FLORIDA top 10 reasons to evacuate when ordered - 10 images

[dhweather]

Eric-

The houses were gutted due to storm surge - the water was 8 to 10
feet deep NORTH of I-10. There is a lot of wind damage as well, I'd
say Katrina was a cat 4 wind-wise at Diamondhead, and a cat 5+
surge wise.

David

If the winds were 135 mph sustained (Cat 4), then how would you explain the fact that the shingles weren't peeled off all the roofs and the homes blown apart? Not to get into that argument about Katrina being a lower-end Cat 3 at landfall again, but the data do not support Cat 4 sustained 1-minute winds inland into your area. Data from the HRD post-storm analysis suggest 90-100 mph sustained in Diamondhead (Cat 2), with possible gusts to 120-130 mph. With 135 mph 1-minute winds, you would have had gusts about 25% above that figure, or close to 170 mph. Photos don't suggest such winds. Could have been a few gusts to Cat 4 strength, though. Keep in mind that it's very rare for such a large area to actually experience Cat 1-2 sustained 1-minute winds (not gusts) in any landfalling hurricane. That's probably stronger than you've seen in any hurricane since Camille, and it probably seemed like Cat 4 winds to you. But without anything to compare such winds to, it's hard to estimate such speeds.

http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Storm_page ... ll_mph.pdf

I measure your distance inland at about 2.6 miles, with I-10 about 0.75 miles north of the Bay. That was some storm surge damage, which I'll get to see for myself in a few days. I'll be heading your way on Wednesday morning enroute my mother's storm-damaged home in Gautier. She had 50 sheets of drywall delivered yesterday, so I'll have my work cut out for me.

Yes you will! Good luck with that!

I base my winds on the only record we have, the Diamondhead FD,
where the anemometer failed at 144mph.

There's other spots just east of here (Pass Christian) that have much more wind damage. You'll get to see in a few days.

PM me if you'd like to stop in Diamondhead for lunch/dinner, there is one
place open!

David

[dhweather]

If you are in Florida, you need to look at this and realize that
anywhere NEAR where Wilma makes landfall will look like this.

Be orderly, get your highest valued possessions packed, and
evacuate. There's nothing wrong with leaving before your local
officials mandate an evacuation.

Trust me, you don't want to stick around and wish you had evacuated.
NOBODY WILL COME TO YOUR RESCUE, you are on your own if you stay.

[Ixolib]

...If the winds were 135 mph sustained (Cat 4), then how would you explain the fact that the shingles weren't peeled off all the roofs and the homes blown apart? .

Some of the "shingle issues" may be directly related to the orientation of the house to the wind. For instance, in my neighborhood, if you drove down the street taking pictures of EVERY house from the front, the roofs look relatively okay. BUT, if you walk around to the back (SE or south side), almost every shingle is gone. So, it IS possible that the pictures were taken on the "lee" side of those houses. Hence, the damage may not "appear" to be cat 4.

But, luckily for you, you will be able to see first hand what the damage was/is, and from that you can draw personal conclusions that may impact your perspective. Unfortunately, the story remains - "seeing is believing". Judging from pictures just doesn't do justice...

[dougjp]

dhweather, to make the photo spread totally compelling beyond question, the addition of a photo I saw of the storm surge should do the trick. It was on here in one of the posts, but I can't find it, so I don't know if you had it?

[HurryKane]

That was Mississippi Storm Magnet. Look up his latest posts and you'll find it.

Additionally, the same home from the same angle, before and after Katrina:

[Javlin]

This could also be a warning on building codes. Notice the concrete structrues remain.... allthough they didn't have shutters, or proper shutters... so the house was still gutted by winds.

I can't believe houses are allowed to be built anywhere in the coast with no shutters, or concrete block first and second stories.
-Eric

Its soo sad to see these pics, also knowing we had the means to do SOOoo much better.

Ericinmia my house is 3/4 mile from the water in Biloxi West full of pine with pine lap built in 1960.This idea that wood just does not hold to wind is not always correct.We lost houses along the coast that have stood for 175yrs thru every cane except Katrina.They went due to surge and even concrete in the long run can fight that.When I saw metal signs SHEARED in my subdivison(not twisted) it tells you something about tensile strength.That maybe the wood gives a little wereas other materials meet there tensile strength and only shear.