Hazard Vulnerability Assessment

Hurricanes:

General information index. Also see current hazard mitigation measures.

Fictitious County, Bogus City, and Fictitiouston have all experienced the inland effects of hurricanes. Perhaps the most memorable hurricane to directly affect the area was Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Other storms however have had other impacts ranging from flooding to "spin-off" tornados, storm surge, high winds and tropical storms and depressions. Generally these storms affect the entire population. Past effects have been direct devastation to homes and business as well as public buildings and utilities. Hurricane Hugo resulted in structural and non-structural (i.e., power distribution system) damages over $48 million dollars.

Although only one death has been recorded in Fictitious County as a direct cause of a hurricane, most deaths that occur from hurricanes occur from inland flooding. Freshwater floods accounted for more than half (59%) of U.S. hurricane deaths over the past 30 years. These floods are why 63% of U.S. hurricane deaths during that period occurred in inland counties.

This vulnerability assessment assumes worst case, Category 5 hurricane that travels the entire length or width of the county:

 

* Population

** Potential Economic Impact from an F5 tornado, Cat 5 hurricane, or catastrophic wind event

*** Potential Debris generated from an F5 tornado, Cat 5 hurricane or catastrophic wind event

Source - NC Department of Commerce Economic Development Information System
** HAZUS Information Data base - FEMA - Dunn and Bradstreet 1994. Adjusted to 2002 by 31%. Worst case scenario.
*** Debris management program mathematical formulas - FEMA- NCDEM- GCEM- 1999