Safety Issues: What If A Hurricane Katrina Hit New York?

(2005-09-20) SafetyIssues.com

Immediate threats would include drowning, electric shock, flying concrete, and shredding by swirling broken glass, an expert tells the Google community.

The Great Hurricane of 1938, which slammed Long Island and New England with 121 mph winds, killing 700 and causing over $300 million in damage, has cropped up recently in comments by former FEMA chief James Lee Witt, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky and other experts pushing for improved preparedness in New York City.

In June, 2003, Frank Lepore of the Hurricane Prediction Center provided to members of Google Answers a vivid description of the kind of fury a category 4 or 5 hurricane could unleash on Manhattan. The following is a summary of Lepore's scenario.

* If the track is towards southern New York near the Delmarva Peninsula, the hurricane would be strongest in the Northeast quadrant where New Jersey meets Long Island.

* The major effects of the wind on the surface of the water coupled with falling barometric pressure would lift the water and could conceivably cause a build-up of 17 to 20 feet of water being pushed into the Hudson River. This would cause major tunnel flooding in the city and could disrupt all electrical service causing a city-wide blackout. People in tunnels (subway, Holland, etc) when it happened would be in grave peril.

* Few high-rise building windows in Manhattan are rated for a category 5 hurricane, so the wind load on the glass would send it shattering inward and also cascading down to the streets. As the wind became more and more compressed moving through the buildings, the channelization would increase the wind velocity. This is known as the Venturi Effect. As the wind is compressed faster and faster, the windows would be compromised and the wind swirling inside the buildings would be like a MixMaster.

* Also, the wind increases at higher elevations, so combine that with the Venturi Effect and the topmost residents of New York City would be in the most dangerous situation.

* Tornadoes can also be generated by the hurricane winds as another byproduct of the storm. Imagine a series of tornadoes barrelling down Fifth Avenue and and taking the contents of Tiffany's or Steuben's with it. The occupants of subway cars traveling on elevated tracks would also be in great danger.

* Other occurrences might include broken water mains, parts of buildings' architecture being dislodged and falling to the street.


To follow the news of how New York City is responding to Hurricane Katrina, visit:
The Hurricane Katrina News Directory, New York City
http://www.safetyissues.org/katrina/index.php?k=35

SafetyIssues.com promotes more frequent just-in-time delivery of practical safety information, customized for every possible audience. The company also invites organizations with safety solutions to take center stage in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina so that the public can more effectively participate in the recovery process and create a culture of safety.

Visit our hurricane safety portals:

Hurricane Katrina News Directory
http://www.safetyissues.org/katrina

Hurricane Ophelia News Directory
http://www.safetyissues.org/ophelia

Organizations interested in participating in SafetyIssues.com's media research and development program may contact John Simmons, Chief Technology Officer, directly at 703-992-6689 or at johnsimmons@safetyissues.org

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Related stories from SafetyIssues.com:

Safety Issues: Thundercall, The Call Before The Storm
http://www.i-newswire.com/pr46734.html

Safety Issues: Katrina Politics Mesmerizes World Media
http://www.i-newswire.com/pr46656.html

Safety Issues: Hurricane Katrina Safety Lessons Lost on Local Media
http://www.i-newswire.com/pr46643.html

Safety Issues: Virtual Situation Room Tracks Hurricane Ophelia
http://www.i-newswire.com/pr46546.html

Hurricane Katrina News Directory Powered by Google News
http://www.i-newswire.com/pr46460.html


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SafetyIssues.com
Contact: John Simmons,
Chief Technology Officer
703-992-6689
johnsimmons@safetyissues.org