The $100 Billion Hurricane?
By Todd B. Bates, Asbury Park Press, N.J. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The hurricane strikes
Superstorm Sandy ranks high in disaster report
Losses linked to the hurricane's storm surge and wind damage potentially top
Such a storm already has hit us -- in 1821 -- and Tropical Storm Irene took a similar track in 2011, according to
"It very well could happen again," said
"People need to be prepared for a powerful storm-surge event and a powerful wind event at the same time impacting the
A storm worse than superstorm Sandy?
Linkin's report on the so-called Norfolk Long Island Hurricane comes as the Atlantic basin is having a below-average hurricane season. But experts stress that it takes just one storm to cause a catastrophe.
"I would not define resilience as depending on someone else (such as the federal government) to bail you out," he said.
The
NJ's 'big hurricane history' revisited
Linkin said
Category 3 hurricanes have top sustained winds of 111 to 129 mph. They can cause major damage to well-built framed homes and snap and uproot many trees. Power may be out for several days or weeks after such a storm, according to the
Category 4 storms have top sustained winds of 130 to 156 mph and can severely damage well-built homes and down power poles. Power outages would last for weeks to possibly months after such a hurricane, and most of the area would be uninhabitable for weeks or months, according to the center.
Robinson said the strength of the 1821 hurricane remains unclear, but whether it was a strong Category 2 or a Category 3 storm when it pummeled the Garden State is "splitting hairs."
Hurricane Katrina: 9th anniversary, images
Linkin, whose family has a house in
"We got lucky with Irene" because it hit
Based on available historical records, the 1821 hurricane caused "very, very serious" damage, but there wasn't much development at the time, she said.
"Obviously, if this occurred today, it would be an extremely damaging event," Linkin said.
Potential damage along the
Sandy caused
Superstorm Sandy strikes NJ: an animation
Robinson, the state climatologist, said "if you had 90 mph sustained winds in this state (today), the damage would be just remarkable. It would be weeks, if not months, before the power grid would be restored in this state. That's without question."
"Sandy did not bring sustained Category 1 winds to
Linkin said Sandy's storm surge was devastating and comparable to the surge during the 1821 hurricane. But Sandy "just didn't bring the powerful winds" that the hurricane did, she said.
The 1821 hurricane "would affect the entire expanse of the
Kaplan, of Swiss Re Global Partnerships, said he would argue that a storm with such a widespread impact would "challenge the abilities of governments at all levels to respond in an even way and in a timely fashion."
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