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Thursday, August 31, 2006

super typhoon

Not to be a fear-monger but there is a big-ass typhoon headed our way. It's called super typhoon Ioke or known as #12 locally. It'll be the fiercest since 1994 if it achieves a direct landfall.

According to the Saffir-Simpson damage scale the potential property damage and flooding from a storm of Ioke's strength (category 4) at landfall includes:

  • Storm surge generally 4.0-5.5 metres (13-18 feet) above normal.
  • Curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences.
  • Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down.
  • Complete destruction of mobile homes.
  • Extensive damage to doors and windows.
  • Low-lying escape routes may be cut by rising water 3-5 hours before arrival of the centre of the storm.
  • Major damage to lower floors of structures near the shore.
  • Terrain lower than 3 metres (10 feet) above sea level may be flooded requiring massive evacuation of residential areas as far inland as 10 km (6 miles).

  • There is also the potential for flooding further inland due to heavy rain.
    I hope it doesn't hit here but if it does, with minimum damage and no loss of life, in a perfect world that'd be. I'm so conflicted about these natural disasters, so fascinating yet deadly.



    http://www.npmoc.navy.mil/jtwc.html

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