Storm surge is a great dome of
water often 50 miles wide, that comes sweeping across the coastline near the
area where the eye of the hurricane makes landfall. The surge, aided by the
hammering effect of breaking waves, acts like a giant bulldozer sweeping
everything in its path. The stronger the hurricane, the higher the storm surge
will be. This is unquestionably the most dangerous part of a hurricane. Nine out
of ten hurricane fatalities are caused by the storm surge. During the infamous
Hurricane Camille in 1969, a 25-foot storm surge inundated Pass Christian in
Mississippi. Lesser height are more usual but still extremely dangerous.
Many factors are involved in the formation and propagation of a storm surge
such as the strength of the storm, bottom conditions where the surge comes
ashore, and the point in the storm center in relation to the shore.
Floods and flash floods brought by the
torrential rains of a hurricane are dangerous killers. Even though hurricanes
weaken rapidly as they move inland, the remnants of the storm can bring 6 to 12
inches of rain or more to the area it crosses. The resulting floods have caused
great damage and loss of life. Hurricane Diane of 1955 caused little damage as
it moved into the continent; but long after its winds subsided it brought floods
to Pennsylvania, New York, and New England that killed 200 persons and cost an
estimated $700 million in damage. In 1972, Agnes fused with another storm
system, flooding creek and river basins in the Northeast with more than a foot
of rain in less than 12 hours, killing 117 people and causing almost $3 billion
damage. Hurricane Beulah of 1967 brought major floods to southern Texas killing
10 persons and causing millions of dollars damage.
Winds. The winds of a hurricane by definition
74 miles an hour or more can be very dangerous. For some structures, wind force
is sufficient to cause destruction. Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to
hurricane winds. Some hurricanes spawn tornadoes which contribute to incredible
destruction. The greatest threat from a hurricane's winds is their cargo of
debris, a deadly barrage of flying missiles such as lawn furniture, signs,
roofing, and metal siding.