Natural Disaster Studies. Volume 2. Hurricane Elena, Gulf Coast, August 29-September 2, 1985

摘要

Hurricane Elena posed special problems for an unusually large section of the Gulf Coast well before it came ashore on September 2, 1985. Following an erratic and difficult-to-forecast course, the hurricane threatened a coastline from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Sarasota, Florida. Considerable wind damage occurred in the area to structures that were ostensibly designed to resist such extreme wind conditions. The disaster survey team decided that it could best help mitigate future hurricane damage not only by compiling a catalog of hurricane structural damage and emergency response actions, but also by undertaking a more comprehensive study that carefully established the wind conditions in the storm, reviewed in depth the building control process used in the area, and conducted necessary structural and wind tunnel tests.