Hurricanes focus of Sept. 16 talk in Lewes

Photo courtesy of NOAA

2:41 p.m., Sept. 3, 2004--Last Sept. 18, those who live in the Mid-Atlantic region were keeping a close eye on what was happening outside their windows as Hurricane Isabel approached the Eastern seaboard and unleashed its fury over the Outer Banks and eastern sections of North Carolina, east-central Virginia and several other states.

“Hurricanes have been called ‘the greatest storms on Earth’ because they can be more powerful and deadly than any other natural disaster,” Wendy Carey, coastal processes specialist with UD’s Sea Grant Marine Advisory Service, said. “They can be hundreds of miles wide and last for days or weeks, causing millions of dollars in damage.”

At 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 16, Carey will discuss these potentially devastating storms in the presentation, “Blowin’ in the Wind: Hurricanes & Hazards” at UD’s College of Marine Studies in Lewes. Her talk will conclude this year’s Ocean Currents Lecture Series, held monthly at the campus since April.

In her presentation, Carey will provide an overview of hurricanes, beginning with an explanation of the weather patterns that create these powerful storms. She also will explain hurricane impacts and the hazards they present to both coastal and inland areas as well as how to be better prepared in the event of a hurricane.

According to Carey, hurricane activity peaks from mid-August through October, with the month of September being the most common month for hurricanes to reach land. However, she warns that these storms don’t follow rules, making the entire season from June through November dangerous.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has recently updated its forecast for the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. The outlook calls for 1215 tropical storms, with 68 becoming hurricanes and two to four of these becoming major hurricanes. This prediction reflects a likely continuation of the increased hurricane activity that began in 1995.

“In the past, many people did not have enough information or advance warning to help them prepare properly for natural disasters like hurricanes,” Carey said. “Luckily, modern technology and communications systems have improved forecasting predictions so everyone can get ready ahead of time, reducing loss of life and minimizing damage to property.”

A member of the Marine Advisory Service since 1999, Carey earned a doctorate and a master’s degree in marine studies from the University of Delaware and a bachelor’s degree in geology from St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y.

Earlier this year, Carey participated in a hurricane preparedness training session at NOAA’s National Hurricane Center in Miami. She also has been involved in a national rip-current awareness campaign sponsored by NOAA’s National Weather Service, Sea Grant and the U.S. Lifesaving Association.

Carey has developed and participated in many programs to increase awareness about coastal processes and hazards. Additionally, she serves as a liaison between regional, state and local resource management agencies, coastal communities and the general public on coastal issues.

The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in 104 Cannon Laboratory, at the Hugh R. Sharp Campus, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes. The hour-long talk will be followed by light refreshments.

While the lecture is free and open to the public, seating is limited and reservations are required. To reserve your seat, call (302) 645-4279.

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