Contact: Ron Trumbla FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(817)
978-1111 ext. 140 July
1, 2004
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF
DEADLY TROPICAL STORM ALBERTO
PROVIDES REMINDER OF POTENTIAL FOR
FLOOD, RAIN DEVASTATION
When
Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall on the Florida panhandle on July 3, 1994,
winds (up to 65 mph.) associated with the
storm caused only minor damage and inflicted no
casualties.
But, as the storm drifted slowly northeast and stalled in the four days
following landfall, its remnants would prove deadly and devastating – a
sobering reminder on Alberto's 10th anniversary that inland flooding from
tropical storms and hurricanes is a serious threat to life and property.
“When
people recall Tropical Storm Alberto, it’s not the wind or the storm surge they
remember, it’s the torrential rainfall and devastating floods,” said Bill Proenza, Southern Region director of NOAA's
National Weather Service (NWS). NOAA,
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is an agency of the U.S.
Department of Commerce.
NWS
data show record-breaking rainfall and subsequent flooding resulting from
Alberto caused the deaths of 31 people in Georgia and two in Alabama. Nearly a quarter of
the deaths were caused by flash flooding from breaks in small dams. With a total damage estimate of $750
million -- 78 counties in Georgia, Alabama and Florida were declared federal
disaster areas. More than 50,000 people
were evacuated, 18,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, 900,000 acres of crops were
destroyed, 1,000 roads washed out and more than 200 small dams were damaged or
destroyed.
By
July 5th, Alberto’s remnants had drifted to a point just west of
Atlanta before reversing course to the southwest. The system’s slow movement combined with
tropical moisture to produce historic rainfall levels. Storm-total rainfall ranging from 12 to 24 inches
was common through portions of Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The highest storm total (27.6 inches) was
recorded in Americus, Ga. during the period of July 3 – 7. Americus also recorded its highest 24-hour
rainfall total on record with 21.1 inches (period ending 7:00 a.m., July
6).
About
70 miles to the northeast, Macon’s municipal water treatment plant was flooded,
leaving more than 150,000 people without a water supply for several weeks. Bibb County (Macon) Emergency Manager Johnny
Wingers remembers that well. He also
recalls riding a boat over the north and southbound lanes of Interstate 75 to
rescue 300 people. “Looking back, I can
only remember how well everyone came together,” he said. “Some 2,300 volunteers came forward to do whatever
was needed. I’ll never forget that.”
What
began as urban, small stream and flash flood events soon became widespread,
significant flooding as numerous major rivers began to exceed flood stage. After the rain ended, huge volumes of water
continued to flow down the Flint, Ocmulgee,
Chattahoochee, Choctawatchee and Apalachicola rivers
for weeks. The worst of the flooding
occurred along Georgia’s Ocmulgee and Flint rivers
where flood stages at 47 NWS river forecast points were exceeded – some breaking
previous records by five to seven feet.
Crests of up to 20 feet above flood stage were not uncommon in the
three-state area.
Some of the most spectacular flooding occurred along the
Flint River. Blackshear Dam and Albany
Dam were both overtopped and breached.
Albany suffered major flood damage after nearly one-third of its 76,000
residents were evacuated. Further
downstream, the town of Newton was flooded to a depth of 15 to 20 feet.
“Alberto
just reinforces the fact that inland flooding poses at least as serious a
threat to lives and property as do wind and storm surge from tropical storms
and hurricanes,” said John Feldt,
hydrologist-in-charge of the NWS Southeast River Forecast Center in
Atlanta. “When it comes to devastating
inland floods, weaker tropical systems can cause as much or more damage as a
strong hurricane.”
During the past 10 years, new technologies have enabled the
National Weather Service to make significant strides in improving its
hydrologic program with earlier, more detailed flood warnings and
forecasts. One of the newest innovations
is the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) which incorporates a host
of new forecasting tools to provide timely, site-specific information ranging
from short-term flash flood events to long-range forecasting for major
rivers. Advances in NWS hydrologic prediction
capabilities now allow emergency management officials and the public to make more
informed decisions when faced with flood hazards.
But, despite the improvements in
flood forecasts and warnings, too many people continue to ignore the
risks. Each year, floods kill more
people than hurricanes, tornadoes or lightning.
NWS Storm Data records show 3,192 people died in floods between
1974 and 2003. That's an average of 106
deaths per year. During the same period,
lightning claimed 2,002 lives (67 per year), tornadoes killed 1,935 (65 per
year) and hurricanes took 421 people (14 per year).
The records also indicate 80 percent of the flooding deaths
resulted when people drove or walked into moving water. In an effort to reduce the number of needless
flood-related deaths, the NWS, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) and
other partners launched the Turn Around, Don’t DrownTM
(TADD) flood safety campaign. Now in its
second year, TADD is designed to enhance public awareness of the dangers of
driving or walking into flooded areas.
NOAA's National Weather Service is the
primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States
and its territories. NOAA's
National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood warning
and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and
enhance the national economy.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national
safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related
events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and
marine resources.
###
On
the Web:
"Turn
Around, Don't Drown:"
NOAA's
National Weather Service:
Tropical
Storm Alberto/flood hazards:
http://www.srh.weather.gov/ffc
http://www.srh.weather.gov/tae