The Wilma Hurricane

In the class of EM we discussed about tropical cyclones, then we had to choose one and search for some information. Here is my work.

The Wilma Hurricane was formed on October 16, 2005 and dissipated on October 27, 2005. The areas that where affected by this hurricane were: Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Honduras, Belize, Southeast Mexico, East Coast of the United States (mainly in South Florida), Bahamas and Atlantic Canada.

It was a Category 5 hurricane. The highest winds of this hurricane was of 295 km/h and the lowest pressure was of 882 mbar, record of lowest in the Atlantic basin (It was the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Atlantic basin). 

Effects:

Caribbean:

In Haiti, Wilma Hurricane  killed at least 12 people. The  damage in the country was totaled around $500,000 (2005 USD).

Wilma was responsible of one death in Jamaica. It strike the island for three days ending on October 18, flooding several low-lying communities and triggering mudslides that blocked roads and damaged several homes.  Almost 250 people were in emergency shelters on the island. Damage on the island totaled $93.5 million  (2005 USD).

Mexico:

At least eight deaths were reported in Mexico. Five were in the Playa del Carmen due to a gas explosion caused by the strong winds. Four deaths  also were reported in Cozumel and another in Cancún due to wind blowing a window out. Another death, caused by a falling tree, was reported in the state of Yucatan.

Extensive structural damage throughout the Cancún area, as well as significant flooding and many falled tries. Several homes had also collapsed. Rainfall amounts in excess of 590 mm were reported in several areas, with Isla Mujeres reporting 1,625.6 mm. The station recorded 1,633.98 mm over 24 hours.  One gymnasium used as a shelter lost its roof, which forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 people staying there. During the storm, waves of five to eight meters high.

Damage was extensive as well on Cozumel, with many broken windows, fallen trees and power lines, but less structural damage. 

Communication was initially limited, as telephone and electric services were completely out in the affected areas. In Cancún, some telephone communications remained intact, and tourists went out and risked their lives to contact home. 

After Wilma passed, a sense of desperation developed in the region because people were being held in shelters due to the extensive damage. Thousands of tourists remained stranded in shelters, and the priority was to send them home immediately.  Buses arrived in Cancún , where tourists were hoping to find flights home. 

Damage in Mexico totaled $7.5 billion (2005 USD, $80 billion 2005  MXN), of which $4.6 billion (2005 USD, $50 billion 2005 MXN) was from agricultural damage.

Cuba:

In Cuba, a bus carrying evacuees crashed, killing four people, including three foreign tourists.

Coastal flooding caused by Wilma's storm surge. More than 250 homes were heavily flooded and rescuers required scuba gear, inflatable rafts and amphibious vehicles to reach the most severely flooded areas. Havana was also without power and wind damage was reported as a result of winds up to 140 km/h.

Officials in Cuba estimated total damage to be about $700 million.

United States:

Florida: At least five hurricane-related deaths were reported in the United States, all in Florida, and there were at least 26 deaths indirectly related to Wilma. Damage from Wilma was extensive and widespread over South Florida due to winds and flooding. 

Hurricane Wilma caused widespread destruction of critical infrastructure, including power, water and sewer systems. Florida Power and Light, the largest electricity utility in the state, reported more than 3,241,000 customers had lost power, equivalent to approximately 6,000,000 people, with most residents getting power restored.

Elsewhere in the United States:  Few reports of effects from Hurricane Wilma exist in the United States outside of Florida, with minimal impact other than rain recorded in other states. 

In Connecticut, strong winds felled tree limbs, trees, and electrical wires, resulting in scattered power outages in Ashford, Pomfret, and Wethersfield.  Minor flooding was reported in the county. Strong winds in Rhode Island knocked down a large tree onto Interstate 95 in Providence.

Bahamas:

While passing the Bahamas, the hurricane produced hurricane-force winds, flooding southwestern coastal areas of Grand Bahama and destroying hundreds of buildings. Damage totaled about $100 million (2005 USD, $105 million 2007 USD). One child died on the island from the flooding. Elsewhere in the Bahamas, moderate damage occurred on Bimini and Abaco,  while islands farther to the south reported minimal wind damage.