Storm-Tide Elevations Caused by Hurricane Marilyn on the U.S. Virgin Islands, September 15-16, 1995 By Heriberto Torres-Sierra U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Open-File Report 96-440 Prepared in cooperation with the FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY and the U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS San Juan, Puerto Rico 1998 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Mark Schaefer, Acting Director For additional information write to: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey GSA Center, Suite 400-15 651 Federal Drive Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00965 Copies of this report can be purchased from: U.S. Geological Survey Branch of Information Services Box 25286 Denver, CO 80225-0286 CONTENTS Abstract.................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................... 1 Path of Hurricane Marilyn..................................................................................................................................... 2 Effects of Hurricane Marilyn................................................................................................................................. 4 Vertical Datum....................................................................................................................................................... 9 Storm-Tide Elevations........................................................................................................................................... 9 Summary................................................................................................................................................................ 12 Selected References............................................................................................................................................... 12 Appendix Hurricane Categories........................................................................................................................... 13 Glossary................................................................................................................................................................. 15 FIGURES 1-3. Maps showing: 1. Track of Hurricane Marilyn across the Atlantic Ocean, September 1995.................................................... 3 2. Track of Hurricane Marilyn across the islands of the Caribbean Sea, September 1995......................................................................................................................................... 5 3. Study area and storm-tide elevations resulting from the passage of Hurricane Marilyn at selected locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands...................................................... 7 4. Graphs showing recorded storm-tide elevations resulting from the passage of Hurricane Marilyn at the NOS tidal gage stations in the U.S. Virgin Islands............................................. 8 5. Measured profiles defining the storm-tide elevations resulting from the passage of Hurricane Marilyn at selected locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands........................................................ 10 TABLES 1. Chronology of major hurricanes impacting U.S. Virgin Islands from 1867 through 1995.............................. 2 2. Description of high-water marks...................................................................................................................... 16 3. Description of reference marks and bench marks ............................................................................................ 23 Contents PLATES [Plates are at end of report] Plates 1-16. Maps showing elevations of high-water marks and survey marks used to document the storm tides caused by Hurricane Marilyn, September 15-16, 1995: 1. Frederiksted 2. Belvedere 3. Salt River Bay 4. La Grande Princesse 5. Christiansted Harbor 6. Tague Bay 7. Robin Bay 8. Great Pond 9. Halfpenny Bay 10. Container Port 11. Cyril King Airport 12. St. Thomas Harbor 13. Cruz Bay 14. Rendezvous Bay 15. Coral Harbor 16. Johnson Bay CONVERSION FACTORS AND ACRONYMS Multiply inch foot mile mile per hour acre By 25.4 0.3048 1.609 1.609 0.4047 To obtain millimeter meter kilometer kilometer per hour hectare Acronyms used in this report: FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency NOS National Ocean Service NWS National Weather Service USAGE United States Army Corps of Engineers USCGS United States Coastal and Geodetic Survey USGS United States Geological Survey USVI United States Virgin Islands IV Contents Storm-Tide Elevations Caused by Hurricane Marilyn on the U.S. Virgin Islands, September 15-16, 1995 By Heriberto Torres-Sierra Abstract Hurricane Marilyn impacted the U.S. Virgin Islands with maximum reported winds gusting to near 130 miles per hour from late at night on September 15 to early morning on September 16, 1995. As much as 11.40 inches of rain fell on the island of St. Croix near the airport on September 15. Most of the hurricane damage in the U.S. Virgin Islands resulted from high wind velocities and tidal flooding along coastal areas. At least nine people died and thousands were left homeless as a result of the hurricane. St. Thomas was particularly hard hit; 80 percent of the buildings were damaged or destroyed, six people were killed, and thousands were left homeless. High-water marks produced by the storm tide from Hurricane Marilyn during September 15-16, 1995, were identified, described, and level- surveyed along the populated coastal areas of Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas, Cruz Bay and Coral Bay in St. John, Frederiksted and Christiansted in St. Croix, and at other selected areas along the islands' coasts. One hundred seventy-three high-water marks are presented in tabular form listing plate name, mark number, location, latitude, longitude, type and quality of the mark, and high-water mark elevation. Profiles defining the surveyed storm-tide elevation, the inland extent of coastal flooding, and the ground elevation at selected coastal areas are also presented in this report. High-water levels ranged from about 11.4 feet above mean sea level at Estate La Grande Princesse in St. Croix to 3.1 feet above mean sea level at Limestone Bay, Estate Krausses Lagune in St. Croix. INTRODUCTION Hurricane Marilyn, a Category 2 hurricane (Saffir-Simpson scale), made landfall on the islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) during September 15-16, 1995. The hurricane, with maximum reported winds gusting to near 130 miles per hour, left a path of devastation throughout the islands. This hurricane was one of the most destructive of the nine major hurricanes that have hit the area since the late 1800's (table 1). As much as 11.40 inches of rain fell on St. Croix on September 15. Although some river flooding occurred in low-lying areas near guts (dry stream courses), most of the flooding resulted from tidal flooding along the islands' coasts. The maximum storm-tide elevation measured was 11.4 feet above mean sea level on St. Croix. On St. John and St. Thomas, the maximum storm-tide elevations measured were 11.3 and 10.9 feet above mean sea level, respectively. Damage from Hurricane Marilyn was severe throughout the USVI, particularly on St. Thomas, where about 80 percent of the buildings were damaged or destroyed. Nine people died, several were injured, and thousands were left homeless as a result of the hurricane. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USAGE), collected data in the USVI on the storm-tide elevations caused by Hurricane Marilyn. This report presents a brief description of the hurricane and its pathway, the effects of the hurricane, the storm-tide elevation data obtained at 173 sites, and a series of maps showing the location and elevation of high-water marks, bench marks, and reference marks. The data presented may be useful for flood-insurance purposes and in guiding future development in these areas. Introduction Table 1. Chronology of major hurricanes impacting U.S. Virgin Islands from 1867 through 1995 Date Area affected Remarks October 29, 1867 October 9, 1916 St. Thomas St. Thomas August 28-29, 1924 St. Thomas, St. Croix September 12-14, 1928 St. Croix August 6-7, 1955 St. Thomas August 11-12, 1956 St. Croix August 29-31, 1979 St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix September 18, 1989 St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix September 15-16, 1995 St. Thomas, St. John, St. Croix Hurricane. Maximum wind speed, 170 miles per hour; lowest barometric pressure, 27.95 inches. Deaths, 600. Hurricane. Wind gusts, 160 miles per hour; lowest barometric pressure, 28.10 inches. Charlotte Amalie, Frenchtown, and Lindbergh Bay areas severely flooded. Hurricane. Maximum wind speed, 143 miles per hour; maximum 24-hour rainfall, 5.7 inches on St. Croix; and lowest barometric pressure, 28.56 inches. Numerous lives lost. Hurricane. Maximum wind speed, 130 miles per hour in St. Thomas; maximum 3-day rainfall, 16.6 inches on Christiansted; lowest barometric pressure, 27.50 inches. Substantial loss of life and extensive damage. Hurricane Connie. Maximum wind speed, 71 miles per hour; maximum 24-hour rainfall, 7.0 inches on Charlotte Amalie. Deaths, 3. Hurricane Betsy. Maximum wind speed, 86 miles per hour; maximum 24-hour rainfall, 4.7 inches on St. Croix. Damage, $30,000. Hurricane David. Maximum wind speed, 54 miles per hour in St. Croix; 3-day rainfall, 15 inches. Hurricane Hugo. Maximum wind speed, 140 miles per hour. Deaths, 3; 20,000 people homeless; damage, $1.3 billion. Hurricane Marilyn. Maximum wind speed, 105 miles per hour. Deaths, 9; thousands people homeless; damage, $2 billion; about 80 percent of buildings damaged or destroyed in St. Thomas. The author greatly acknowledges the following personnel for their assistance in making this study possible: Iris Correa and Dan Deegan of the FEMA; Deborah Peterson, Andrew Geller, Dennis Kraus, Mel Beliky, and Roberto Cortes, of the USAGE; and Rafael Mqjica of the National Weather Service (NWS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Also, cooperation of owners who allowed access to their properties to obtain high-water mark elevations is greatly appreciated. PATH OF HURRICANE MARILYN Hurricane Marilyn developed from Tropical Depression 15 that originated over the west-central Atlantic Ocean on September 12 at 6 p.m., Atlantic standard time, about 470 miles east of Barbados (11.9 degrees N. latitude and 52.6 degrees W. longitude; fig. 1). The depression traveled west at about 25 miles per hour (mi/hr) and became Tropical Storm Marilyn on September 13. On September 14 at 2 a.m., Tropical Storm Marilyn, located at about 40 miles east of 2 Storm-Tide Elevations Casued by Hurricane Marilyn on the U.S. Virgin Islands, September 15-16,1995 100° EXPLANATION 12 Date ----- Depression - - Tropical storm Hurricane Extratropical PUERTOA15 RICO Figure 1. Track of Hurricane Marilyn across the Atlantic Ocean, September 1995 (modified from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1995). Barbados, was upgraded to hurricane status with maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour. Marilyn, now a Category 1 hurricane (Saffir-Simpson scale), continued travelling in a west-northwesterly direction with its center passing at about 20 miles northeast of Barbados on September 14 at about 5 a.m. A hurricane watch was issued on September 14 for the USVI at 8 a.m. and then for Puerto Rico at 11 a.m., when the center of Hurricane Marilyn was located about 40 miles east of Martinique. Marilyn, with maximum sustained winds of 80 miles per hour and a minimum barometric pressure of 983 millibars (29.03 inches of mercury) moved in a generally northwesterly direction and passed just northeast of Martinique, making landfall in Dominica at 5 p.m., and then passed to the southwest of Guadeloupe entering the Caribbean Sea (fig. 2). A hurricane warning was issued for the USVI and Puerto Rico when Hurricane Marilyn entered the Caribbean Sea. Hurricane Marilyn continued moving northwest at nearly 15 miles per hour on Friday, September 15, and at 2 a.m. the maximum sustained winds increased to 85 miles per hour and the barometric pressure dropped to 978 millibars (28.88 inches of mercury). On September 15, at 8 a.m. the maximum sustained winds increased to 90 miles per hour and the hurricane was centered about 95 miles east southeast of St. Croix, USVI. By 11 a.m., Hurricane Marilyn's forward motion decreased to 10 miles per hour and the storm strengthened to a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour and a minimum central pressure of 972 millibars (28.70 inches of mercury). At 5 p.m., when the center of Marilyn was near the southeast coast of St. Croix, an amateur radio operator from St. Croix reported wind gusts of 97 miles per hour. Shortly before 8 p.m., the center of Hurricane Marilyn passed over the eastern portion of St. Croix. A peak gust of 127 miles per hour was reported by an amateur radio operator during the passage of the hurricane. Hurricane Marilyn slowly intensified as it continued moving northwest between 8 to 10 miles per hour. On September 16, between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., with maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour and a barometric pressure of 960 millibars (28.35 inches of mercury), the eye of Hurricane Marilyn extended from the western coast of St. Thomas, USVI to the eastern coast of Puerto Rico's offshore island of Culebra. On September 16, by 5 a.m. the center of Hurricane Marilyn was located about 45 miles east-northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, with sustained winds near 110 miles per hour. By noon, Hurricane Marilyn, with maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour (Category 3) and a minimum barometric pressure of 952 millibars (28.11 inches of mercury), was about 70 miles north- northwest of San Juan. At this time Marilyn was moving away from the area and the hurricane warnings for the USVI and Puerto Rico were downgraded to tropical storm warnings. The tropical storm warnings were discontinued for the USVI and Puerto Rico on September 16 at 5 p.m., when the center of Marilyn was about 125 miles north- northwest of San Juan. Over the next 5 days, the hurricane continued its north to northeast movement and lost strength over the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. By September 21, Marilyn was downgraded to a tropical storm. On September 22, Marilyn was reclassified as an extratropical storm. EFFECTS OF HURRICANE MARILYN Rainfall data for the USVI are scarce because many recording rain gages were destroyed or rendered inoperative by strong winds during the passage of the hurricane. The limited rainfall data for the USVI indicate that the south coast of St. Croix, in the vicinity of Alexander Hamilton Airport, received as much as 12.96 inches of rain during September 15-16, 1995 (data were collected at USGS stream and rain gage station 50334500 and are not considered official by the NWS). Approximately 11.40 inches of this total amount fell during September 15. Another USGS rain gage (50252000) in northern St. Thomas, recorded 3.48 inches of rain during September 15 and 5.09 inches of rain during September 16. No data were recovered from recording rain gages on St. John. Although some riverine flooding occurred in areas near guts, most of the flood damage in the USVI occurred in coastal areas and was the result of tidal flooding. High water levels resulting from a combination of normal (predicted) tide, storm surge, and wave action ranged from 11.4 feet above mean sea level at Estate La Grande Princesse, St. Croix to 3.1 4 Storm-Tide Elevations Casued by Hurricane Marilyn on the U.S. Virgin Islands, September 15-16,1995 72W 66°00' sow 21°00' 18W 15W CARIBBEAN SEA 100 200 KILOMETERS ATLANTIC OCEAN EXPLANATION GUADELOUPE DOMINICA 100 200 MILES DATE AND TIME OF HURRICANE PASSAGE MARTINIQUE ST. LUCIA CD Figure 2. Track of Hurricane Marilyn across the islands of the Caribbean Sea, September 1995. feet above mean sea level at Limestone Bay, Estate Krausses Lagune, St. Croix (fig. 3). The elevation of the storm tide at Limestone Bay, St. Croix and at St. Thomas Harbor was also recorded by the National Ocean Service (NOS) tidal gage stations in the USVI (figs. 3 and 4). As shown in figure 4, the high water elevation at the St. Croix tidal gage peaked shortly after midnight and the high water elevation at the St. Thomas gage peaked near 4:00 a.m., Atlantic standard time. Hurricane Marilyn left a wake of devastation and desolation in its pathway throughout the USVI. At least nine people died and thousands were left homeless as a result of the hurricane. Emergency housing, medical attention, food, and clothing were provided to thousands of people. Damage was extensive and has been estimated by FEMA at about $2 billion (The Daily News, St. Thomas, USVI, October 25, 1995). More than $1 billion of this amount is related to damage sustained by private and public housing. Losses directly related to the tourism industry were estimated at about $475 million. Damage was more severe on St. Thomas, where about 80 percent of the buildings were damaged or destroyed and thousands of utility poles were downed, leaving the island without power, public-water supply, or communications. The St. Thomas Hospital received extensive damage, particularly in the medical supply warehouse where all supplies were lost or rendered unusable. Hospital patients and people severely injured by Hurricane Marilyn were airlifted by helicopter to a hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The control tower at the Cyril E. King (formerly Harry S. Truman) Airport in St. Thomas was extensively damaged and the runaway was covered with debris, making impossible the arrival of military and emergency flights from the mainland of the United States during the first hours after the passage of the Hurricane Marilyn. The production and distribution of desalinated water was interrupted during several days due to damage to the desalination plant and to two 1- million-gallon water storage tanks. Private cisterns were contaminated by debris, raw sewage and/or sea water from tidal flooding. The sewage treatment plants and pumping stations were also inoperable. A large number of private vehicles and hundreds of boats were damaged or completely destroyed. All marina and dock facilities were damaged or destroyed by high winds and severe tidal flooding. Coastal flooding occurred in beach and low-lying areas generally where land-surface elevations are less than 8 feet above mean sea level. In some of these areas, sand was transported from the beach and deposited in overwash fans and in other low-lying areas. Among the areas of St. Thomas most affected by coastal flooding are the Charlotte Amalie Historic District, Frenchtown, and Crown Bay. Private and public housing, hotels, restaurants, stores, and offices within these areas sustained moderate to severe damage. The environmental impact of Hurricane Marilyn was also significant on St. Thomas, where high winds toppled and stripped leaves from trees and bushes, and saltwater burned grass and killed bushes. Six deaths on St. Thomas were directly attributed to the hurricane. St. Croix and St. John also received substantial storm damage. On St. Croix, the developed coastal areas of Christiansted and Frederiksted were severely affected by high winds and extensive tidal flooding. About 25 percent of the buildings suffered structural damage or were destroyed. Most of the hotels, restaurants, businesses, and private offices in the Christiansted Historic District were affected by coastal flooding. Some schools suffered water damage. All public utility services were disrupted, mainly as a consequence of downed utility poles and wires and damaged or destroyed generators and transformers. The St. Croix Marina was damaged and more than 100 boats were damaged or destroyed along the island's coasts. The manufacturing industry and the agricultural sector were also hard hit by the hurricane. The official death toll from Hurricane Marilyn on St. Croix was reported as two. On St. John, early damage reports estimated that from 25 to 35 percent of all buildings were damaged. Some government buildings sustained major damage. The police station and two clinics were closed due to structural or water damage, or both. The island was left without power when the power supply from St. Thomas to St. John was interrupted by the strong winds. The populated coastal areas of Cruz Bay, on the islands's west coast, and Coral Bay, on the island's east coast, were moderately 6 Storm-Tide Elevations Casued by Hurricane Marilyn on the U.S. Virgin Islands, September 15-16,1995 18°25' 18°20" 65W 64°55' \ 64°5CT I 64-45' 64°40' ATLANTIC OCEAN 6.6(36) <3-j 7B <12> 10.9(31) 100 <2> St. Thomas St. John CARIBBEAN SEA 0 1 2 KILOMETERS 0 1 2 MILES 64°50' 64°45' 64"40' 64°35' 17°45' 67(24) 9.5(26) 5.8 (81) 8.1 (74) Limestone Bay 3.1 (75) St. Croix 17"40' CARIBBEAN SEA CARIBBEAN 11.4(28) 0 1 2 KILOMETERS 0 1 2 MILES EXPLANATION 3 1 (75) STORM-TIDE ELEVATION, IN FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL AND HIGH-WATER MARK NUMBER IN PARENTHESIS COASTAL AREA SURVEYED A National Ocean Service Tidal Gage TOWN OR ESTATE Figure 3. Study area and storm-tide elevations resulting from the passage of Hurricane Marilyn at selected locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Effects of Hurricane Marilyn 7 LJJ LJJ -LLJ Q< HUJ > 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 i i i i r i r CHARLOTTE AMALIE, ST. THOMAS, USVI - RECORDED ------ CHARLOTTE AMALIE, ST. THOMAS, USVI - PREDICTED J__I I I I I I I I__I 6 12 18 24 6 12 18 24 6 12 18 24 6 12 18 24 6 12 18 24 6 12 18 24 I ! I i I 9-13-1995 9-14-1995 9-15-1995 9-16-1995 9-17-1995 9-18-1995 24-HOUR TIME LU LU LU Q< HLU .». ___ 6.8 ft @ HWM no. 45 II '/ ^^^ / * ^ y - . - 100 400 It) 10 -5 -10 -15 -20 -25 ,ir\ Altona Lagoon, St. Croix, USVI 6.4 ft @ HWM no. 65 - " Ns- */ "v*^ ^^.^ ^^< v~ - i i . i . i , i St. Croix EXPLANATION Storm-tide elevation Ground elevation ----- Mean sea level - , . _ Lagoon water level HWM High-water mark Figure 5. Measured profiles defining the storm-tide elevations resulting from the passage of Hurricane Marilyn at selected locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands Continued. Storm-Tide Elevations 11 measured in the St. Thomas Harbor area at Charlotte Amalie and in the Crown Bay area. Two profiles were measured in St. John: one in the Cruz Bay area and another in the Coral Bay area. Three profiles were measured in St. Croix: one profile was measured in Frederiksted, one in Christiansted, and one in the Altona Lagoon Beach area. These profiles were surveyed normal to the coastline. The approximate depth of flooding at any point along the inundated area can be estimated by subtracting the ground elevation from the storm-tide elevation. The location of these selected profiles are presented on figure 5. SUMMARY During September 15 and 16, 1995, Hurricane Marilyn caused severe damage in the islands of St. Croix and St. Thomas, USVI. The hurricane, with sustained wind speed near 105 miles per hour, left a path of devastation throughout the islands. As much as 11.40 inches of rain fell on St. Croix on September 15. Although some damage resulted from river flooding, most of the hurricane damage in the USVI resulted from high wind velocities and storm-surge flooding along the coastal areas. Damage was more severe on St. Thomas, were about 80 percent of the buildings were damaged or destroyed, six people were killed, and thousands were left homeless. High-water marks produced by the storm surge from Hurricane Marilyn were identified, described, and level-surveyed along the most affected developed coastal areas. One hundred seventy-three high-water marks are described in this report. High-water marks, as well as survey marks, are plotted on 16 USAGE maps prepared from aerial photographs. Storm-tide elevations are presented graphically and in tabular form. Elevations of the storm tide above the local mean sea level ranged from about 11.4 feet at Estate La Grande Princesse in St. Croix to 3.1 feet at Limestone Bay, Estate Krausses Lagune in St. Croix. SELECTED REFERENCES Colon-Dieppa, Eloy, Torres-Sierra, Heriberto, and Ortiz, Jorge, 1991, U.S. Virgin Islands floods and droughts - National Water Summary 1988-89: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2375, p. 521-526. Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1995, U.S. Virgin Islands Disaster Report on Hurricane Marilyn, September 15-17, 1995 - Synopsis, FEMA-1067-DR-VI: Federal Emergency Management Agency, 7 p. Komar, P.O. (editor), 1983, CRC Handbook of coastal processes and erosion, CRC Press, Inc., Boca Raton, Florida, 305 p. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1995, Hurricane Marilyn - Preliminary statement for the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, 5 p. __1996, Natural disaster survey report - Hurricane Marilyn, September 15-16, 1995: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, 38 p., 8 appendixes. St. John Tradewinds, September 25,1995 - October 2, 1995, St. John, USVI, variously paginated. The Daily News, September 18, 1995, October 21, 1995, October 25, 1995, and October 26, 1995, St. Thomas, USVI, variously paginated. Torres-Sierra, Heriberto, 1996, Storm-tide elevations caused by Hurricane Hugo on the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, September 18, 1989: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 92-87, 44 p. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1975, Flood plain information, tidal areas, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands: Jacksonville District, 34 p. __1977, Flood hazard information, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Demarara (Frenchtown): Jacksonville District, 13 p. 12 Storm-Tide Elevations Casued by Hurricane Marilyn on the U.S. Virgin Islands, September 15-16,1995 APPENDIX Appendix 13 APPENDIX 1. HURRICANE CATEGORIES To relate hurricane intensity to damage potential, the National Hurricane Center uses the Saffir/Simpson scale which assigns storms to five categories. Category 1 is a minimum hurricane; category 5 is the worst case. floating debris. Low-lying escape routes inland cut by rising water 3 to 5 hours before hurricane center arrives. Evacuation of low-lying residences within several blocks of shoreline possibly required. Practically all poorly constructed sings blown down. CATEGORY 1 - Sustained winds of 74 to 95 miles per hour and/or storm surge 4 to 5 feet above normal. Low-lying coastal roads inundated. Minor pier damage, some small craft in exposed anchorages torn from moorings. Damage primarily to shrubbery, trees, foliage, and unanchored mobile homes. Some damage to poorly constructed signs. CATEGORY 2 - Sustained winds of 96 to 110 miles per hour and/or storm surge 6 to 8 feet above normal. Coastal roads and low-lying island areas inundated. Considerable damage to shrubbery and tree foliage; some trees blown down. Major damage to exposed mobile homes and poorly constructed signs. Some damage to roofing materials of buildings: some window and door damage. Considerable damage to piers. Marinas flooded. Small craft in unprotected anchoraged torn from moorings. CATEGORY 3 - Sustained winds of 111 to 130 miles per hour and/or storm surge 9 to 12 feet above normal. Serious flooding at coast and flat terrain 5 feet or less above sea level flooded inland some miles. Many smaller structures near coast destroyed; larger structures near coast damaged by battering waves and CATEGORY 4 - Sustained winds 131 to 155 miles per hour and/or storm surge 13 to 18 feet above normal. Flat terrain 10 feet or less above sea level flooded inland some miles. Low-lying escape routes inland cut by rising water 3 to 5 hours before hurricane center arrives. Major damage to lower floors of structures near shore. Major erosion on beaches. Massive evacuation of all residences within 500 yards of shore may be required, and of single-story residences on low ground within 2 miles of shore. Extensive damage to structures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. CATEGORY 5 - Sustained winds greater than 155 miles per hour and/or storm surge greater than 18 feet above normal. Major damage to lower floors of all structures less than 15 feet above sea level within 500 yards of shore. Low-lying escape routes inland cut by rising water 3 to 5 hours before hurricane center arrives. Massive evacuation of residential areas on low ground within 5 to 10 miles of shore possibly required. Shrubs and trees blown down; considerable damage to roofs of building; and signs down. Some complete building failures. 14 Storm-Tide Elevations Casued by Hurricane Marilyn on the U.S. Virgin Islands, September 15-16,1995 GLOSSARY Advisory. A method for disseminating hurricane and storm data to the public every 6 hours. Small craft warnings are released as necessary. Hurricane Watch. The watch covers a specified area and indicates that a hurricane may threaten the area, but is not imminent. Tropical Disturbance. A moving area of thunderstorms in the tropics. Tropical Wave. A westward moving trough of low pressure embedded in the deep easterly current. It tends to organize low level circulation and may travel thousands of miles with little change in shape, sometimes producing significant shower and thundershower activity along its path. Tropical Depression. An area of low pressure, rotary circulation of clouds and winds to 38 miles per hour. Tropical Storm. Counterclockwise circulation of clouds and winds 39 to 73 miles per hour. The storm is assigned a name. Hurricane. When a tropical storm reaches winds of 74 miles per hour or more, it is classified as hurricane. Hurricane Warning. A hurricane is expected to strike your area within 24 hours or less with: a) sustained winds of 74 miles per hour (64 knots) or higher, and b) dangerously high water or a combination of dangerously high water and exceptionally high waves. Hurricane Center or "Eye". The relatively calm area near the center of the storm which can last from several minutes to an hour or more, but it sometimes ends suddenly as winds return from the opposite direction, often with greater force. Do not go out in the "eye" of the storm as winds can increase to hurricane force within seconds. Storm Surge/Tide. The strong winds associated with Hurricanes and Tropical Storms cause the sea level to rise above normal tidal heights, with giant wind- driven waves and strong unpredictable currents, sometimes covering 50 miles. Glossary 15 - Table 2. Description of high-water marks V) torm-Tide Elevations O to 0) 1o- Ic 1 (D to f 0 (D C 0) (25' 5T to a. 0) W (D 1 V o» _i (0 3s » C w <3 3 E 5T3a (0 |3 1 en -a. o>"» s Plate number 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 7 7 8 9 10 Plate name Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor ChristianstedHarbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Christiansted Harbor Tague Bay Tague Bay Tague Bay Tague Bay Robin Bay Robin Bay Great Pond Halfpenny Bay Container Port High-water . .. M . Location mark ,_ . . . , (Estate) number ' 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 74 75 St. Croix ; Christiansted Christiansted Christiansted Christiansted Christiansted Christiansted Christiansted Christiansted Mount Welcome Mount Welcome Batteriet Louise Augusta Batteriet Louise Augusta Batteriet Louise Augusta Batteriet Louise Augusta Batteriet Louise Augusta Shoys Shoys Shoys Cotton Valley Slob Cottongarden Bay Grapetree Bay Madame Carty Mount Retreat Fareham Granard Krausses Lagune Latitude Longitude _,..., Number of Type/qual,tyof hi h.water mark marks Elevation (feet above mean sea level) , U.S. Virgin Islands 17°44'56" 17°44'56" 17°44'54" 17°44'50" 17°44'51" 17°44'51" 17°44'55" 17°44'58" 17°45'04" 17°45'05" 17°45'13" 17°45'21" 17°45'24" 17°45'21" 17°45'23" 17°45'23" 17°45'21" 17°45'28" 17°45'40" 17°45'22" 17°45'37" 17°44'56" 17°44'H" 17°43'59" 17°43'10" 17°42'20" 17°41'55" 64°42'14" 64°42'09" 64°42'06" 64°42'04" 64°42'03" 64°41'58" 64°41'53" 64°41'55" 64°41'52" 64°41'47" 64°41'42" 64°41'39" 64°41'36" 64°41'35" 64°41'33" 64°41'25" 64°41'11" 64°41'02" 64°37'27" 64°36'05" 64°35'08" 64°35'39" 64°37'07" 64°37'36" 64°39'53" 64°42'10" 64°45'41" Seedline Vexcellent Driftlines/poor Driftline/poor Driftline/poor Seedlines /excellent Seedline/fair Driftlines/fair SeedlineVexcellent Seedline Vexcellent Seedline Vexcellent Driftline/poor SeedlineVexcellent SeedlineVexcellent Driftlines/fair Driftline/fair Driftline/poor Driftlines/fair Driftlines/poor Driftlines/poor Driftlines/poor Driftlines/poor Driftlines/fair Driftlines/good Driftlines/good Driftlines/fair Driftlines/fair Driftlines/fair 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 3 5 2 5.6 4.6 4.7 5.0 5.2 5.6 5.3 4.5 6.0 6.4 6.0 6.0 8.4 4.1 10.4 8.6 7.5 7.8 6.7 4.7 6.0 4.7 4.9 5.8 4.5 8.1 3.1 Table 2. Description of high-water marks Continued Plate number 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 m 19 OP 1Z 12 12 to Plate name Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport Cyril King Airport St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor High-water mark number 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Location (Estate) St. Thomas, Contant Nisky Nisky Nisky Nisky Nisky Nisky Nisky Nisky Nisky Nisky LindberghBay Lindbergh Bay Lindbergh Bay Lindbergh Bay John Brewers Bay John Brewers Bay Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas Thomas King Quarter King Quarter King Quarter King Quarter King Quarter Latitude U.S. Virgin Islands 18°20'17" 18°20'14" 18°20'06" 18°20'05" 18°20'01" 18°19'58" 18°19'56" 18°19'59" 18°20'03" 18°20'03" 18°20'01" 18°20'16" 18°20'16" 18°20'17" 18°20'16" 18°20'41" 18°20'50" 18°19'58" 18°19'59" 18°20'13" 18°20'14" 18°20'24" 18°20'26" 18°20'33" 18°20'33" 18°20'35" 18°20'35" Longitude 64°57'01" 64°57'11" 64°57'14" 64°57'17" 64°57'19" 64°57'21" 64°57'38" 64°57'39" 64°57'36" 64°57'43" 64°57'43" 64°57'54" 64°57'56" 64°58'08" 64°58'13" 64°58'36" 64°58'47" 64°55'28" 64°55'26" 64°55'14" 64°55'13" 64°55'18" 64°55'34" 64°55'36" 64°55'38" 64°55'40" 64°55'42" Type/quality of mark Driftline/poor Driftline/poor Driftlines/poor Driftline/fair Driftline/poor Driftline/poor Driftline/poor Driftline/fair Driftline/poor Driftline/poor Driftline/poor Driftline/poor Driftlines/poor Driftlines/poor Driftline/poor Washline/poor Driftlines/fair Driftlines/poor Driftline/fair Driftline/fair Stainlines /fair Driftline/poor Washline/poor Driftline/poor Driftlines/fair Driftline/poor Driftline/fair Number of high-water marks 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 Elevation (feet above mean sea level) 6.6 6.4 6.5 7.4 6.2 7.5 5.7 5.4 4.6 5.8 5.7 8.2 9.6 8.1 9.0 8.1 8.1 9.0 10.0 7.4 5.7 7.0 7.5 7.2 5.7 6.8 7.6 Table 2. Description of high-water marks Continued Storm-Tide Elevatic w to O o> toc 0.o- Xc o' 0> (D 0> 3 O (D C V) £ to o> & to I ff O1 (D £ 0) 8 Plate number Plate name High-water mark number Location (Estate) Latitude Longitude Type/quality of mark Number of high-water marks Elevation (feet above mean sea level) St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor St. Thomas Harbor 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 King Quarter King Quarter King Quarter King Quarter King Quarter King Quarter Queen Quarter Queen Quarter Queen Quarter Kronprindsens Quarter Kronprindsens Quarter Kronprindsens Quarter Kronprindsens Quarter Demarara Demarara Altona Welgunst Altona Welgunst Honduras Altona Welgunst Altona Welgunst Altona Welgunst Altona Altona Altona Altona 18°20'35" 18°20'32" 18°20'31" 18°20'30" 18°20'30" 18°20'36" 18°20'34" 18°20'35" 18°20'32" 18°20'32" 18°20'33" 18°20'29" 18°20'28" 18°20'25" 18°20'23" 18°20'19" 18°20'19" 18°20'19" 18°20'15" 18°20'12" 18°20'ir 18°20'11" 18°20'13" 18°20'17" 18°20'17" 64°54'44" 64°55'48" 64°55'49" 64°55'50" 64°55'51" 64°55'52" 64°55'55" 64°55'56" 64°56'02" 64°56'07" 64°56'07" 64°56'16" 64°56'17" 64°56'30" 64°56'31" 64°56'33" 64°56'30" 64°56'28" 64°56'28" 64°56'29" 64°56'30" 64°56'40" 64°56'41" 64°56'46" 64°56'48" Stainline /poor Washline/poor Driftline/fair Stainline /good Driftline/fair Seedline/poor SeedlineVgood Stainline Vgood Seedline/excellent Seedline Vexcellent Seedline Vexcellent Seedline Vexcellent Driftline/poor Driftlines/poor Driftline/fair Driftline/poor Seedline Vexcellent Seedline Vexcellent Driftline/poor Driftline/fair Driftline/good Driftline/fair Driftline/poor Driftline/fair Driftline/fair 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5.0 7.8 7.1 6.6 7.1 7.1 5.8 6.2 7.9 6.6 7.0 6.3 7.0 5.6 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.2 8.5 6.6 10.9 7.0 6.3 6.6 6.6 Table 2. Description of high-water marks Continued CT » Plate number 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 14 15 Plate name Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Rendezvous Bay Coral Harbor High-water mark number 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 1 24 Location (Estate) St. John, Chocolate Hole and Great Cruz Bay Chocolate Hole and Great Cruz Bay Chocolate Hole and Great Cruz Bay Enighed Enighed Enighed Enighed Enighed Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cruz Bay Cancel Bay Cancel Bay Cancel Bay Fish Bay Emmaus Coral Bay Latitude U.S. Virgin Islands 18019-12" 18°19'29" 18°19'30" 18°19'45" 18°19'47" 18°19'46" 18°19'48" 18°19'48" 18°19'55" 18°19'58" 18°19'59" 18°19'56" 18°19'56" 18°19'57" 18°19'59" 18°20'00" 18°20'01" 18°20'02" 18°20'03" 18°20'07" 18°20'11" 18°20'10" 18°19'28" 18°20'57" Longitude 64°47'03" 64°47'14" 64°47'15" 64°47'49" 64°47'51" 64°47'56" 64°47'55" 64°47'55" 64°47'57" 64°47'57" 64°47'56" 64°47'54" 64°47'50" 64°47'47" 64°47'44" 64°47'44" 64°47'43" 64°47'43" 64°47'42" 64°47'40" 64°47'44" 64°47'48" 64°45'59" 64°42'43" Type/quality of mark Driftlines/fair Sandline/poor Stainlines /fair Driftline/fair Seedline Vexcellent Driftline/poor Seedline Vexcellent Stainline/poor Washline/poor Sandline/poor Sandline/poor Driftline/poor Driftline/fair Driftline/poor Sandline/poor Sandline/poor Sandline/poor Sandline/poor Sandline/poor Driftline/poor Driftline/poor Driftline/poor Driftlines/poor Driftline/poor Number of high-water marks 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 Elevation (feet above mean sea level) 8.2 8.1 7.0 9.2 5.2 7.1 5.1 7.7 8.9 5.6 6.1 5.0 4.0 4.1 4.0 4.0 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.4 4.8 11.3 5.1 Table 2. Description of high-water marks Continued Storm-Tide Elevations o (Da Xc o' (D 0) 3 O (D C (A '_, V *'?£ * nik «i» »io HURRICANE MARILYN SEPTEMBER 1 5- 1 6,1 995 MAXIMUM EXTENT OF STORM TIDE CORAL HARBOR Prepared by the DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS Modified by the US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, CARIBBEAN DISTRICT EXPLANATION Reference mark and identification number Bench mark and identification number High- water mark and identification number. Number in parentheses is elevation in feet above mean sea level 10- foot elevation contour 20- foot elevation contour Major road from 1:24000 DLG Approximate inundation area Feet 0 250 500 HURRICANE MARILYN SEPTEMBER 1 5- 1 6,1 995 MAXIMUM EXTENT OF STORM TIDE JOHNSON BAY Prepared by the DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY JACKSONVILLE DISTRICT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS Modified by the US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, CARIBBEAN DISTRICT PLATE 1 6 of 1 6