First Weather Briefing - TCMA Conference · Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale • One 74-95 mph...
Transcript of First Weather Briefing - TCMA Conference · Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale • One 74-95 mph...
Long Range Model Guidance
Six days prior to Harvey’s landfall in Texas, deterministic and ensemble global models indicated a low probability for Harvey to impact the United States
USA European UK
Saturday August 19, 2017
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
• One 74-95 mph • Two 96-110 mph • Three 111-129 mph • Four 130-156 mph • Five >157 mph
Category Winds
It’s only a wind scale
Major
Exceeds local building codes and typically results in devastating to catastrophic damage
Peak Winds (mph)
47 mph 63 mph
48 mph
86 mph
59 mph
76 mph
63 mph
83 mph
71 mph
74 mph
82 mph
74 mph
124 mph
117 mph
145 mph
50 60 70
80 90
100 110
120
132 mph 130
50 60 70 80 90 100 120 Preliminary
Nueces County
Harvey Facts NOAA NSSL Research team
deployed mobile Doppler radar to Rockport
Measured unofficial peak gust of 151 mph at Rockport Airport (50 ft. above ground)
Launched first ever weather balloon in eye of hurricane & measured highest moisture content ever in the United States
As of 10/24/17, 1.25 million cubic yards of debris, representing approximately ½ the total, has been collected in Aransas County
Harvey Facts 1st category 4 hurricane to
strike Texas since Carla 1961 1st major hurricane to hit U.S.
since Wilma 2005 (12 years) Tropical depression to major
hurricane in 40 hours Ranked 16th strongest land-
falling storm, by pressure, in U.S.
Peak wind gust 145 mph measured Rockport Airport
Peak storm surge 12.5 feet Aransas Wildlife Refuge
Rockport Damage • Two Deaths – I hospice patient, I fire death • Injuries – 12 • Structure Damage
– Destroyed/Major - 35% – Minor - 34% – Affected - 25%
• City Hall – Totaled • Bay Education Center – Totaled • Parks – Multiple Facilities Destroyed
Rockport Damage
• Airport – Several Hangers Destroyed • Appraisal District - Totaled • ACISD - Major Damage to HS & MS, Significant
Damage to all Other Campuses • Navigation District – Temporary Offices
Destroyed, Office Building Under Construction Destroyed, Multiple Harbor Facilities Damaged or Destroyed
• Vessels Sunk – Approximately 47
Rockport Damage
• WWTP - Structural Damage but Operational • Lift Stations – Damage to all 42 control panels • County Courthouse – Totaled • Apartment Complexes – Gone • Hotels – 1 National Hotel is Open & One is
Partially Open; All Others Expected to Open Throughout 2018
Rockport Damage
• RV Parks – 87.8% of RV slots are operational • Aquarium at Rockport Harbor – Destroyed • Fulton Mansion – $1 million + Damage • Rockport Center for the Arts – Destroyed • Texas Maritime Museum – Water Damage • Rockport Beach – Pavilions Totaled
Fulton Aransas Wildlife Refuge
Aquarium at Rockport Harbor
Fulton Mansion
Salt Grass Landing Apartments, S. Church St.
Lessons Learned • Do not under estimate the power of a hot
shower or clean laundry on the moral of your staff – make provisions for both
• Crack windows on vehicles to equalize pressure & prevent bursting during the storm
• Register all contractors – waive registration fees & provide unique vehicle decals & employee ID
Lessons Learned
• Communicate, communicate, communicate with your community – do not allow misinformed social media to fill the void
• Take care of your staff, e.g. provide hotel rooms away from the disaster, if possible, for 1-2 days off; make CISM services available throughout the event & afterwards
• Appoint or hire, if necessary, someone to manage long-term recovery
Lessons Learned • Make arrangements pre-storm with vendors
and/or other communities for a cache of traffic control signs, poles, & brackets for immediate post-storm deployment
• Take down, where possible, & store traffic signals – new ones will take several weeks, if not months, to arrive from vendors
Lessons Learned • Public Works employees are first responders
too – make certain they are prepared & equipped, including mentally
• Determine beforehand what the protocol will be if an employee other than EMS/fire/police member is approached by an injured person for assistance
• Keep state & federal elected officials & their staffs informed & engaged
Lessons Learned
• Our preexisting agreement with Bastrop for housing City Hall operations was exercised, allowing for citizens & others to communicate with the City & relieving Rockport staff of some of that burden
• Allow staff to secure their families & property before the storm
• Allow staff to check on families & property ASAP via phone, visit, etc. post storm
Lessons Learned • Discourage return of citizens until basic retail
(food & fuel) & utility services restored • Utilize a curfew • Take advantage of media attention & VIP visits
to keep public & private relief flowing • Have a way to supply replacement mail boxes
– USPS will not deliver mail without a working, secure mailbox & residents who can’t get mail may not get assistance or will have assistance delayed
Lessons Learned
• Plan on losing Internet, telephones, & electricity – prearrange for SatCOWs & generators (and their servicing)
• Until roads are cleared use the buddy system - do not allow vehicles to go out individually
Recovery Challenges Ahead
• Construction of Affordable Housing • Public Facility Repair & Replacement • Employee CISM • Long-Term Community Planning • Adoption of New Codes • Cost Reimbursement Documentation • Economic Stabilization & Redevelopment
Take Care of Your People • Allow staff to prepare their homes pre-storm • Make certain all employee are prepared &
equipped, including mentally • Do not under estimate the power of a hot
shower or clean laundry on the moral of your staff – make provisions for both
• Allow staff to communicate with family ASAP