We’ve been talking lots about storm surges today, but not everyone will be familiar with the term.
As a hurricane approaches a coast, the swirling winds force ocean water up onto the land. Atmospheric pressure from the storm will also help squeeze the water ashore.
The National Hurricane Center has said these surges are “often the greatest threat to life and property from a hurricane.”
Water is able to move fast in a surge, sweeping people away, throwing about boats and vehicles, and destroying structures.
It takes six inches of fast-moving water to knock over an adult.
Storm surges can become even more dangerous if they coincide with high tide, and a powerful storm surge can sweep away roads, erode beaches and contaminate land with salt water.
The waters may take a couple of days to fully subside.
Many of the 1,500 people killed during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 lost their lives directly or indirectly due to storm surges.
The terrifying footage below shows the storm surge caused by Hurricane Ian…
DISCLAIMER: Independentghana.com will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana
Source: Skynews