Cayman Islands to get storm surge map
(CNS): The Cayman Islands has been given priority consideration for storm surge modelling under a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) programme to advance early warnings of storm surges and strengthen preparedness across the Caribbean. The programme will develop maps to assess and visualise storm surge risk, as well as strengthen capacity for early warnings.
Having this kind of information will help landowners understand present and future risks to their property from storm surges and assist the authorities with planning considerations as well as official evacuation routes and shelter development. The surge modelling will also inform strategies that are being proposed in the draft climate change policy, which is expected to go through public consultation next month.
Premier and Minister of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Wayne Panton said in a press release about the project that work was already underway in the Cayman Islands on high-resolution seabed mapping and digital elevation models of coastal land areas that will be needed as part of the survey.
“Taking an evidence-based, multi-hazard approach to risk mapping is essential to ensuring our communities are prepared to withstand the worst impacts of climate change,” he said. “This is about saving lives, protecting livelihoods and ensuring we are doing everything we can to safeguard the future of our islands for the generations to come.”
Panton said his request that Cayman be moved from the second to the first tranche of jurisdictions in the programme was successful thanks to the strong partnerships officials here have developed with the Caribbean Meteorological Organization (CMO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Regional Association IV Hurricane Committee.
“Over the years, both the Cayman Islands National Weather Service and Hazard Management Cayman Islands have worked to establish strong, working relationships with key organisations such as the CMO, NOAA and the National Hurricane Center,” Panton said.
“When we learned about this storm surge mapping programme, we immediately began working to secure the required model inputs so we would be ready to take full advantage of this opportunity, including high-resolution seabed mapping and digital elevation models of coastal land areas,” he added as he thanked those involved.
HMCI Director Danielle Coleman said storm surge is the deadliest hazard associated with tropical cyclones globally.
“Given our average height above sea level, storm surge is a particularly dangerous threat to the Cayman Islands. Having access to this state-of-the-art surge modelling will literally help us save lives in a disaster situation,” she said. “With climate change, which is resulting in an increase in the intensity of hurricanes in the North Atlantic, the importance of having reliable, accurate surge modelling is of particular importance and urgency.”
CINWS Director General John Tibbetts said the project would also help his team to predict, prepare and coordinate an appropriate response to storm surges.
“The NHC has already completed storm surge modelling projects for Hispaniola, parts of
Mexico and Belize, and is currently working on completing the modelling for the Bahamas. As part of capacity building activities, there have been several training opportunities, and the latest storm surge modelling training workshop will be held in the Bahamas next month,” he said, adding that CINWS Meteorologist Allan Ebanks has been invited to participate in the workshop.
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Category: Science & Nature, Weather
When will the public have access to the map?
Some time after the insurance industry. This will not be a welcome tool for consumers.
When the radar is fixed and works for more than 3 months straight.
Or maybe when the damn dump has been fixed.
The insurance industry gets first dibs on the map.
I read and understand the stated benefits, however how will this actually benefit anyone (other than, say, the inevitable committee which will will form and be paid to study the data).
Means nothing to the people, or even high-end property owners. We have known the sea surge capabilities since we could first measure hurricanes and tides. Like Clauswitz, we should plan and prepare for the capabilities of the sea, not the usual outcome.
Fix the damn radar.
Yes, all US taxpayers agree.
Forces harder to grasp are the 100’ rogue waves that swashed Mariners Cove clean off foundations and transported floors of condos across the street. Don’t build or occupy in the hurricane wave shoaling zone.
What us is the update on the weather rader?
Agree. In my youth, we built far back from the beach, and relegated the beach to the public purpose, thinking it unwise to build so close to the sea. Why? Because of stacking waves and storm surge and hurricanes.
The same is true of the U.S. and probably everywhere. Think of seafront in the same way as a flood plain. Flood plain maps document statistical averages of water intrusion, mostly from rivers. If you are building in a 10-year flood plain area, you can probably count on being flooded at least every decade, and should plan accordingly.
We should not EVER be building close to the sea. 50 years ago, Seven Mile Beach was actually seven miles, and it was a couple hundred yards wide from the sea. The more we build closer, the less sand is preserved. Pretty simple equation.
You speak of conmon sense coastal planning. How dare you! Greed and indifference rules the day here, hence why too many structures ended up in insane places.
One powerful tropical storm will destroy many buildings, not only near the sea, but also in historical natural flood areas.
100′ you say?
They love to pose!
I’m sure the property insurance companies would love to get their hands on this, conversely the real estate companies would like to bury it.
Wonder if the hurricane Ivan inundation map is still publicly available from Cayman Land Info? There is a copy albeit not at very useful resolution at: http://www.caymaninstitute.org.ky/flooding_in_hurricane_ivan.html
Looking at that map and seeing where developments are now and are coming, should alert all insurers.
Ivan, while a serious storm surge event, was not worse-case scenario. What is more of an immediate concern than Ms. Coleman’s mention of ‘Climate Change’ as a cause , is the unbridled development of condos and homes in areas that got impacted during Ivan. Homes were rebuilt, along with apartment complexes , plus new development has been allowed in those very same areas that saw the 9’ storm surge and over-topping waves . But these types of questions are best not asked to a realtor,or a developer , in those very same zones.
People generally have a bad habit of building in places they shouldn’t (think of all the towns built in flood basins along rivers).
The unfortunate effect is that we all socialize these risks through our insurance to some extent, even when we built in more sensible locations.
What a waste of time and resources.
Because nothing will change.
Get the weather radar working, that could help..?
8:16, How will the weather radar help Bobo if we have another Ivan?