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Weathering the storm: water systems versus hurricanes
Author(s) -
Murphy Maripat
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1994.tb06136.x
Subject(s) - flood myth , storm , quarter (canadian coin) , debris , flood control , hurricane katrina , forensic engineering , history , water resource management , environmental planning , civil engineering , engineering , business , archaeology , meteorology , environmental science , geography , natural disaster
Hurricane Andrew ravaged southern Florida and left emergency planners with plenty of food for thought. The enormously destructive Hurricane Andrew flattened southern Florida last year and left a quarter of a million people homeless. Its co: is estimated to be $20 billion—an estimated $100 million of that damage to drinking water systems. In this wide‐ranging report, the author describes the frustrating range of problems water professionals faced a they began the lengthy process of recovery. The problems were legion, ranging from “uprooted” water mains and debris‐laden flood control canals to useless radio communication systems disabled because anten nas above the roof line had been knocked out. Bookkeeping became impossible because addresses no longer existed. Some employees wer injured; many lost their homes. AWWA's Florida Section offered finan cial help, and water professionals from unaffected utilities lent their expertise. This inventory of problems faced and solutions discovered will provide helpful ideas to emergency planners for water utilities.