hurricane Michael 2018

• developed as a tropical depression in the northern Caribbean oct 2018
• strongest storm to make landfall in USA since 1992
• risk and vulnerability

  • came ashore in Florida, Bay Country (small coastal town population 1000)
  • reduced in strength and hit Georgia and N and S Carolina (still recovering from Hurricane Florence - same year)
• impacts

  • destuction from Florida to Georgia and N and S Carolina
  • flash flooding
  • 16 direct deaths (wind, storm surge, floods), plus 43 dead connected
  • 45,000 structures damaged - 2 hospitals
  • trees uprooted
  • power cuts affected 400,000 of florida (4% of state)
  • $ 18.4 / $ 25 billion in florida
• responses before storm

  3 days

  • states of emergency announced

  2 days

  • mandatory evacuation for 3 coastal counties (inc Bay County)
  • schools closed

  1 day

  • state of emergency in Georgia - evacuation plans made
  • Emergency Preparedness organisations (eg. Direct Relief) provided emergency medical packs to health facilities in storm path
• responses after storm

  • Bay County (Fl) - borrowed $ 250 for clean up waiting for reimbursement from government
  • 1500 national guard personnel activated in Georgia
  • Trump - declared major disaster in 5 counties - residents could receive grants for repair and temporary shelter
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) + other non profit organisations established Hurricane Michael Relief Network to provide direct relief