Hurricane Wilma: A
Case Study
Mari Holmstrom
Environmental Geology
Outline









Introduction to Hurricanes
Introduction to Hurricane
Wilma
Timeline of Events
Preparation
Impact
Disaster Response
Reconstruction
What was learned
Future recommendations
Hurricane

Definition


Circulation



Tropical cyclones with winds exceeding 74 mph
Counterclockwise around center in NH, opposite in
SH
Inverse relationship between central pressure and
wind speed
Stages of Development



Tropical Depression
Tropical Storm
Hurricane
Facts about Hurricane Wilma

Set numerous records for strength
and seasonal activity




Most active season
Third category 5 to form in October
Within top five costliest hurricane
in Atlantic
Third costliest storm in U.S. history
Hurricane Wilma Track
October 25
Weakened to extratropical
storm
October 24 (Category 3)
Contact with Florida around 6:30
October 22October
(Category
2)
18a.m.
October
20 Storm
(Category
4) reaches Category 1
Wilma hits
Yucatan
Tropical
Wilma
First
hurricane
to haveabelow
900
peninsula
October
17 Atlantic
hurricane
strength
and becomes
hurricane
mb19central
pressure
CategoryTropical
4
October
(Category
5)24atbecomes
Tropical
Depression
October 15
Most intense
hurricane
recorded
Storm
Wilma
Tropical
Depression
24 in
Atlanticdevelops
Tropical Depression forming
Hitting Yucatan Peninsula
Hitting Florida
Dissipating in Atlantic
Who was Impacted

Florida


Yucatan Peninsula


Collier, Palm Beach, Naples, and Monroe County
Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, and Cancun
Cuba
Preparedness

Mexico

Red Alert declared




Cuba

Preparations to evacuate four western provinces


Tourists told to return home
Classes suspended
Residents advised to take refuge inland
More than 368,000 people ordered to evacuate
Florida

Mandatory evacuation of Monroe County and Collier County
residents



Hurricane shelters opened
County offices, schools, and courts closed
Curfews in Lee and Collier counties
Impact of hurricane
Deaths
Damages
(In US Dollars)
Mexico
8
7.5 billion
Cuba
12
700 million
Florida
35
20.6 billion
Total
At least 63
At least 28
billion
Impact on Economy

Mexico

•


Tourism industry
affected
7.5 miles of beaches
destroyed
Florida


Sugar crop halted
Citrus industry
affected
Disaster Response

Mexico


Cuba


Red Cross
USAID/OFDA
Florida



National Guardsmen
 Search and Rescue
Ice, water, and meals trucked in
Disaster Medical Assistance Teams
Reconstruction

Mexico





Water and power restored in days
Reflection of growing experience
Beach repair could take up to 3 years
Hotels/resorts reopened in 2006
Florida


Residents moved back within a week
New hurricane and weather center opened in March 2006
in Key West
What was learned

Accurate hurricane forecasting
Time of impact
 Direction of movement


2005 peak of cycle b/w high and low
intensity seasons
Winds same direction and same speed
 Warm water available


Possibly caused by global warming?
Recommendations
Good preparation and response
 Mandatory evacuation

Make sure residents leave
 More evacuation routes
 Stages of evacuation?


More research on hurricane season
cycle

Keep extensive data collection
References








http://ladeltaweather.com/hurricanecenter/
http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/11/29/hurricane.season.ender
http://www.mexiconews.com/mx/miami/15703.html
http://www.weather.gov/storms/wilma/
www.bonitanews.com/hurricane/wilma
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/h2005_wilma.html
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/wilma.html
http://www.ultimatecitrus.com/Wilma/