Emergency Plan Manual

28 INLAND FLOODING “In the last 30 years, inland flooding has been responsible for more than half the deaths associated with tropical cyclones in the United States.” Consider the following: When it comes to hurricanes, wind speeds do not tell the whole story. Hurricanes produce storm surges, tornadoes, and often the most deadly of all - inland flooding. While storm surge is always a potential threat, more people have died from inland flooding in the last 30 years. Intense rainfall is not directly related to the wind speed of tropical cyclones. In fact, some of the greatest rainfall amounts occur from weaker storms that drift slowly or stall over an area. Inland flooding can be a major threat to communities hundreds of miles from the coast as intense rain falls from these huge tropical air masses. Tropical Storm Allison (2001) produced extremely heavy rainfall and catastrophic floods in the Houston, Texas area. Allison then acquired subtropical characteristics and continued to produce heavy rainfall and flooding near is track from Louisiana eastward to North Caroline, and then northward along the U.S. east coast to Massachusetts. Forty-one deaths were directly related to the heavy rain, flooding, tornadoes, and high surf. Damage estimates reported By the Federal Emergency Agency (FEMA) were near $5 billion, with approximately $4.8 billion in the Houston metropolitan area alone. Hurricane Floyd (1999) brought intense rains and record flooding to the Eastern U.S. Of the 56 people who perished, 50 drowned due to inland flooding. Tropical Storm Alberto (1994) drifted over the Southeast United States, and produced torrential rainfall. More than 21 inches of rain fell at Americus, Georgia. Thirty-three people drowned. Damages exceeded $750 million. Tropical Storm Claudette (1979) brought 45 inches of rain to an area near Alvin, Texas, Contributing to more than $600 million in damages. Hurricane Agnes (1972) produced floods in the Northeast Unites States which contributed to 122 deaths and $6.4 billion in damages. Long after the winds from Hurricane Diane (1955) subside, the storm brought inland flooding to Pennsylvania, New York, and New England contributing to nearly 200 deaths and $4.2 billion in damages. Freshwater floods accounted for more than half (59%) of U.S. tropical cyclone deaths over the past 30 years. These floods are why 63% of U.S. tropical cyclone deaths during that period occurred in inland counties.