Aftermath

Infographic by Corey Walters

Why Are Hurricanes So Dangerous to Begin With

I often explain to my friends that hurricanes are the epitome of disasters because they encompass what would normally be several disasters in themselves. These hazards include flooding, tornadoes, high winds, spreading of diseases, mudslides, and storm surge. [1]

Fatalities

Advancements in technology allow us to track hurricanes in real-time with radar, so warning times are substantial and fatalities are minimal. Nonetheless, the 2011 hurricane season was still a deadly season. In all, at least 100 people were killed,  The deadliest hurricane was Irene, which claimed the lives of 49 people. Oddly enough, the majority of fatalities in 2011 occurred in the United States, not underdeveloped nations such as Haiti, and many of the deaths could have been prevented by simply staying indoors.

New York Road Severely Damaged by Irene
By Daniel Case
Released Under a Creative Commons Share-Alike License

Infrastructure & Economy

2011 was host to the 12th costliest hurricane in U.S. history - Hurricane Irene. Check the infographic to the top left for a creative look at the impacts of the 2011 season, including fatalities, cost, and power outages.

Power Outages

1 in 3 Virginians lost power during the outages that followed Hurricane Irene's landfall. In all, 5 million people were without power across the east coast. [2]

Buildings

$12 billion in damage was done this season. 1,100 homes were destroyed in North Carolina alone because of Hurricane Irene. [3] Tropical Storm Lee, which originated in the Gulf of Mexico, had many unforeseen effects. In Texas, where significant drought was already a recipe for forest fires, Lee caused significant winds, only fueling the fire. Lee made its way to Pennsylvania as a post-tropical storm, causing significant flooding. In Pennsylvania alone, more than 4,500 homes were destroyed. [4]
 

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1. "Hurricane Hazards." FEMA.gov. Federal Emergency Management Agency, 11 Aug. 2010. Web. 09 Feb. 2012


2. Armstrong, Drew. "Irene: Deaths, Flooding, Power Losses State-by-State." Bloomberg. Bloomberg L.P., 29 Aug. 2011. Web. 27 Feb. 2012.



3. "Irene Destroyed More Than 1,100 Homes, N.C. Governor Says." Fox News. FOX News Network, 30 Aug. 2011. Web. 27 Feb. 2012.

4. "9/15/2011 Newsletter." Pennsylvania Treasury Newsroom. Pennsylvania Treasury, 15 Sept. 2011. Web. 27 Feb. 2012.