STORM SURGE

A storm surge
 is not a tsunami although it is a tsunami like phenomenon.
 It is a kind of coastal flooding which is associated with typhoon.
 It severity depends upon the location of the body of the water, storm path and
timing of tides.
 It is an entry of sea or lake water pushed ashore by the strong winds in a
storm.
 Typhoons can create a storm surge great enough to destroy homes and
businesses near the coast like the typhoon Yolanda which hit the Province of
Eastern Samar.

Factors that influence surge:

1. The force of the winds.
2. The intensity of typhoon.
3. Forward speed of the surge.
4. Size or radius of the maximum winds.
5. Direction of approach to the coast.
6. Central wind pressure.
7. The form and features of coastal features such as coves and creeks.

Storm Tide
 The water level in the sea during a storm.
 It is the combination of storm surge and normal tide.
 It can reach even those areas which others might think as a safe area when the
storm surge reaches the top of a high tide.
 Waters are pushed several kilometers in low lying areas and flooding may
extend along the seashore.
 Like storm surge, storm tide can tear down buildings and wash away roads.

Storm surges and Tsunami

 Storm surges differ from tsunamis. One thing that only made them common is
that both of them could result to devastation to life and property.
 Storm surge and tsunami have also different characteristics. The former is
generated by weather systems forcing water shore over a generally limited
section of coastline while the latter is generated by earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions and explosions.

Effects on Storm Surge:

1. Storm surge may damage landscapes, beaches and roads.

2. Storm surge may result to the collapsed of buildings and houses mainly if they
have weak foundations.
Storm Surge around the World:

Name of
typhoon Place of Height of Estimated
associated Date occurrence the storm Damage
with notable surge
storm surge
Samar, Leyte, 15 – 19 feet Php
Yolanda November Southern above normal 89,598,068,634.88
2013 Philippines tide levels worth of damages
Near the north
Ike September end of 15 – 20 feet $24.9 billion
13, 2008 Galvestone above normal
Island tide levels
New Orleans 25 to 28 feet
Katrina August 2005 area along the above normal At $75 billion
Mississippi tide levels
coast
St. Marks,
Florida, well to
Dennis July 2005 the east of the 7 – 9 ft $2.23 billion
landfall
location
Virginia,
September 6, Maryland, More than 8
Isabel 2003 Delaware, and feet flooded $ 3 billion
Washington,
D.C.
Hurricane October 4, Near Storm tide of
Opal 1995 Pensacola 24 feet near Near $3billion
Beach, Florida
Southeastern
United State,
September including
Hugo 22, 1989 South 19.8 feet $ 7 billion
Carolina cities
Charleston
and Myrtle
Beach