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Corpus Christi Storm Surge Is an Abnormal Rise of Water Generated by a Storm, Over and Above the Predicted Inundation Astronomical Tides

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Corpus Christi Storm Surge Is an Abnormal Rise of Water Generated by a Storm, Over and Above the Predicted Inundation Astronomical Tides About Hurricanes TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Hurricanes form over warm 5805 N LAMAR BLVD • BOX 4087 • AUSTIN, TEXAS 78773-0001 ocean waters, like those 512/424-2000 www.dps.texas.gov found in the Gulf of Mexico. The hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November STEVEN C. McCRAW COMMISSION DIRECTOR A. CYNTHIA LEON, CHAIR 30. The peak threat for DAVID G. BAKER MANNY FLORES ROBERT J. BODISCH, SR. FAITH JOHNSON the Texas coast exists from DEPUTY DIRECTORS STEVEN P. MACH RANDY WATSON August through September. Dear Colleagues: However, hurricanes can Hurricanes are deadly and destructive threats to communities along the Texas coastline. Along with high and have struck the Texas winds, tropical systems can produce immense storm surge, violent tornados, and dangerous flooding. coast during every month of the hurricane season. In order to help citizens prepare, the National Weather Service has once again collaborated with local nonprofit organizations and the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management to bring you the Official Texas Hurricane Guide. It is especially crucial for coastal residents to plan and prepare for each type of hurricane hazard to prevent and reduce the loss of life and property and improve community resilience. Above: High resolution satellite image of Hurricane Ike This guide is an up-to-date, easy-to-use resource that will help you and your family better understand what over the northwest Gulf of Mexico. Image--NASA to do before, during and after a storm. It will also assist your family with the preparation of a family emergency plan, checklists and a disaster supply kit. Families should review emergency plans and checklists on a regular basis. You can increase situational awareness by monitoring statements issued by the National Hurricane Center, watches and warnings issued by National Weather Service offices in Texas and broadcasts from NOAA weather radio and local media. The emergency management community and its partners are committed to keeping Texans safe when tropical systems threaten our coastal areas. You can be a proactive and resilient household within your community by reading this guide and preparing your family in advance. For additional information about building and strengthening community resilience, you can visit Weather-Ready Nation at www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation. I thank you for your continued dedication to year-round personal preparedness and for your preparations this hurricane season. Be informed. Be prepared. Be involved. Respectfully, W. Nim Kidd, CEM®, TEM® Above: Historical perspective of hurricane landfalls in Chief Texas since 1851. Texas Division of Emergency Management Assistant Director Texas Homeland Security Since 1851, 63 hurricanes have struck the Texas coast. Texas Department of Public Safety @chiefkidd on Twitter That is one every three years on average. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER COURTESY • SERVICE • PROTECTION 2 coastal bend edition coastal bend edition 3 Storm Surge Storm Surge Storm Surge Defined Corpus Christi Storm surge is an abnormal rise of water generated by a storm, over and above the predicted Inundation astronomical tides. This rise in water level can cause extreme flooding in coastal areas resulting in 4 - 6 Feet storm tides reaching up to 20 feet or more in some cases. Along the Texas coast, these flood waters 6 - 9 Feet L eop 9 - 13 Feet ard St U can penetrate far inland depending on the elevation of the land. If the storm tide is greater than the p 13 - 18 Feet Ri ve r land elevation (even if well inland) then storm surge flooding will be possible. Rd 18 - 25 Feet Agnes St Corpus Christi No Inundation S 0 0.5 1 2 3 4 a n Bear Ln t Miles a F Bay t e r S D S s S t d r e S o y o d t A a w R p n z le y e r s e r o S t t G s o SP K ID S H M : a o c ra lly Ar to R dl ga d e R B d d lv v d l B n d o t R g e n i n i x l County Road 22 r e i L d A r 1 v 6 l D f 3 B f 3 y n lu a 4 o ples St r B w d S Sta r r h d a a Storm Surge Can Be Deadly! Here are 6 Tips to be Ready u ig R o o 6 im H R Fl n 8 C o e 9 7 2 y r t t a 4 4 d y l t n S a a d d 1. Storm surge flooding is often the greatest 4. Many Gulf Coast areas are vulnerable to u a a w W o o o h C R R g i y threat to life and property from a hurricane. storm surge including areas many miles y t t H n n e t u u a o o t C It poses a significant threat for drowning. A inland from the coastline depending on C Whiteca S p Blvd mere six inches of fast-moving flood water elevation of the coastal plain. Find out can knock over an adult. It takes only two today if you live in an evacuation zone (see feet of rushing water to carry away most pages 5-7 in this guide). vehicles. 5. Storm surge can occur before, during 2. Storm surge can cause water levels to and after the center of the storm passes Above: This map indicates the potential inundation from a storm surge of the listed height. rise quickly and flood large areas in just through an area, and can sometimes cutoff To determine water depth you must subtract your elevation. Accuracy is +/- 20%. minutes, and you could be left with no evacuation routes. The water can also rise time to take action if you haven’t already well in advance of the coming storm, in evacuated as instructed. some cases 36 hours or greater. When an 3. Storm surge is not dependent on the Saffir- evacuation is ordered, do not wait until the Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Hurricane last minute to leave. “The greatest potential for loss of life related to a categories are based only on winds and 6. During the peak of a storm surge event, it is do not account for storm surge. Any wind unlikely that emergency responders will be hurricane is from the storm surge.” category can all cause life-threatening able to reach you if you are in danger. - National Hurricane Center storm surge. For more information about storm surge, please visit the new NHC Storm Surge Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBa9bVYKLP0 4 coastal bend edition coastal bend edition 5 Storm Surge Storm Surge Rockport/Port Aransas Port O’Connor T 3 6 u 1 9 6 d r t Inundation 5 d S l 6 R e a 1 8 o t 6 a R e B d 4 - 6 Feet 1 t d t o d a a e e l a rk R o a y d o a f R R H f n M R r t - R e 6 - 9 Feet i u e o o g 3 t y k t d - d a r s B U 7 h B a e m 5 R n r k 3 4 M i a k w - t y n e r a to 9 - 13 Feet d F L b a w d a - a a h S u g r J y l i a rm ta u k H e M a F t o e C F e r - t 1 13 - 18 Feet s K e P ta R d H k o S 7 n R e la Point t i 2 g - y y d h m R c o t o R w d e t C m p s c 18 - y25 Feet a d n e y e Comfort 5 r u M o 3 u K 8 r y a 7 o o R a S Copano R F State Spur 159 w d H No Indundation d gh C c R i h H s d 314 i County Road k g R d ate n r e Ki e r R St e Rd d e o Ridg n t R Copan La es County Road 90 Bay Fo d d t Port R d t R S f N in in a 5 G t Lavaca T s C 3 u io ape d Va y A g le N R ro a a Dr 5 W f w Magnolia t P 3 e a h R e d 2 e g d R r i a 2 t P R d yd Beach County Road 96 o r s N e r H k R o d t l r B B e a k a R a S ri d O y t p o R R t S a o d a F 5 r 316 c Matagorda t R e hway e n 3 st State Hig a S ay t e a p w e J n Rockport h k o ig r D C H a C County Road 100 te o r ta M l M S - R o cC S o o m am S t e p t t - a Bay a bel t a m d l Rd e t e R H e m r R i r v d g i t h H a ll f w e i F i F r 5 ay y g R a h d D 8 1 w d r 8 w m d 8 H R a a - a t 5 r y e o o 3 a 1 8 S - R s e 3 M s 8 2 A d Port d y 5 l a t e y e n e a r n u i w O k s D Ja h e u n me g e O'Connor u s R i t v o e d H A v B e R oe C A at nr S d t d o o S R W a M R s d l e h 6 te Highway 35 l t i t th Sta a t Adams S 1 e G e 2 w R 8 t Ba 9 L s y Ave d a L u a q d t A d M R n u int S R a Seadrift o e i Inundation i P n e Sha n an R f w R e S Sw La t i d s d n a R S i t g 4 - 6 Feet R t R S a W d t d e H y ig 6 - 9 Feet o d R R h w k a c t y 9 - 13 Feet S a 3 j 6 n k i 1 13 - 18 Feet c a a d l M B R Portland S 18 - 25 Feet o s t l Port S No Inundation e K 00.51 2 3 4 Port Aransas 0 1 2 4 6 8 Miles : Miles : These maps show the potential inundation from a storm surge of the listed height.
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