Storm Surge
Storm surge is results of water being pushed toward the shoreline by the winds from cyclonical storm. The size of the storm surge depends on storm intensity, forward speed, size, approach direction toward the coast, central pressure, the properties of the coastal features, and width and slope of the continental shelf. The combination of storm tides (water level rise due to the combination of storm surge and the astronomical tide), waves, and currents can erode beaches and coastlines, severely damage buildings, marinas and boats, kill vegetation, and send animals fleeing from flooded areas.
Major Hurricanes in U.S. History
Sandy 2012
Intensity: Category 2 at the landfall
Affected Locations: Eastern United States.
Storm surges: 13 feet above normal tide levels.
Damages: 159 deaths, $71.4 billion (2012 USD) damages.
Ike 2008
Intensity: Category 2 at the landfall
Affected Locations: Bolivar Peninsula and the Galveston Bay area in Texas.
Storm surges: 15-20 feet above normal tide levels.
Damages: 112 deaths, 23 missing, $29.6 billion (2008 USD) damages.
Katrina 2005
Intensity: Category 3 at the landfall
Affected Locations: Southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and southwestern Alabama.
Storm surge: 25 to 28 feet above normal tide levels.
Damages: 1,836 deaths (1577 from Louisiana and 238 from Mississippi), $81.2 billion (2005 USD) damages.
Dennis 2005
Intensity: Category 3 at the landfall
Affected Locations: Florida, portions of the southeastern United States.
Storm surge: 7-9 ft.
Damages: 15 deaths, $2.23 billion damages.
Isabel 2003
Intensity: Category 2 at the landfall
Affected Locations: Chesapeake Bay region.
Storm surge: 8 feet.
Damages: 16 deaths, $3.6 billion (2003 USD) damages.
Opal 1995
Intensity: Category 3 at the landfall
Affected Locations: Pensacola Beach, Florida.
Storm Surge: 24 ft (storm tide).
Damages: 13 deaths, $3.5 billion damages.
Hugo 1989
Intensity: Category 4 at the landfall
Affected Locations: South Carolina, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.
Storm surge: 19.8 ft.
Damages: 35 deaths, $7 billion (1989 USD) damages.
Camille 1969
Intensity: Category 5 at the landfall
Affected Locations: Mississippi.
Storm surge: 24 ft.
Damages: 256 deaths, $1.42 billion (1969 USD) damages.
Audrey 1957
Intensity: Category 4 at the landfall
Affected Locations: Southwestern Louisiana.
Storm surge: 12 ft.
Damages: 431 deaths, $1 billion (2005 USD) damages.
New England 1938
Intensity: Category 3 at the landfall
Affected Locations: Rhode Island, Connecticut, southeastern Massachusetts, and Long Island.
Storm surge: 10 to 12 ft.
Damages: 600 deaths, $4.7 Billion (2012 USD) damages.
Galveston 1900
Intensity: Category 4 at the landfall
Affected Locations: Galveston in Texas and adjacent areas.
Storm Surge: 8-15 ft (storm tides).
Damages: 6,000 and 12,000 deaths, $99.4 billion (2005 USD) damages.
Sources: National Hurricane Center, Wikipedia.
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