If you've watched the weather forecast, or even play fantasy football, you've heard the news of the large storm approaching from the Caribbean. Here's a sample of some of the not nice things that may happen:
A potentially catastrophic storm surge for Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina
If Irma makes a trek up the East Coast from Miami to southern South Carolina as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane, as the models currently suggest, the portions of the coast that the eyewall touches will potentially see a massive and catastrophic storm surge, breaking all-time storm surge records and causing many billions of dollars in damage. Even areas up to a hundred miles to the north of where the center makes landfall could potentially see record storm surges. The area of most concern is the northern coast of Florida, the coast of Georgia, and the southern coast of South Carolina, due to the concave shape of the coast, which will act to funnel and concentrate the storm surge to ridiculous heights. If we look at wunderground’s storm surge maps for the U.S. East Coast, we see that in a worst-case Category 3 hurricane hitting at high tide, the storm tide (the combined effect of the storm surge and the tide) ranges from 17 – 20’ above ground along the northern coast of Florida, and 18 – 23 feet above ground along the Georgia coast. If Irma is a Cat 4, these numbers increase to 22 – 28 feet for the coast of Georgia. This is a Katrina-level storm surge, the kind that causes incredible destruction and mass casualties among those foolish enough to refuse to evacuate.
My prayer is that anyone who needs to get out of the path of this storm can do so safely. And those who choose to stay will be safe and smart, and hopefully let their pride fall to the wayside and keep their families best interest at heart (and evacuate). I can only image the fear of weathering through such a horrific storm.
My second prayer is that there will be enough resources to help both those in Texas and those in the path of this storm if it does come onshore (or worse case scenario, stay just offshore).
May the protection and the peace of the God you follow help you make it through this trying time and the aftermath that follows. May these events prompt people not affected by this storm to give in ways they never imagined, to help people who have lost and will loose everything recover and come back to some "normalcy", whatever that may be.
A potentially catastrophic storm surge for Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina
If Irma makes a trek up the East Coast from Miami to southern South Carolina as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane, as the models currently suggest, the portions of the coast that the eyewall touches will potentially see a massive and catastrophic storm surge, breaking all-time storm surge records and causing many billions of dollars in damage. Even areas up to a hundred miles to the north of where the center makes landfall could potentially see record storm surges. The area of most concern is the northern coast of Florida, the coast of Georgia, and the southern coast of South Carolina, due to the concave shape of the coast, which will act to funnel and concentrate the storm surge to ridiculous heights. If we look at wunderground’s storm surge maps for the U.S. East Coast, we see that in a worst-case Category 3 hurricane hitting at high tide, the storm tide (the combined effect of the storm surge and the tide) ranges from 17 – 20’ above ground along the northern coast of Florida, and 18 – 23 feet above ground along the Georgia coast. If Irma is a Cat 4, these numbers increase to 22 – 28 feet for the coast of Georgia. This is a Katrina-level storm surge, the kind that causes incredible destruction and mass casualties among those foolish enough to refuse to evacuate.
My prayer is that anyone who needs to get out of the path of this storm can do so safely. And those who choose to stay will be safe and smart, and hopefully let their pride fall to the wayside and keep their families best interest at heart (and evacuate). I can only image the fear of weathering through such a horrific storm.
My second prayer is that there will be enough resources to help both those in Texas and those in the path of this storm if it does come onshore (or worse case scenario, stay just offshore).
May the protection and the peace of the God you follow help you make it through this trying time and the aftermath that follows. May these events prompt people not affected by this storm to give in ways they never imagined, to help people who have lost and will loose everything recover and come back to some "normalcy", whatever that may be.