Interesting observations about Katrina surge

[Frank P]

I'm trying to figure out the exact height of Katrina's devastating storm surge... my house "was" 20 ft above sea level, Camille put 2 feet of water in it... I still have two massive Oaks in my front yard... I confirmed severe debris scuff marks on the trunk at least 8 feet high on one of the oaks after Katrina ... so I know without a shadow of a doubt that it was at least 28 feet in West Biloxi..

however I just got a call from my next door neighbor, who also lost everything... He talked to one of our neighbors a couple of days ago that was three houses down the street north from us... ironically he's an insurance agent... he and his wife stayed in their house... god only knows why... he had water up to his second floor!!!! the poor guy was still basically in shock four days after the storm.... here's the thing... he had his second floor surveyed and stated it was 40 feet above sea level... Now I find this rather hard to believe but with the overall wave action added to the storm surge I guess it might be plausible...

I also got information from my brother, who lost his house, that his neighbor 4 houses north of him also rode out the storm... his house washed away and the guy fortunately ended up at a local elementary school hanging on for dear life on a walkway railing... he watched in awe as the surge came in and told my brother that the surge completely covered my brothers house... and there were hugh waves breaking on his roof and over his house before it disintergrated.... my brothers house is 13 feet above sea level... and it has two stories, which makes the house about 22 feet high.... now that's 35 feet of water needed to cover his house.... I would also expect that height to also include the added factor of the size of the waves added to the surge...

regardless of what the official version of the storm surge is... and will probably be debated for years... the end results can not be debated.... Camille did not destroy any house in my immmediate block... period... Katrina destroyed every single house in my block (12), but not only in my block, but houses in the blocks behind my neighborhood... I was expecting an 18-22 foot surge, not something bordering the 30 foot mark.... how in the hell did this happen??????

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Maybe the surge from Cat 5 the previous day did not have enough
chance or time to lessen since the waters were getting shallower and
shallower and even as Katrina rolled in as Cat 4 the surge was still
cat 5 170 mph type level.

The surge comes down slower than the winds...and also given shallower
ocean bottom the surge may have gone unabated...

Just speculation on my part...

[Frank2]

Jim Cantore of TWC said that the retirement home they decided to stay at during Katrina was 27 feet above sea level, but water was ankle deep - on the second floor - so, adding about another 8 or 10 feet to the height he mentioned, it seems that would make it a 37 foot surge in that area, and agrees with what you are saying - that the total height (surge and waves combined) could have been easily in the 40 foot range, and perhaps a bit higher.

Since Katrina was a "strong Category 6" for a number of hours (that's what it would have been, if there were such a Category, with winds between 156-180 mph), as mentioned above, the dome of water built ahead of the eye during that extreme period was something that could not adequately subside in the several hours of weakening before landfall.

Frank

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

A surge like that really makes me question my choice of my home just
9 feet above sea level.

[Frank P]

I plan to rebuild but I think I might go at least 8 to 10 feet higher on pilings.... use the first floor as a parking garage I guess... 22 feet just doesn't cut it anymore with todays super storms..

[TampaFl]

A surge like that really makes me question my choice of my home just
9 feet above sea level.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

A surge like that really makes me question my choice of my home just
9 feet above sea level.

Frances last year as it entered the gulf inundated my area bringing water
into my backyard from ponds connected to canals in Tampa Bay. Some of
the nearby streets were underwater from sewers spewing out the
excess water. And that was just a strong TS/Cat 1. It was the worst
surge since Gordon 2000.

A cat3-cat5 would be horrific beyond imagination in Tampa Bay.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

When I build my own house I'll build it on very high solid pillars
Right now I'm living with family as a high school senior.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

That surge from Katrina looks like 35 ft-40ft. in some areas. That's just
horrific!

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Some of those pictures look like a 40 foot Tsunumi. Came in with the hurricane.

[HurricaneGirl]

[RevDodd]

The pilings are a good idea...don't forget the small elevator to carry in groceris, older friends, and later, much later, yourself.

[Frank P]

The pilings are a good idea...don't forget the small elevator to carry in groceris, older friends, and later, much later, yourself.

yeah and if my two old bassets are still around, one is 12 and the other is 11, I'll certainly need it for them.... I had to build a 10 foot handicap ramp for the 12 year old at my daughters house in Nashville because he can't climb more than two steps if he's lucky..... he get's first priority...