Hurricane Elena, Gulf Coast, August 29-September 2, 1985 / prepared by Peter Sparks ... [et al.] for Committee on Natural Disasters, Division of Natural Hazard Mitigation, Commission on Engineering and Technical Systems, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Committee on Natural Disasters Staff, Corporate Author.

Contributor:

Sparks, Peter R.

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Natural Disasters.

Series:

Natural disaster studies ; v. 2.

Natural disaster studies ; v. 2

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Hurricane Elena, 1985.

Hurricanes--Mexico--Gulf Coast.

Hurricanes.

Buildings--Natural disaster effects--Mississippi.

Buildings.

Buildings--Natural disaster effects--Alabama.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (135 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1991.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Hurricane Elena, following an erratic and difficult-to-forecast course along an unusually large section of the Gulf Coast, posed special problems from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Sarasota, Florida, well before it came ashore on September 2, 1985. Considerable wind damage occurred in this area to structures that were ostensibly designed to resist such extreme wind conditions. Because similar design conditions and building control procedures exist along other U.S. hurricane-prone coasts, the conclusions drawn in this detailed book catalog the structural damage caused by the hurricane and emergency response actions, establish the wind conditions of the storm, review in-depth the building control process used in the area, and conduct necessary structural and wind tunnel tests relevant to a large number of communities along the coastal areas.

Contents:

NATURAL DISASTER STUDIES

Copyright

NATURAL DISASTER STUDIES

INVITATION FOR DISCUSSION

Acknowledgments

Preface

Contents

1 Executive Summary

METEOROLOGY

WARNINGS AND EVACUATION

INJURIES AND DEATHS

DAMAGE

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Need for In-Depth Study Following Postdisaster Investigation

Forecasting, Warning, and Evacuation

Need for Surface Wind-Speed Measurement

Structural Performance and Building Codes

2 Meteorological Aspects

SYNOPTIC HISTORY

NEARSHORE AND LANDFALL STORM CHARACTERISTICS

Wind Speeds

Tides

Rainfall

Tornadoes

Pressure

FORECAST GUIDANCE

STORM SURGE AND THE SLOSH MODEL

SLOSH for Hurricane Elena

3 Preparedness and Response

THE WARNING PROCESS

ELENA AND THE GULF COAST'S RESPONSES

EVALUATION

Emergency Response Decision Making

Multiple Evacuations

Vacationer Response

Public Response in the Tampa Bay-to-Sarasota Area

Use of Regional Hurricane Evacuation Studies

Evacuation Zones

Behavioral Analyses

Clearance Times

Regional Boundaries

4 Wind Damage to Buildings

WIND DAMAGE IN MISSISSIPPI

Building Regulations

Design Wind Speeds and Pressures

Wind Resistance of Structural Systems

Load Combinations

Wind-Load-Resisting Systems

Workmanship and Materials

Nonengineered" Structures

Detailed Damage Descriptions of Classes of Structures

Schools

Commercial Structures

Motels

Churches

Single-Family Dwellings

Multifamily Dwellings

Mobile Homes

Metal Building Systems

Fully Engineered Buildings

Other Structures

WIND DAMAGE IN ALABAMA

Comparison with Hurricane Frederic

5 Conclusions and Recommendations

POSTDISASTER STUDIES

1. Need for In-Depth Postdisaster Studies

WIND CONDITIONS.

2. Better Wind-Speed Data

OTHER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ACTIVITIES

3. Continued Cooperation between NHC and the Local and National Media

4. Use of Amateur Radio and Hurricane Drills

5. Need for Improvement of Numerical Forecast Models

6. Continued Effective Use of Telephone Hurricane Information Service

7. Need for Quick Information Dissemination from SLOSH Runs

THE EVACUATION PROCESS

8. Incorporation of Forecast Uncertainties in Evacuation Planning

9. Need for Multiagency Hurricane Evacuation Studies

10. Hypothetical Behavioral Assumptions Underlying Evacuation Plans

11. Calculation of Clearance Time in Evacuation Studies

PERFORMANCE OF BUILDINGS AND OTHER STRUCTURES

12. Need for Nationally Applicable Wind-Loading Provisions

13. Design Needs for Nonengineered Structures

14. Need for Design Checks of Professionally Designed Buildings

15. Insurance against Wind Damage

16. Concern about Industry Standards

17. Concern about Using School Buildings as Shelters

18. Concern about Preengineered and Masonry-Walled Buildings

19. Roof Performance

20. Performance of Signs and Building Appurtenances

References

Appendix A STRUCTURAL FAILURES IN MISSISSIPPI SCHOOLS

Appendix B SHOPPING CENTER DAMAGE: A DETAILED ANALYSIS

Appendix C DAMAGE TO METAL BUILDINGS: A DETAILED ANALYSIS.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 102-104).

ISBN:

9786610203918

9781280203916

1280203919

9780309565141

0309565146

9780585154084

0585154082

OCLC:

43477230