Most Vulnerable US Cities to Storm Surge Flooding
August 20, 2015
Hurricane Katrina was a stark reminder that strong winds are only part of the story when it comes to hurricanes. For most hurricanes, wind is the primary driver of property damage and economic disruption. But for certain storms, like Katrina, the storm surge flooding can cause tremendous devastation and economic loss—in some cases, dwarfing the wind damage.
Why do some storms produce more storm surge than others? Which coastal cities are at highest risk from coastal flooding caused by the 100 year hurricane? What would be the property damage and losses from the 100 year events? These are the questions this study answers.