Hurricane Elena, Gulf Coast August 29 - September 2, 1985 (1991) / Chapter Skim
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1 Executive Summary
1 Executive Summary
Pages 1-8
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Figure 1-2 shows that such an event is not uncommon in this area. WARNINGS AND EVACUATION Hurricane Elena was a rare Gulf of Mexico storm in that it caused hurricane warnings to be issued along an extensive section of the Gulf Coast from Grand Island, Louisiana, to Sarasota, Florida (population in excess of 5 million)
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. ~ /, -xr -me ..~ ' ~,,I'',>,'' fA Scale in Miles LEGEND \ MY \ 10 0 10 20 30 ·0 Major Hurricanes , $/ v ,~, ~Minor Hurricanes___ , , .-2,,~'\ \ A\''""/ "N'W",I'' ,/"\ FIGURE 1-2 Hurricanes in the central gulf region, 1886-1985.
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It should be noted that the wind-speed contours on this map are based primarily on damage observations, a procedure subject to considerable error. Based on subsequent analyses of measured wind speeds, these contours appear to overestimate the maximum gust wind speeds by about 10 percent.
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Need for In-Depth Study Following Postdisaster Investigation Early in the investigation, it became apparent that unless the wind conditions could be determined with reasonable accuracy and the wind resistance of common structural systems assessed, this report would simply become a catalog of damage rather than a useful engineering analysis. Since extensive wind damage occurred to structures ostensibly designed to resist the conditions encountered in Elena, a more in-depth analysis was considered essential.
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From page 5... ...
Surface-level observations of sea state, limited anemometer observations, and correction factors based on well-known pressure-wind relationships are all applied in an attempt to refine these measurements and adapt them to surface-level estimates. While the resulting data may be useful for meteorological purposes and for emergency response planning, they fall far short of the accurate and detailed record of surface wind speeds that the engineering community requires.
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From page 6... ...
Clearly, this is consistent with NWS's overall mandate to help the populace manage extreme weather events, since such wind data are instrumental in establishing appropriate wind engineering standards for structures located in areas at risk from hurricanes. One way to produce the much-needed wind data would be to establish a network of portable anemometer stations along hurricane-prone coasts.
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From page 7... ...
The building control system based on local enforcement and the use of a model code, the provisions of which are determined in a highly political manner, may have served the communities affected by Elena well in other respects, but failed them with regard to wind resistance. A federally imposed system coupled with insurance availability, such as the highly successful Federal Flood Insurance Program, might have served them better.
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