Hurricane Hazards - Storm Surge

Hurricane Preparedness 

Week 

May 23 - 29, 2010 

Storm Surge Hazard

We continue our coverage of the 2010 Hurricane Preparedness Week by looking at some of the hurricane hazards.  In particular, we'll start by examining the greatest potential for loss of life related to a hurricane, the storm surge.

Simply put, it is a dome of water that is pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds swirling around the storm.  The advancing water, combined with the normal tides, can increase the mean water level by 15 feet or more.  The threat is increased if it combines with high tide.  Along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, the mean sea level is around 10 feet, so a storm surge above that level could cause catastrophic damage.

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

RELATED INFORMATION
 
• STORM SURGE SAFETY ACTIONS
• SLOSH MODEL
• SAFFIR SIMPSON HURRICANE SCALE
• HISTORIC STORM SURGE EVENTS

For those in danger areas, it is wise to plan in advance of hurricane season.   Be sure you know areas that would be safe when a storm approaches.   You should be able to get to these safe zones quickly so that you don't risk being trapped by road congestion.

Hurricanes usually provide advance warning.  When local officials recommend evacuation, heed their warnings and put your plan into action.   Structures can be replaced, but lives cannot.

We'll continue our Hurricane Preparedness Week coverage by looking at additional hazards next.   Consult the NHC and other websites for additional information about storm surges.

Hurricane Preparedness Week 2010

May 23 - May 29, 2010

Hurricane Preparedness Week

Fig 1. 2009 Tropical Storm Summary - Courtesy NOAA

First in a Series ... Read Entire Series    May Archive

The goal of NOAA's Hurricane Preparedness Web site is to inform the public about the hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be used to take ACTION. This information can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water.

May 23 - History

We kick off the 2010 Hurricane Preparedness Week today with a look at the history. View the 2009 Tropical Cyclone Archive here. The 2009 Atlantic hurricane season produced nine named storms, of which three became hurricanes and two became major hurricanes. Contrasting this with the 50 year average (1950-2000) of eleven named storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes, 2009 was only the second below normal year since the current high activity era for Atlantic hurricanes began in 1995.

Fig. 1. Tracks of Atlantic named storms during 2009. Shading corresponds to strength of maximum sustained surface wind speeds, with green indicating tropical depression intensity (< 39 mph), yellow indicating tropical storm (TS) intensity (39-73 mph), red indicating hurricane (H, cat. 1-2) intensity, and magenta indicating major hurricane(MH, cat. 3-5) intensity).

There was a sharp decrease in the number of landfalling named storms compared to 2008 with Claudette making landfall in the United States and Ida making landfall as a hurricane in Nicaragua.  Tropical storm Erika passed through the northern Caribbean Islands while weakening, and Hurricane Bill brushed Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

Not the storm you are looking for?  Click Image or Here

Some Infamous Atlantic Storms

• Hurricane Katrina (2005) – PDF – MS-Word
• Hurricane Gordon (1994)
• Hurricane Andrew (1992)
• Hurricane Hugo (1989)
• Hurricane Gilbert (1988)
• Hurricane Camille (1969)
• Other famous Atlantic storms (in our Hurricane History pages)

NHC Archive of Hurricane Seasons

Central North Pacific Hurricane History (1800s - present)

(Compiled by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, Honolulu). 

We will continue coverage of Hurricane Preparedness Week by looking at some of the hazards starting tomorrow.  Additional Hurricane information can be found in our static Weather tab.

Ungoing Efforts to Contain Deepwater Horizon/BP Oil Spill

VENICE, La. -- Boom put in place to protect sensitive areas from the oil discharge from the Deepwater Horizon/BP incident, protects the shores of North Breton Island, La., which is a nesting ground for endangered birds, May 20, 2010. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with state and local agencies to protect the Louisiana bird population. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann.  View More Photos | Flickr

Cleanup / Containment Continues

President Obama announced that he has signed an executive order establishing the bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling with former two-term Florida Governor and former Senator Bob Graham and former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency William K. Reilly serving as co-chairs.  The bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling is tasked with providing recommendations on how we can prevent—and mitigate the impact of—any future spills that result from offshore drilling.

At the direction of the President, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano will visit Louisiana on Monday to inspect the ongoing response to the BP oil spill, accompanied by a bipartisan Senate delegation.   The delegation will conduct a flyover of the affected areas, discuss the latest response efforts in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast with federal and BP representatives, and meet with local community and industry leaders.

There are approximately 24,900 personnel currently responding to protect the shoreline and wildlife utilizing more than 1,100 vessels to assist in containment and cleanup efforts.  To date more than 1.52 million feet of containment boom and 560,000 feet of sorbent boom have been deployed to contain the spill—and approximately 310,000 feet of containment boom and 1.27 million feet of sorbent boom are available.

Complete details can be found:  The Ongoing Administration-Wide Response to the Deepwater BP Oil Spill

NOAA oceanographers continue to release updated trajectory maps showing the predicted trajectory of the oil slick.  Current Trajectory Maps.     There is growing concern that the oil will spread to the Loop Current (LC) so this situation is being closely monitored.


SUNDAY: EPA Administrator to Return to Gulf Region to oversee ongoing response to the BP oil spill


Many companies, local, and federal agencies are working closely together in response to this event.   For the latest information, consult the Joint Information Centre website.


U.S. EPA:  Federal Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
U.S. Coast Guard:    Gulf of Mexico - Deepwater Horizon Incident
NOOA:  Deepwater Horizon Incident, Gulf of Mexico
Offshore Alabama     Update on the Oil Spill (Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce)
BP    Read the latest press release
NASA:  Earth Observatory Images 

Port of New Orleans. LA  
Port of Mobile, AL  
Carnival Cruise Line:  Travel Advisory (Port of Mobile) 
  
  

Drive to Your Next Cruise Vacation

Stretching the Vacation Budget

A recent survey indicated that more and more families are deciding not to fly to their destination this year and instead are taking to the roads.   This makes sense especially for families with two or more children.   The cost of airfare adds up quickly when you travel with the entire family.

You don't have to limit your final destination to the 50 contiguous states if you decide to drive to your vacation spot.  Did you know that there are 23 U.S. ports that you can select from, some of which offer year-round cruising?

These cruise ports also offer parking facilities, some of which are covered parking, that offer prices comparable to airport parking garages.   You can also explore near-by hotels that offer stay and park packages complete with transportation to the pier.

Carnival Fascination Sailing From
Charleston, SC  Year-round

Starting May 18th, Carnival Fascination is sailing year-round five-, six- and seven-day cruises to The Bahamas and Key West, Florida from Charleston, SC.   The ship will also offer six six-day Bermuda cruises from Charleston next year.  Carnival Fantasy is expected to carry 140,000 passengers annually from Charleston.

This past week, Carnival Cruises and Charleston officials participated in several events commemorating the new sailing program including: Carnival’s Launch of Year-Round Service from Charleston Highlighted by City’s First-Ever Water Slide Races

The recent addition of the awesome aquatic amenities of Carnival WaterWorks, Serenity Adult-only Retreat, and a tropical resort-style pool make this 70,367 ton, 2,056 passenger vessel the perfect vacation destination.

Elation Arrival, Courtesy Carnival

Carnival Elation Sailing From

Mobile, AL Year-round

Starting May 15th, Carnival Elation replaced Carnival Fascination sailing four-, five- and seven-day Western Caribbean cruises from Mobile, Alabama.  Carnival Elation is scheduled to operate 74 voyages annually from Mobile, carrying an estimated 170,000 passengers each year.

This past week, Carnival Cruises and Mobile officials participated in a traditional maritime plaque ceremony to commemorate launch of the year-round program. Carnival Elation is a sister ship of Carnival Fascination, so the same on-board amenities await you and your family.

These are just a couple examples of recent announcements for cruise vacation options from ports of call within driving distance.   So pack up the family and drive to one of the U.S. ports of call to begin your cruise.

Carnival Corp. Places Orders With Fincantieri Shipbuilders

Fincantieri Shipyard Monfalcone, Italy - Courtesy Carnival Corp.

Carnival & Princess Ships on Order

Italian shipbuilder, Fincantieri, has long been associated with Carnival Corporation.  Fincantieri is one of the largest groups in the world in the design and construction of merchant and naval vessels specializing in the construction of complex ships with high technological content such as cruise ships and large ferries.

The shipyard is currently constructing Carnival Magic, the second ship in the Carnival Dream class of ships which is due for completion in May, 2011.   The Carnival Magic will debut in Europe.

Introducing Carnival Breeze

Carnival Breeze has been selected as the name for the new 130,000-ton cruise ship scheduled to enter service in spring 2012.

The 3,690-passenger Carnival Breeze will be the third in the line’s Dream class, the first of which debuted in 2009.

Carnival Breeze will offer many of the popular innovations featured on Carnival Dream as well as some exciting and unique new elements created just for this vessel that will be detailed at a later date, along with homeport and itinerary information.

“Carnival Breeze promises to be a spectacular addition to our fleet and its name reflects the continued evolution of our brand while conveying the fun and carefree spirit associated with a Carnival cruise,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO.

Carnival Breeze highlights include a 23,750-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa and The Lanai, an outdoor promenade featuring cantilevered whirlpools that extend over the ship’s sides, a WaterWorks aqua park with a 300-foot-long corkscrew water slide, and an indoor/outdoor café and live entertainment venue called Ocean Plaza.

Families will love the Carnival Breeze due to the  wide range of staterooms including deluxe ocean views with two bathrooms, some of which feature five berths and hold particular appeal for families.

Carnival Breeze will be the 24^th vessel in Carnival Cruise Lines’ fleet, which operates three- to 15-day voyages to The Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda and Europe.

Princess Cruises 

Orders 2 New Ships

Fincantieri and Carnival Corporation jointly announced that contracts to build two 3,600-passenger ships have been finalized.

 The unnamed new ships are scheduled to enter service in spring 2013 and spring 2014. The two new 141,000 ton vessels will be the largest cruise ships ever built by Fincantieri and the flagships of Princess Cruises fleet.

Although the design incorporates a number of features which have contributed to the success of the Fincantieri’s most recent vessels, an in-depth review has been carried out in order to develop a ship of superior quality.  Among the new innovations are all outside cabins will feature balconies, bringing the percentage of balconies on the ships to 80 percent of all staterooms. 

Princess Cruises signature Piazza, the ship's central atrium featuring dining, entertainment and retail, will be expanded, as will the popular Sanctuary, spa, and restaurants.

"We're pleased that in this challenging economic environment, the order for these new ships is a testament to the confidence in the growth potential of the Princess brand," said Alan Buckelew, president and CEO of Princess Cruises. "These new ships will include the features from our newest ships that have been so well received, and take them to the next level," he added. 

Giuseppe Bono, chief executive officer of Fincantieri, said, "We are grateful to the Carnival Group for this further vote of confidence in Fincantieri. We are proud to have met the requirements of Princess Cruises, one of Carnival's most prestigious brands, with an innovative design both from a technical and architectural point of view."

Bono continued, "This is a highly important order for us, especially as it comes in a period of economic crisis. We succeeded in securing these orders with assistance and support of the Italian export credit companies, in particular SACE S.p.A."

One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global cruise and tour company operating a fleet of 17 modern ships renowned for their innovative design and wide array of choices in dining, entertainment and amenities, all provided in an environment of exceptional customer service. A recognized leader in worldwide cruising, Princess offers its passengers the opportunity to escape completely to the top destinations around the globe, with sailings to all seven continents.


Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest cruise vacation group in the world, with a portfolio of cruise brands in North America, Europe and Australia, comprised of Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, The Yachts of Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Ibero Cruises, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia.

Together, these brands operate 95 ships totaling more than 186,000 lower berths with 12 new ships scheduled to be delivered between May 2010 and spring 2014. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour company in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 indices.

Every year more and more people are discovering cruise vacations.   The cruise industry has one of the highest guest satisfaction ratings and repeat guest  percentages in the travel industry.   If you are new to cruising, see my Cruise Rookies article to learn more about a vacation on a cruise ship.

Ruby Princess Skips Athens Call

Athens Demonstrations

Cause Itinerary Change

Princess Cruises announced that the current Ruby Princess sailing will alter it's itinerary due to demonstrations in Athens.    Due to the 24-hour general strike and march planned in Athens for May 20th, the day of the scheduled call,  Ruby Princess extended their call in Venice until 10 PM May 18th.   The ship will be at sea on the 19th and 20th and arrive Friday, May 21 in Ephesus (Kusadasi), Turkey as planned.

Princess felt that the strike would present problems with local transportation, shops and monuments -- much of which would be closed the day of the visit. In addition, it created safety concerns that naturally occur with large public gatherings. Therefore, they did not believe it was in the best interest of their passengers to make a call to Athens.   ( Read More)

Useful Links:

U.S. Department of State:   Current Travel Warnings     Greece Country Specific Information

Recent Embassy Notices for American Citizens

When traveling in a foreign country, it is wise to know about the location of U.S. Embassies

U.S. Embassies (Websites of U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions)
State Department's travel registration website - register travel  with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate

International Travel   (this Tab above has information about traveling abroad including documentation requirements, travel warnings, health, and safety information)
 

Travel With Protection Against Unexpected

Purchase Travel Insurance 

for Peace of Mind

Since mid-April the volcanic eruption in Iceland has dominated the travel news as passengers became stranded across the globe.   For those with travel plans within or to Europe, all they could do was wait and see if they would be able to fly to their destination.  Many travelers were stranded for days. 

Unlike some other natural disasters, there was no advance warning that an ash cloud would develop and blow over the UK.   Because of that, travelers were caught off guard and unable to make alternate plans.  This is the perfect example of "the unexpected".

Along with unexpected events, come unexpected expenses.   In the case of the flight groundings due to the ash cloud, passengers were forced to stay at their current location and in many cases incur expenses for lodging, meals, local transportation, phone calls, and other unanticipated expenses.  We heard stories of passengers running out of money because they had already exhausted their vacation budgets.

For those that were just beginning their vacation, it would be cut short at the very least.  In other cases, they were able to join the vacation in progress if alternate transportation could be obtained at a premium price.   In still other cases, the vacation wouldn't occur at all.  All of these situations have a financial impact.   For the uninsured traveler, they had to bear the burden of costs completely alone.

The flight groundings had a ripple affect.  Cruise passengers were unable to get to the embarkation ports and those returning from cruises were unable to return home.   The cruise lines and airlines worked hard to try to assist travelers.    Their hands were tied by regulations that prevented flights from departing.

A logistical nightmare had unfolded on a scale not seen since the grounding of flights after the 911 attacks. The unsung heroes were customer service agents who were working with affected travelers providing assistance.  These included the agents manning the phones of the various travel insurance providers.

If you were to ask one of the stranded passengers that had travel insurance if they felt the premium was worth paying, I'd bet they would say that just the ability to get assistance during this crisis was worth the cost alone.   Of course, the real benefit is reimbursement for the unexpected expenses up to and including the trip cost.

For the uninsured traveler, they not only have a lost vacation, but they very well might not be able to reschedule the trip since they no longer have the funds that they had saved for the trip (due to the extra unplanned expenses).

Those that read my blog on a regular basis know that I always encourage the purchase of travel insurance.   I have had personal experience with needing to interrupt a cruise and fortunately had travel insurance.   We've also been on many cruises where passengers were evacuated to obtain additional medical attention.   The cost of medical transportation can be thousands of dollars. 

Read more about Travel Insurance and the coverages provided.

I'll leave you with these parting thoughts ....  Always purchase Travel Insurance and Purchase the Insurance Policy at the Same Time as Booking Your Trip.

The reason for the last statement is that effective dates of the policy determine if an event is covered.    Once an event has been declared,  policies purchased after that date are not covered until a new event were to occur.    Again, the ash cloud is the perfect example of how this clause could impact your coverage.

For peace of mind and so that you can truly relax and enjoy your vacation, budget for travel insurance when saving for your vacation.