U.S. News & World Report; WashingtonNeuhauser, Alan (AUTHOR) aneuhauser@usnews.com
Meteorologist Ari Sarsalari explains just what storm surge is. Now Playing What Is Storm Surge?01:08 Next Up Record Sargassum Could Spell Trouble For Florida00:52 What's Killing Sea Life Along CA Coast?00:46 Do Seashells Hold The Key To A Plastic Alternative?00:50 Were Earth's First ...
Storm surge is an "abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tides," according toAmerican scientific agency National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Twitter Photo Why is it so deadly? Storm surge begins before the hurricane makes landfall,...
The two sets of before-and-after photos on this page are from a storm surge produced by Hurricane Ivan's strike on Orange Beach, Alabama in 2004. Note the red arrows marking equivalent positions in the before and after images and the extensive damage that occurred. What chance do you think...
Storm surge begins over the open ocean. The strong winds of a hurricane push the ocean waters around and cause water to pile up under the storm. The low air pressure of the storm also plays a small role in lifting the water level. The height and extent of...
The walls of water can begin before storms even make landfall, making it harder to sound the alarm in time to save lives. What are the contributing factors? The power of a surge is dictated by factors including a storm's size and intensity, as well as the geography of the coastline and...
Expensive electronics such as TVs, computers and stereo systems can be damaged by power surges, water damage, and falling objects during a bad storm. To help avoid major damage in the first place, unplug what you can before the weather hits and install preventive measures like surge protectors...
After landfall, Helene was "expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday," the hurricane center said. In northwest Florida, storm surge was a major concern as Helene arrived. Forecasters expected the storm surge to reach 5 to 10 feet from the...
What Do I Do Before a Flood? The first thing you should do before a flood is assemble an emergency kit. Your flood emergency kit should include food, water, and medicine. You should pack a supply of these items that will last each person three days. You should also put the following...
A hurricane storm surge. A heavy downpour that accumulates faster than it can drain. A mudflow. Melting snow that seeps into your home. Homeowners, condo, renters and mobile home insurance policies generally don’t cover flood damage. So if your home is at risk of flooding, you’ll usually...