimating a 11.5ft storm surge
It's Official: resident Obama Declares New York Is In State Of Emergency
Patriotic American girl prepares booger bomb to hit the Kenyan usurper with
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
#4. To: hondo68 (#3)
#5. To: mcgowanjm (#4)
Climate Change.
"We (government) need to do a lot less, a lot sooner" ~Ron Paul
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]