• Health
  • Science
  • U.S.
  • Technology
  • Business
  • World
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Sports

Building a Better World

News and information

  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Our Team

Storm surge, heavy rains mean trouble for U.S. Coasts

July 28, 2015 By Sam Catherman

Storm surge, heavy rains mean trouble for U.S. Coasts

A new study has shown that storm surges and heavy precipitation are currently putting more than 50% of Americans at a serious risk of flooding and property destruction.

Heavy rains and surging waters can ravage a coastal community, and the examples of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Sandy are still fresh in the memories of millions Americans. According to a report from Climate Central, research suggests that instances like these are not likely to quit any time soon.

Hurricane Issac was a much weaker storm than Hurricane Katrina, and many citizens in the Gulf region believed that they couldn’t possibly see that amount of damage two times in a row. The surge generated by Issac, however was worse than anyone expected – it pushed 11 or more inches of rain quickly inland, causing Lake Pontchartrain to surge between 6 and 9 feet.

The rising water from the lake gushed into surrounding streets and homes because there was nowhere else for it to go. The surge was unexpected by many, and thousands of people needed to be rescued in areas with heavy flooding.

Compound flooding is a common happening in coastal regions, when the energy from a storm results in both massive amounts of precipitation and pushes the waves in the ocean forward towards the land. Over half of the country’s population lives in a region that could be affected by storm surges, with the most people on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

A new study analyzed historical data on precipitation events and storm surges, and found that the two were almost always occurring alongside each other.

Municipalities build and maintain seawalls and levees to protect themselves from the rising sea, but during a big enough storm they often come up short. As the changing climate continues to influence extreme weather events along the coasts, governments need to plan for mitigation strategies that address the risks posed by surging seas and heavy rains.

Sharing

Facebooktwittergoogle_plusredditpinterestlinkedintumblrmail

Filed Under: Front Page, Science, Top Story

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us

Facebookrss

Search:

Recent Posts

  • NASA’s InSight spacecraft makes important course correction May 26, 2018
  • Scientists outraged at latest Trump decision May 15, 2018
  • Huge uproar erupts over major incident at Utah park May 13, 2018
  • Incredible moon discovery stuns scientists May 12, 2018
  • Authorities shocked by discovery about common painkiller May 6, 2018
  • Outrageous crocodile experiment stuns scientists May 5, 2018
  • Great Barrier Reef is too quiet, scientists say May 1, 2018
  • Massive Hiroshima bomb discovery shocks scientists May 1, 2018
  • Earth will be slammed by massive asteroid April 29, 2018
  • Teens are doing something incredibly alarming in schools April 29, 2018
  • Huge discovery in Tasmania stuns scientists April 28, 2018
  • Shocking discovery in New Jersey stuns authorities April 22, 2018
  • Huge volcanic explosion could wipe out the United States April 21, 2018
  • Huge controversy erupts over world’s hottest pepper April 15, 2018
  • SpaceX is about to do something astonishing April 15, 2018

Copyright © 2021 Jones Kilmartin Group, LLC · Metro Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress