EMERGENCY RISK REDUCTION

One of the first of numerous natural disasters to which I responded throughout the world was a hurricane along the coast of my home state, South Carolina. I never realized the journey that one small response would take me. I don’t even recall the name of that storm!  Hurricane Florence hitting the Carolinas last September brought some back memories. Weeks of preparation by citizens; days of anticipation as to where, when, and how hard would be the impact; hour after hour of full-force winds for those in its wide path. And then comes the flooding – an impact that lasts many months, even years.

I have heard that the meteorological decision-makers (whoever they are!) are considering a change that I have long-encouraged:  Flood potential. At this time, hurricanes are ranked only by the force of their sustained winds, from a Category 5 (highest wind speed) to Cat 1 (lowest). I am not diminishing the destructive impact of high winds. We have all seen pictures or video of trees being uprooted or roofs lifted from buildings during a hurricane. The force is amazing.

But as seen by Florence, Matthew, Katrina, and a host of other hurricanes, the lasting, dangerous, and enormously-expensive destruction comes from the flooding. A reminder that Florence was a Cat 5 but made landfall as a Category 1 storm. Within hours, it was downgraded to a Tropical Storm. As the storm lessened in intensity, many residents who had contemplated relocating then decided to stay and ‘ride out’ the storm. After all, it was a Cat 1.  By nature, residents weigh the risks – of leaving and of staying.

What wasn’t anticipated was the amount of rainfall that fell as the Tropical Storm crawled across the coastline. The storm literally picked up water from the nearby Atlantic and deposited it on land in torrents. Cities like Wilmington and New Bern, NC saw colossal flooding of its streets and buildings. Residents were stranded. Risks were taken. Dozens lost their lives. You could literally walk as fast as this storm traveled, as it pounded down rain.  Costs are calculated into the hundreds of millions, probably billions.

It makes logical sense that hurricanes and other such major disasters should be calibrated by their destructive potential — including wind and water, especially flooding. In my response to other disasters, such as the SE Asian tsunami (Sumatra) or Cyclone Nargis (Myanmar), the real and lasting issue was not ground shaking or wind, but the flooding. The same as with Hurricane Florence.

Someone with a higher pay grade than I can develop a scale for re-categorizing storms by threat of flooding. But a system should be in place. It would be another tool for use by storm trackers to inform the public, and also for residents to make an informed decision to stay or leave. Hopefully to leave! Hurricane Florence is another example that residents were warned to relocate, but far too many remained behind. They placed themselves and first responders in danger, having to perform many risky and senseless rescues.  This should and must end. Along with a lasting memory on the people along the beautiful Carolina coast, this one advancement in categorizing storms by both potential wind risk and flood risk would immortalize Hurricane Florence.

Thanks for reading.