The Facts on Hurricane Irma's Damage

 by-aiswariya

The Facts on Hurricane Irma's Damage

 

As of September 23, 2017, the death toll was 102 people, including 75 in Florida . Of those, 11 seniors perished in a nursing home that lost its air conditioning. Fourteen people died in the Florida Keys. 

Irma damaged 90% of the buildings on Barbuda.

It destroyed almost all communication and left 60 percent of the population homeless. The government evacuated 300 citizens to Antigua.

Florida officials ordered 6.5 million people to evacuate. There were 77,000 people in 450 shelters. 

The most rain in the state fell on Fort Pierce. It received 15.9 inches. The strongest winds at 142 mph hit Naples.

Irma hit Miami with winds of 90 mph. Three cranes collapsed and streets flooded. Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Broward counties' building codes have the nation's highest wind standards. They learned improved their preparation after Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992.  But that might not offer enough protection. “There’s no structure in Miami that’s built to withstand 185 mph winds,” stated Keith Wolfe, president U.S. property and casualty for Swiss Re.

But 70 percent of the region’s buildings were built before 1994.

Now let’s see damages in each area:

The storm cut a devastating trail across Caribbean countries and territories, killing at least 37 people there.

It then moved up through the US states of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, where an estimated 12 people died , before weakening into a tropical depression.

Caribbean islands were worst hit

Barbuda

Hurricane Irma left the British overseas territory of Barbuda "barely inhabitable" according to the Prime Minister, Gaston Browne.

Most of the island's population of just over 1,600 live in the town of Codrington, where an initial assessment using satellite images appears to show most of the buildings have been damaged.Many buildings have been completely destroyed and debris litters the town.

Tortola

At least five people died in Tortola, part of the British Virgin Islands.

Road Town, is the capital, and has become popular as a centre for yacht chartering and tourism.

An RAF A400M transport plane arrived on Saturday, bringing dozens of soldiers to help kick-start the recovery process.

The airport has been badly damaged, but the arrivals lounge is now being used as a base for the recovery operation.

Sint Maarten

The island that comprises the French territory of Saint Martin and the Dutch section Sint Maarten has suffered widespread damage. At least nine people have been killed.

Two hundred and fifty Dutch troops have been deployed to deliver aid, food, medical supplies and building materials - and to maintain security.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has said local authorities on the French side believed 95% of the houses there had been damaged, and 60% had been left uninhabitable.

Philipsburg, the main town in the Dutch half of the island, has suffered widespread damage.     

One resident told the BBC the island looked as if it had been struck by a nuclear bomb, with roofs torn off many of the main buildings, including the hospital.

Turks and Caicos        

Irma struck the Turks and Caicos, ripping off roofs on the main island, Grand Turk, flooding streets and causing a widespread black-out.

The island of Providenciales is a popular tourist destination and dozens of holidaymakers were caught on the island unable to leave before the hurricane hit.

Cuba

Hurricane Irma moved along the north coast of Cuba, killing at least 10 people and causing significant damage to coastal communities and tourist resorts, cutting off power to large areas.

Irma's trail of destruction in Caribbean

The US

Southern Florida, and especially the low-lying archipelago known as the Keys, bore the brunt of the storm.

But the storm moved up and across the country, hitting inland areas like Immokalee.

Damage is still being assessed but seems to be less than feared, as the hurricane lost power on its way up the peninsula.

However, cities like Miami and Jacksonville suffered flooding, and some 60% of homes across Florida were left without power.

The storm also brought torrential rain to Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama.

Okay we have seen about Irma hurricane , its timeline and its damage. Now let’s see the relief measures taken by government and voluneers in different areas

Relief measures:

WASHINGTON:

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues coordinating the efforts of the federal family, working alongside state and local emergency responders to help address the immediate needs of survivors, following Hurricane Irma.        

Thursday, President Donald J. Trump visited Florida to meet with Governor Rick Scott and disaster survivors throughout the state. He was joined by Vice President Mike Pence, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, FEMA Administrator Brock Long, as well as federal, state, and local elected officials. Tens of thousands of federal workers are supporting preparedness, response, and recovery to Hurricane Irma, including more than 3,100 FEMA staff with additional staff continuing to deploy.

As of September 15, 2017, FEMA transferred approximately 7.2 million meals, 5.5 million liters of water, and 41 generators to states in the Southeast, at the states’ requests.  In addition, nearly 578,000 meals, 115,000 liters of water, 13,600 sheeting covers, 150 rolls of blue tarps, and 36 generators were transferred to St. Thomas and St. John.  FEMA also transferred more than 36,000 meals and 3,600 liters of water to Puerto Rico.

FEMA has the following commodities positioned in staging areas across the impacted areas to be transferred to states and tribes upon their request:

• ·  Alabama: more than 7.2 million meals, more than 16.7 million liters of water.
• ·  Florida: more than 835,000 meals, more than 583,000 liters of water, 121 generators;
• ·  Georgia: more than 721,000 meals, 30 generators;
• ·  North Carolina: more than 366,000 meals, 2.2 million liters of water, 55 generators;
• ·  South Carolina: more than 1.5 meals, 1.3 million liters of water.

Survivors should not return home until local officials have deemed the area safe for return. Avoid downed power or utility lines; they may be live with deadly voltage.  Stay away and report them immediately to your power or utility company.

FEMA received more than 249,000registrations to date and has already approved $48.8 million for Hurricane Irma survivors. As it becomes safe for people to return to their homes, FEMA expects registration numbers to increase.

The American Red Cross (ARC) is operationally focused on safety, shelter, food, which includes shelf-stable meals, and positioning personnel and supplies. More than 10,300 people were provided refuge from Hurricane Irma in more than 120 government and Red Cross evacuation centers across four states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  To date, the ARC served more than 354,000 meals and snacks. Approximately 2,900 Red Cross workers are responding to Irma now, with almost 380 more volunteers on the way.

Along with these

•   U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) 
•   U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
•   U.S. National Guard Bureau (NGB)
•   U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM)
•   U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
•   Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
•   General Services Administration (GSA)
•   U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
•   Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
•   U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 
•   United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
•   Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL)
•   U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
•   U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI)
•   National Park Service (NPS)
•   U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
•   U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA)
•   U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
•   U.S. Department of Treasury (DOTreas)
•   U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
•   U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
•   U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA)

These organization also extended their hands to help the needs. They provide equal efforts to bring people out from hurricane Irma.

I have mentioned all the things I’ve read and heard about hurricane Irma. Correct me if any of the above mentioned details are wrong.

I conclude by saying that Irma has changed the life of many.