User:12george1/Effects of Hurricane Jeanne in Florida

The Effects of Hurricane Jeanne in Florida occurred only three weeks after Hurricane Frances and just nine days after Hurricane Ivan effected the Florida Panhandle. Hurricane Jeanne formed from a tropical wave on September 13, 2004 in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. It moved west-northwestward and crossed the Leeward Islands shortly after developing. Jeanne strengthened into a tropical storm, before landfall in Puerto Rico on September 15. Early on the following day, the storm re-emerged into the Atlantic Ocean, and intensified into a hurricane prior to making another landfall in Dominican Republic. Due to interaction with the mountainous terrain of Hispaniola, Jeanne significantly weakened to a tropical depression, although flooding in Haiti resulted in more than 3,000 fatalities. Jeanne then curved and headed in a general northward direction, where it slowly began to re-strengthen. By late on September 20, Jeanne was upgraded to a hurricane once again. The storm fluctuated in intensity from a low-end Category 1 hurricane to a strong Category 2 hurricane while completing a cyclonic loop. Thereafter, Jeanne tracked generally westward and strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane. At peak intensity, Jeanne made landfall in Stuart, Florida with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). The storm gradually weakened inland and became extratropical over Virginia on September 29.

In some areas, Jeanne compounded damage wrought by hurricanes Charley and Frances, especially in Central and northern-South Florida.

Central Florida
Two tornadoes were spawned by Hurricane Jeanne in Brevard County, both of which tracked through Micco and were of F1 intensity on the Fujita scale. The first tornado moved through a mobile home community, though damage was mainly to trees which were knocked over. In contrast, the second destroyed several mobile homes, resulting in $350,000 (2004 USD) in damage. High winds were reported in the county, with wind gusts of 91 mph recorded at the National Weather Service Office in Melbourne. Furthermore, it is estimated that wind gusts in excess of 115 mph occurred in the southern portions of the county. Throughout the county, rainfall was mostly between 6 and 8 in, which flooded streets and roads in the Palm Bay area. In addition, a man in Palm Bay drowned after driving his car into a flooded ditch. Damage in Brevard County was estimated at $320 million (2004 USD).

High winds also significantly affected Lake County. The highest wind sustained wind speed reported was 47 mph in Leesburg, though gusts to hurricane force intensity were observed in the southern portion of the county. At least 2,800 homes were damaged, 111 of which were destroyed. One fatality occurred after a 91-year old woman died in a fire, which was started by a candle lit in her home. Damage in Lake County totaled to $8 million (2004 USD), while an additional $8.2 million in loses occurred to the citrus and nursery industry.

In Orange County, high winds were also reported, with a gust to 76 mph recorded at the Orlando International Airport. Throughout the county, extensive damage occurred to houses, businesses, and public buildings. Overall, damage was estimated at $40 million (2004 USD).

In Osceola County, hurricane force wind gusts damaged or destroyed several homes, resulting in $11 million (2004 USD) in damage. Precipitation in the county peaked at 11.97 in in Kenansville, which was the highest rainfall total associated with Hurricane Jeanne. Due to heavy rainfall, flash flooding was reported, especially in the northern portions of the county. Streets and roads along U.S. Route 192 were inundated in the vicinity of St. Cloud. Damage to agriculture was also significant, totaling to an $8 million (2004 USD).

South Florida
Although the storm made landfall well to the south, Indian River County was severely affected due to the right eyewall passing through. One F1 tornado was spawned by the Jeanne in Vero Beach. It moved near the intersection of Florida State Road 60 and Interstate 95, where it felled numerous trees, resulting in approximately $20,000 (2004 USD) in damage. Rainfall in the county was mostly between 6 and 8 in, which flooded streets and roads, especially in Vero Beach. The highest wind gusts in Indian River County were 122 mph at Vero Beach and 116 mph in Sebastian. As a result of strong winds, more than 49,300 houses were either damaged or destroyed. An elderly woman was injured while evacuating her home; she died from her injuries a few days later. Damage was severest in Indian River County, with estimates of losses in excess of $2 billion (2004 USD).

To the south in St. Lucie County, Jeanne produced tides at an estimated height of 10 ft above normal. As a result of high tides, marinas were damaged at the Fort Pierce Inlet, which, in turn, destroyed numerous boats. A private residence near the Fort Pierce Inlet recorded a wind gust of 128 mph. Throughout the county, high winds damage or destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, as well as several mobile home communities. One man was injured when he ran his truck over a downed power line. In St. Lucie County, damage was extensive, albeit less than Indian River County, with estimates totaling to $1.2 billion (2004 USD).

Although the storm made landfall in Martin County, affects were less severe in comparison to the counties immediately north. Along the coast of Martin County, tides were estimated to be up to 8 ft. High winds also affected the county, with a wind gust of 105 mph reported in Jensen Beach. Overall, more than 4,180 homes were either damaged or destroyed. No fatalities occurred in Martin County, and no damage figures exist.

In northern Palm Beach County, storm surge was mainly between 2 and 4 ft. 591,300 customers in Palm Beach County were left without electricity. Damage in Palm Beach County totaled to $260 million (2004 USD).

Hurricane Jeanne also affected areas Miami-Dade County, albeit less severely. At Fowey Rocks Light, the C-Man station recorded maximum sustained winds of 49 mph and gusts to 59 mph. Winds were much lighter inland, with sustained winds reaching 29 mph and gusts as high as 36 mph at Miami International Airport. Rainfall was considerably lighter in Miami-Dade County in comparison to the counties north, with precipitation amounts average between 0.5 and 1 in. Overall, 25,100 power outages were reported and damage totaled to $10 million (2004 USD).

Effects from Hurricane Jeanne were reported as far south as Monroe County. The highest winds gusts in the county were 51 mph at the Sombrero Key Light C-Man Station and 49 mph at the Molasses Reef C-Man Station. Storm tides were 1 ft above normal on Vaca Key; it is estimated that tides reaching 2.5 ft above average occurred near North Key Largo. The surge of water inundated a parking lot at the Jewfish Creek Bridge. Due to spring tides and elevated waters in Florida Bay, minor tidal flooding occurred at the Key West International Airport. Property damage was minor, totaling to only $5,000 (2004 USD).