Hurricane Response Dispatch

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Our Very First Storm Where it all began 

Hurricane Harvey was a devastating Category 4 hurricane that struck Texas and Louisiana in August 2017, causing unprecedented flooding, particularly in Houston. Forming from a tropical wave on August 13, it rapidly intensified in the Gulf of Mexico, making landfall near Rockport, Texas, on August 25 with 130 mph winds. Harvey stalled over Texas, dumping over 60 inches of rain in some areas, making it the wettest tropical cyclone in U.S. history. It caused $125-$158 billion in damages, making it one of the costliest U.S. natural disasters. The storm led to 103 deaths, displaced over 30,000 people, and prompted over 17,000 rescues. Widespread flooding damaged or destroyed over 200,000 homes and businesses, and recovery efforts continue years later.

Hurricane Irma was a powerful Category 5 hurricane that struck in September 2017, causing widespread destruction across the Caribbean and southeastern United States. Forming in the Atlantic, it reached peak winds of 185 mph, making it one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Irma devastated islands like Barbuda, Saint Martin, and the British Virgin Islands, flattening homes and infrastructure. It then hit Florida as a Category 4 storm, causing severe flooding, storm surges, and power outages affecting millions. The hurricane resulted in at least 134 deaths and over $80 billion in damages, making it one of the costliest storms in U.S. history. Its impact led to massive evacuations and significant recovery efforts.

 Hurricane Sally, a Category 2 hurricane, made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama, on September 16, 2020, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph. Forming on September 11 from a tropical depression over the Bahamas, it slowly intensified due to its sluggish movement, peaking at 110 mph just before landfall. Its slow speed of less than 5 mph caused prolonged impacts, including torrential rainfall of 15-30 inches across southern Alabama and northwest Florida, leading to historic flash flooding and widespread river flooding. The storm caused significant wind damage, downing trees and power lines, and triggered storm surges of 4-7 feet in areas like Mobile Bay and Pensacola Bay. Sally resulted in three direct fatalities, $7.3 billion in damages, and extensive destruction to homes, businesses, and agriculture, particularly pecan farms in Baldwin County. It weakened to a tropical depression by September 17, moving through Alabama and Georgia.

 Hurricane Florence, a powerful Category 4 hurricane at its peak, struck the Carolinas in September 2018, making landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, on September 14 as a Category 1 with 90 mph winds. Forming on August 31 in the Atlantic, it rapidly intensified but weakened before landfall due to wind shear. Its slow movement—2 to 3 mph—caused catastrophic flooding, dumping up to 35 inches of rain in parts of North Carolina, setting state records. The storm surge reached 9-13 feet along the coast, and river flooding devastated inland areas. Florence caused 54 deaths (40 direct, 14 indirect) and $24.2 billion in damages, primarily in North and South Carolina. It destroyed thousands of homes, displaced over 50,000 people, and led to prolonged power outages and agricultural losses. The storm dissipated by September 18. 

 Hurricane Ida, a destructive Category 4 hurricane, struck Louisiana on August 29, 2021, making landfall near Port Fourchon with sustained winds of 150 mph, tying it as the strongest hurricane to hit the state. Forming on August 26 in the Caribbean, it rapidly intensified in the Gulf of Mexico due to warm waters. Ida caused catastrophic storm surges of 7-14 feet, widespread power outages affecting over 1 million customers, and heavy rainfall, with 10-15 inches in parts of Louisiana and later the Northeast. The storm led to 115 deaths (43 direct, 72 indirect) and $75 billion in damages, making it one of the costliest U.S. hurricanes. It devastated communities, destroyed homes, and triggered flash flooding in the Northeast as a remnant low, particularly in New York and New Jersey. Ida weakened by September 1. 

 Hurricane Ian, a powerful Category 4 hurricane, struck western Florida on September 28, 2022, making landfall near Cayo Costa with sustained winds of 150 mph. Forming on September 23 in the Caribbean, it rapidly intensified in the Gulf of Mexico, briefly reaching Category 5 strength before slightly weakening. Ian caused a devastating storm surge of 12-15 feet in areas like Fort Myers Beach, catastrophic flooding, and widespread wind damage. It dumped 10-20 inches of rain across Florida, with some areas receiving up to 26 inches. The storm resulted in 161 deaths (139 direct, 22 indirect) and over $112 billion in damages, making it the costliest hurricane in Florida’s history and third-costliest in the U.S. Ian destroyed thousands of homes, left millions without power, and caused significant agricultural losses. After crossing Florida, it made a second landfall in South Carolina as a Category 1 on September 30, dissipating by October 1. 

 Hurricane Milton, a record-breaking Category 5 hurricane, struck Florida’s west coast near Siesta Key on October 9, 2024, as a Category 3 storm with 120 mph winds. Forming in the Gulf of Mexico on October 5, it rapidly intensified due to exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures, reaching peak winds of 180 mph and a minimum pressure of 895 mbar, tying with Hurricane Rita (2005) as the most intense Atlantic hurricane over the Gulf. Milton caused widespread destruction, including storm surges of 5-10 feet, 18 inches of rain in areas like St. Petersburg, and a deadly tornado outbreak with 46 confirmed tornadoes. It killed at least 45 people (42 in the U.S., 3 in Mexico) and caused $21-$34 billion in damages. Over 3.5 million homes and businesses lost power, and flooding hit central and southern Florida hard. Milton weakened to a post-tropical cyclone by October 10, moving into the Atlantic.

  Hurricane Helene, a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane, made landfall near Perry, Florida, in the Big Bend region on September 26, 2024, with sustained winds of 140 mph. Forming on September 22 in the western Caribbean, it rapidly intensified over warm Gulf of Mexico waters, becoming the strongest hurricane on record to hit Florida’s Big Bend. Helene caused a 15-foot storm surge along Florida’s coast and dumped up to 31 inches of rain in western North Carolina, leading to historic flooding and landslides across the southern Appalachians. The storm killed at least 252 people, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since Katrina in 2005, with nearly half the deaths in North Carolina. It caused $78.7 billion in damages, ranking as the fifth-costliest Atlantic hurricane. Helene’s fast movement and large size—about 400 miles wide—brought hurricane-force winds and power outages to over 7 million customers across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia. It spawned numerous tornadoes and led to extensive infrastructure damage, with recovery efforts ongoing as of February 2025.