Tropical Storm Emily (2011)
Encyclopedia
Tropical Storm Emily was a weak Atlantic tropical cyclone that brought torrential rains to much of the Caribbean
in 2011. The fifth named storm
of the annual hurricane season
, Emily developed from a strong but poorly organized tropical wave
that tracked the open Atlantic for several days in late July. By July 31, it approached the Lesser Antilles
and became better defined, producing inclement weather over much of the area. The following day, the disturbance finally developed a closed wind circulation center, marking the formation of Tropical Storm Emily. It remained fairly disorganized as it proceeded into the Caribbean, though it generated strong thunderstorms and gusty winds along its path. On August 4, Emily was declassified as a tropical cyclone after the mountainous areas of Hispaniola
disrupted its weak circulation. Upon exiting the northeastern Caribbean, its remnants regenerated back to a tropical depression on August 6, ultimately dissipating the next day.
Despite its poor organization, Emily wrought havoc across many Caribbean nations. Gusty winds felled trees and heavy rains triggered widespread flooding throughout the Lesser Antilles; any significant damage was confined to Martinique
, however, where one fatality occurred. In Puerto Rico
, similar floods affected residences and roads, with infrastructural losses in the territory estimated at $5 million. Even after dissipation, the remnants of Emily continued to produce prolonged rainfall over much of Hispaniola. Extensive floods and mudslides in the Dominican Republic
displaced over 7,000 residents, and three people drowned in the capital of Santo Domingo
. In neighboring Haiti
, hundreds of homes were flooded in the Artibonite Department
, prompting evacuations. Only minor wind damage occurred throughout the country's southern peninsula, but one death was reported in the region.
of Tropical Storm Emily was complicated, extending over several days from late July into early August. An easterly tropical wave
—an equator
ward trough of low pressure
moving generally westward—exited the west Africa
n coast in the fourth week of July, at which point it became largely embedded within the monsoon trough
. Oriented north to south, the wave supported little to no precipitation
for a day or two as it traversed the open Atlantic. By July 28, a weak low-pressure center developed along its southern periphery, and over time clusters of convection
increased around the broad circulation. Atmospheric conditions favored additional development into a tropical cyclone
; an anticyclonic circulation
soon formed over the system, creating a supportive upper-level environment. It accordingly became better defined over the next couple of days, retaining unusually low surface pressures
as well as concentrated showers and thunderstorms. Following a retrace toward the west-northwest, the threat to nearby land increased with the higher chances of development, with several forecast models projecting a path directly into the northeastern Caribbean
.
During the morning of July 31, the large low markedly gained in organization, and the National Hurricane Center
(NHC) noted it was close to becoming a tropical depression.
Later that day, however, the mean circulation became increasingly elongated; its westernmost component detached to form a separate tropical wave. This new disturbance featured widely scattered convection, with rainband
s briefly impacting the Lesser Antilles
. As the vigorous low closed in on the Leeward Islands
, little change initially occurred in its structure the next day, though associated surface winds rose to near tropical storm force. A reconnaissance flight
into the system finally revealed a well-defined circulation center near the deep convection, passing just to the south of Dominica
. This marked the formation of Tropical Storm Emily around 2350 UTC August 1, and it accelerated toward the west in response to high pressure
to its north.
With a relatively dry environment along its projected path, Emily was expected to strengthen only gradually until its passage through the Greater Antilles
. For several hours into August 2, the cyclone fluctuated little in intensity and organization, and there were few indications of developing banding features
. Though the storm's appearance improved on satellite images
, reconnaissance found it to remain poorly organized, and at the time several forecast models even supported dissipation prior to landfall in Hispaniola
. For the rest of its journey across the eastern Caribbean, the low-level center of the storm became exposed from the deepest thunderstorm activity due to moderate wind shear
aloft. On August 4, a brief increase in organization of the cloud pattern and convective banding near the center became notable as the upper outflow
over the cyclone expanded. By then, Emily proceeded to track just south of the Dominican Republic
, dropping heavy precipitation over the area. Due to the adjacent high terrain and increasing vertical wind shear, its weak circulation became increasingly disrupted; the cyclone degenerated into an open trough around 2100 UTC that day.
The remnant trough proceeded northwestward into the Bahamas, where the NHC assessed a high chance of redevelopment based on relenting upper winds. Over the next couple of days, it moved over the Bahamas proceeding east of southern Florida
. Late on August 6, the trough regenerated into a weak tropical depression, although it once again dissipated to a remnant low by the next day. The low took on a east-northeastward motion, subsequently bypassing Bermuda
before heading eastward over the open Atlantic. Its associated convection briefly redeveloped, once again prompting the NHC to monitor the system. By August 13, however, the chances of redevelopment dwindled as the remains became absorbed by a proximate extratropical system
to the north.
declared yellow cyclone alerts for Guadeloupe
and Martinique
, warning of imminent squally weather. Due to the presence of Emily, officials in Puerto Rico
ordered the preparation of over 400 storm shelters, and ensured adequate water supply island-wide. Government workers were dismissed the morning prior to the passage of the storm; national courtrooms opted to remain closed during that time. Additionally, a state of emergency
was declared for the entire island prior to Emily's arrival. The United States Coast Guard
issued a statement urging residents of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
to avoid recreational boating and swimming until Emily passes. JetBlue Airways
announced that it would be waiving fees for flights into the Dominican Republic
, due to inclement conditions being caused by Emily. Four cruise ships, Oasis of the Seas
, Freedom of the Seas
, Carnival Dream
and Carnival Liberty
altered their courses through the Caribbean to avoid impact.
In Haiti
, about 630,000 people were still living in tents across areas devastated by the January 2010 earthquake
prior to Emily's arrival. Due to the lack of sturdy structure to ride out a storm, fears arose over how they would fare with a tropical cyclone passing through the country. Emergency officials in the country set aside 22 large buses to evacuate thousands of people at the risk of flooding. Additionally, residents were urged to conserve food and safeguard their belongings. The United Nations
placed 11,500 troops in the country on standby to assist in recovery efforts should they be necessitated. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
also put emergency teams on standby to deliver food support in addition to the 125,000 people already assisted. In advance of the storm, authorities closed all airports and landing sites in country.
, causing street flooding and inundating homes. Roughly 5,000 residences lost power at the height of the storm, though the outages were brief and confined to the southeast of the island. A large landslide occurred in the capital of Fort-de-France
due to excessive soil saturation, prompting some 40 families to evacuate the area. Across the city, deep flood waters affected at least 29 homes; a man was electrocuted and killed by an exposed wire in his flooded home.
In Guadeloupe
, damage from the storm was limited; potent gusts uprooted numerous trees and blew debris onto streets throughout Basse-Terre
. One road was blocked off to traffic during its passage as a precautionary measure, but was reopened soon thereafter. Gale-force winds downed some electricity lines in Saint Kitts and Nevis
, causing two island-wide outages. The storm enhanced moisture to produce intermittent torrents over the Virgin Islands
, with localized totals of no more than 1 inch (25 mm). Winds in the area were also limited; the highest gust was experienced on Buck Island
, at 52 mph (83 km/h).
highway and PRI-3 intersection. Throughout the island, multiple other roads were made impassable by landslides and fallen objects; infrastructural damage surmounted $5 million, according to preliminary estimates. Additionally, the two-day suspension of about 280,000 employees—about 30 percent of the territory's workforce—affected the local economy significantly, with capital losses estimated at $55 million.
In San Lorenzo
, imminent bridge collapse lead to the isolation of about 25 families. Flooded homes and cluttered streets were reported in Ceiba
, with one residential gate collapsing in the municipality. The agricultural sector also sustained losses from the storm; in Yabucoa
, heavy rains washed out 1200 acres (485.6 ha) of banana
seedlings.
, with maximum totals of up to 21 inches (528 mm) recorded in Neiba. Among other consequences, severe flooding and isolated mudslides left at least 56 isolated from surrounding areas. The storm displaced up to 7,534 people throughout the country, of which 1,549 sought refuge in storm shelters. Consecutive hours of rainfall resulted in the overflow of some rivers, although no significant damage was reported to adjacent areas. Offshore, squalls generated rough waves that briefly affected boating operations and oceanside homes. To the east of Santo Domingo
, two men drowned after they were caught in a swollen river. A third drown fatality occurred elsewhere in the capital, reportedly due to flooding.
Owing to its promptly dissipation, Emily spared neighboring Haiti
from the devastation initially anticipated. At least 235 people required evacuation in Jacmel
and Tabarre
at the height of the storm, as well as 65 prisoners from Gonaïves
and Miragoâne
. In the Artibonite Department
, civil protection teams evacuated roughly 300 residents. Rainfall triggered floods that damaged over 300 homes throughout the country, while several cholera
treatment centers were destroyed. At the risk of new outbreaks, special sterilizers were distributed to sanitize possibly contaminated waters. A body was recovered from a ravine near Les Cayes
, but the exact cause of death remains disputed; another person in the area sustained injuries after being hit by a fallen tree. Additionally, high winds caused some property damage in Léogâne
and Jacmel.
, causing some rivers to overflow. Damaging flood waters spread across roads in Santiago de Cuba
, and at least 37 homes were affected by mud. While regenerating into a tropical depression, Emily dropped prolonged rainfall in the Bahamas; a severe thunderstorm warning was accordingly issued for Grand Bahama
and adjacent waters. Precipitation totals of up to 7.9 in (200 mm) were recorded during the time.
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
in 2011. The fifth named storm
Tropical cyclone naming
Tropical cyclones have officially been named since 1945 and are named for a variety of reasons, which include to facilitate communications between forecasters and the public when forecasts, watches, and warnings are issued. Names also reduce confusion about what storm is being described, as more...
of the annual hurricane season
2011 Atlantic hurricane season
The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season is tied for the third most active season on record with 1887, 1995 and 2010. It began on June 1, 2011, and ended on November 30, 2011, however these dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones develop in the Atlantic basin...
, Emily developed from a strong but poorly organized tropical wave
Tropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
that tracked the open Atlantic for several days in late July. By July 31, it approached the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
and became better defined, producing inclement weather over much of the area. The following day, the disturbance finally developed a closed wind circulation center, marking the formation of Tropical Storm Emily. It remained fairly disorganized as it proceeded into the Caribbean, though it generated strong thunderstorms and gusty winds along its path. On August 4, Emily was declassified as a tropical cyclone after the mountainous areas of Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
disrupted its weak circulation. Upon exiting the northeastern Caribbean, its remnants regenerated back to a tropical depression on August 6, ultimately dissipating the next day.
Despite its poor organization, Emily wrought havoc across many Caribbean nations. Gusty winds felled trees and heavy rains triggered widespread flooding throughout the Lesser Antilles; any significant damage was confined to Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, however, where one fatality occurred. In Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, similar floods affected residences and roads, with infrastructural losses in the territory estimated at $5 million. Even after dissipation, the remnants of Emily continued to produce prolonged rainfall over much of Hispaniola. Extensive floods and mudslides in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
displaced over 7,000 residents, and three people drowned in the capital of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
. In neighboring Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, hundreds of homes were flooded in the Artibonite Department
Artibonite Department
Artibonite is one of the ten departments of Haiti. With an area of 4,984 km² it is Haiti's largest department. Artibonite has a population of 1,168,800 . The region is the country's main rice-growing area. The main cities are Gonaïves and Saint-Marc...
, prompting evacuations. Only minor wind damage occurred throughout the country's southern peninsula, but one death was reported in the region.
Meteorological history
The cyclogenesisTropical cyclogenesis
Tropical cyclogenesis is the term that describes the development and strengthening of a tropical cyclone in the atmosphere. The mechanisms through which tropical cyclogenesis occurs are distinctly different from those through which mid-latitude cyclogenesis occurs...
of Tropical Storm Emily was complicated, extending over several days from late July into early August. An easterly tropical wave
Tropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
—an equator
Equator
An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....
ward trough of low pressure
Trough (meteorology)
A trough is an elongated region of relatively low atmospheric pressure, often associated with fronts.Unlike fronts, there is not a universal symbol for a trough on a weather chart. The weather charts in some countries or regions mark troughs by a line. In the United States, a trough may be marked...
moving generally westward—exited the west Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n coast in the fourth week of July, at which point it became largely embedded within the monsoon trough
Monsoon trough
The monsoon trough is that portion of the Intertropical Convergence Zone which extends into or through a monsoon circulation, as depicted by a line on a weather map showing the locations of minimum sea level pressure, and as such, is a convergence zone between the wind patterns of the southern and...
. Oriented north to south, the wave supported little to no precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
for a day or two as it traversed the open Atlantic. By July 28, a weak low-pressure center developed along its southern periphery, and over time clusters of convection
Atmospheric convection
Atmospheric convection is the result of a parcel-environment instability, or temperature difference, layer in the atmosphere. Different lapse rates within dry and moist air lead to instability. Mixing of air during the day which expands the height of the planetary boundary layer leads to...
increased around the broad circulation. Atmospheric conditions favored additional development into a tropical cyclone
Tropical cyclone
A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...
; an anticyclonic circulation
Anticyclone
An anticyclone is a weather phenomenon defined by the United States' National Weather Service's glossary as "[a] large-scale circulation of winds around a central region of high atmospheric pressure, clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere"...
soon formed over the system, creating a supportive upper-level environment. It accordingly became better defined over the next couple of days, retaining unusually low surface pressures
Atmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...
as well as concentrated showers and thunderstorms. Following a retrace toward the west-northwest, the threat to nearby land increased with the higher chances of development, with several forecast models projecting a path directly into the northeastern Caribbean
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
.
During the morning of July 31, the large low markedly gained in organization, and the National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
(NHC) noted it was close to becoming a tropical depression.
Later that day, however, the mean circulation became increasingly elongated; its westernmost component detached to form a separate tropical wave. This new disturbance featured widely scattered convection, with rainband
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
s briefly impacting the Lesser Antilles
Lesser Antilles
The Lesser Antilles are a long, partly volcanic island arc in the Western Hemisphere. Most of its islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, with the remainder located in the southern Caribbean just north of South America...
. As the vigorous low closed in on the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
, little change initially occurred in its structure the next day, though associated surface winds rose to near tropical storm force. A reconnaissance flight
Hurricane Hunters
The Hurricane Hunters are aircraft that fly into tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeastern Pacific Ocean for the specific purpose of directly measuring weather data in and around those storms. In the United States, the Air Force, Navy, and NOAA units have all participated in...
into the system finally revealed a well-defined circulation center near the deep convection, passing just to the south of Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
. This marked the formation of Tropical Storm Emily around 2350 UTC August 1, and it accelerated toward the west in response to high pressure
Subtropical ridge
The subtropical ridge is a significant belt of high pressure situated around the latitudes of 30°N in the Northern Hemisphere and 30°S in the Southern Hemisphere. It is characterized by mostly calm winds, which acts to reduce air quality under its axis by causing fog overnight, and haze during...
to its north.
With a relatively dry environment along its projected path, Emily was expected to strengthen only gradually until its passage through the Greater Antilles
Greater Antilles
The Greater Antilles are one of three island groups in the Caribbean. Comprising Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola , and Puerto Rico, the Greater Antilles constitute almost 90% of the land mass of the entire West Indies.-Greater Antilles in context :The islands of the Caribbean Sea, collectively known as...
. For several hours into August 2, the cyclone fluctuated little in intensity and organization, and there were few indications of developing banding features
Rainband
A rainband is a cloud and precipitation structure associated with an area of rainfall which is significantly elongated. Rainbands can be stratiform or convective, and are generated by differences in temperature. When noted on weather radar imagery, this precipitation elongation is referred to as...
. Though the storm's appearance improved on satellite images
Weather satellite
The weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be either polar orbiting, seeing the same swath of the Earth every 12 hours, or geostationary, hovering over the same spot on Earth by orbiting over the equator while...
, reconnaissance found it to remain poorly organized, and at the time several forecast models even supported dissipation prior to landfall in Hispaniola
Hispaniola
Hispaniola is a major island in the Caribbean, containing the two sovereign states of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The island is located between the islands of Cuba to the west and Puerto Rico to the east, within the hurricane belt...
. For the rest of its journey across the eastern Caribbean, the low-level center of the storm became exposed from the deepest thunderstorm activity due to moderate wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
aloft. On August 4, a brief increase in organization of the cloud pattern and convective banding near the center became notable as the upper outflow
Outflow (meteorology)
Outflow, in meteorology, is air that flows outwards from a storm system. It is associated with ridging, or anticyclonic flow. In the low levels of the troposphere, outflow radiates from thunderstorms in the form of a wedge of rain-cooled air, which is visible as a thin rope-like cloud on weather...
over the cyclone expanded. By then, Emily proceeded to track just south of the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, dropping heavy precipitation over the area. Due to the adjacent high terrain and increasing vertical wind shear, its weak circulation became increasingly disrupted; the cyclone degenerated into an open trough around 2100 UTC that day.
The remnant trough proceeded northwestward into the Bahamas, where the NHC assessed a high chance of redevelopment based on relenting upper winds. Over the next couple of days, it moved over the Bahamas proceeding east of southern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Late on August 6, the trough regenerated into a weak tropical depression, although it once again dissipated to a remnant low by the next day. The low took on a east-northeastward motion, subsequently bypassing Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
before heading eastward over the open Atlantic. Its associated convection briefly redeveloped, once again prompting the NHC to monitor the system. By August 13, however, the chances of redevelopment dwindled as the remains became absorbed by a proximate extratropical system
Extratropical cyclone
Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of cyclones defined as synoptic scale low pressure weather systems that occur in the middle latitudes of the Earth having neither tropical nor polar characteristics, and are connected with fronts and...
to the north.
Preparations
In light of high potential for tropical cyclone development, Météo-FranceMétéo-France
Météo-France is the French national meteorological service.The organisation was established by decree in June 1993 and is a department of the Ministry of Transportation. It is headquartered in Paris but many domestic operations have been decentralised to Toulouse...
declared yellow cyclone alerts for Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
and Martinique
Martinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, warning of imminent squally weather. Due to the presence of Emily, officials in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
ordered the preparation of over 400 storm shelters, and ensured adequate water supply island-wide. Government workers were dismissed the morning prior to the passage of the storm; national courtrooms opted to remain closed during that time. Additionally, a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
was declared for the entire island prior to Emily's arrival. The United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
issued a statement urging residents of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
United States Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands of the United States are a group of islands in the Caribbean that are an insular area of the United States. The islands are geographically part of the Virgin Islands archipelago and are located in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles.The U.S...
to avoid recreational boating and swimming until Emily passes. JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
announced that it would be waiving fees for flights into the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, due to inclement conditions being caused by Emily. Four cruise ships, Oasis of the Seas
MS Oasis of the Seas
MS Oasis of the Seas is an Oasis-class cruise ship in the fleet of Royal Caribbean International. The first of her class, she was joined by her sister ship Allure of the Seas in December 2010. Both vessels cruise the Caribbean from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida...
, Freedom of the Seas
MS Freedom of the Seas
MS Freedom of the Seas is a cruise ship owned and operated by Royal Caribbean International. It is the namesake of Royal Caribbean's Freedom class cruise ships, and can accommodate 3,634 passengers and 1,300 crew on fifteen passenger decks...
, Carnival Dream
Carnival Dream
Carnival Dream is a Dream class cruise ship. At 130,000 tons, she is the biggest the line has ever built. Her sister ship, Carnival Magic is the latest in the Carnival Cruise Lines ships, being delivered on April 27, 2011, while her other sister ship Carnival Breeze is expected out in June...
and Carnival Liberty
Carnival Liberty
Carnival Liberty is a Conquest-class cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Lines. She was built by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and was the first Carnival ship to feature Carnival's Seaside Theater—a high by wide LED screen...
altered their courses through the Caribbean to avoid impact.
In Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, about 630,000 people were still living in tents across areas devastated by the January 2010 earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
prior to Emily's arrival. Due to the lack of sturdy structure to ride out a storm, fears arose over how they would fare with a tropical cyclone passing through the country. Emergency officials in the country set aside 22 large buses to evacuate thousands of people at the risk of flooding. Additionally, residents were urged to conserve food and safeguard their belongings. The United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
placed 11,500 troops in the country on standby to assist in recovery efforts should they be necessitated. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is a humanitarian institution that is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement along with the ICRC and 186 distinct National Societies...
also put emergency teams on standby to deliver food support in addition to the 125,000 people already assisted. In advance of the storm, authorities closed all airports and landing sites in country.
Lesser Antilles
Intense rainbands produced gusty winds and heavy precipitation to 5.90 in (150 mm) in MartiniqueMartinique
Martinique is an island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, with a land area of . Like Guadeloupe, it is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. To the northwest lies Dominica, to the south St Lucia, and to the southeast Barbados...
, causing street flooding and inundating homes. Roughly 5,000 residences lost power at the height of the storm, though the outages were brief and confined to the southeast of the island. A large landslide occurred in the capital of Fort-de-France
Fort-de-France
Fort-de-France is the capital of France's Caribbean overseas department of Martinique. It is also one of the major cities in the Caribbean. Exports include sugar, rum, tinned fruit, and cacao.-Geography:...
due to excessive soil saturation, prompting some 40 families to evacuate the area. Across the city, deep flood waters affected at least 29 homes; a man was electrocuted and killed by an exposed wire in his flooded home.
In Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
, damage from the storm was limited; potent gusts uprooted numerous trees and blew debris onto streets throughout Basse-Terre
Basse-Terre Island
Basse-Terre Island is the name of the western-half of Guadeloupe proper, in the Lesser Antilles. It is separated from the other half of Guadeloupe proper, Grande-Terre, by a narrow sea channel called the Rivière Salée ....
. One road was blocked off to traffic during its passage as a precautionary measure, but was reopened soon thereafter. Gale-force winds downed some electricity lines in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis
The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis , located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island nation in the West Indies. It is the smallest sovereign state in the Americas, in both area and population....
, causing two island-wide outages. The storm enhanced moisture to produce intermittent torrents over the Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are the western island group of the Leeward Islands, which are the northern part of the Lesser Antilles, which form the border between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean...
, with localized totals of no more than 1 inch (25 mm). Winds in the area were also limited; the highest gust was experienced on Buck Island
Buck Island (British Virgin Islands)
Buck Island is an island of the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. It is privately held. A former owner had begun to build a bridge between Buck Island and the mainland of Tortola, but construction ceased when it was discovered that under British Virgin Islands law that would create a right...
, at 52 mph (83 km/h).
Puerto Rico
While moving little near Puerto Rico, Emily brought prolonged tropical storm conditions to many parts of the island. High winds damaged an electrical grid, cutting off power to about 18,500 customers; roughly 6,000 people were left without drinking water during the storm. Dozens of residents evacuated to shelters, in particular those living near risk zones. Torrential rains of up to 10 inches (250 mm) overflowed three rivers, which resulted in the flooding and subsequent closure of the PR-31Puerto Rico Highway 31
Puerto Rico Highway 31 is a main, rural highway connecting Juncos, Puerto Rico at Puerto Rico Highway 198 to Naguabo, Puerto Rico at Puerto Rico Highway 3. It is a pass-by route for people who are going from Caguas and other towns west of Juncos to Naguabo without having to pass through Humacao,...
highway and PRI-3 intersection. Throughout the island, multiple other roads were made impassable by landslides and fallen objects; infrastructural damage surmounted $5 million, according to preliminary estimates. Additionally, the two-day suspension of about 280,000 employees—about 30 percent of the territory's workforce—affected the local economy significantly, with capital losses estimated at $55 million.
In San Lorenzo
San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico
San Lorenzo is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the eastern central region, north of Patillas and Yabucoa; south of Gurabo; east of Caguas and Cayey; and west of Juncos and Las Piedras. San Lorenzo is spread over ten wards and San Lorenzo Pueblo...
, imminent bridge collapse lead to the isolation of about 25 families. Flooded homes and cluttered streets were reported in Ceiba
Ceiba, Puerto Rico
Ceiba is a small town in northeast Puerto Rico. It is named after the famous Ceiba tree. Ceiba is located in the east coast of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Naguabo, south of Fajardo, and east of Río Grande. It is located about one hour's driving distance from San Juan...
, with one residential gate collapsing in the municipality. The agricultural sector also sustained losses from the storm; in Yabucoa
Yabucoa, Puerto Rico
Yabucoa is a small town in the south eastern tip of Puerto Rico located in the southeastern region, north of Maunabo; south of San Lorenzo, Las Piedras and Humacao; and east of Patillas and about one hour from San Juan. Yabucoa is spread over 9 wards and Yabucoa Pueblo...
, heavy rains washed out 1200 acres (485.6 ha) of banana
Banana
Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red....
seedlings.
Hispaniola
Albeit disorganized, Emily and its remnants dropped extensive precipitation across the Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, with maximum totals of up to 21 inches (528 mm) recorded in Neiba. Among other consequences, severe flooding and isolated mudslides left at least 56 isolated from surrounding areas. The storm displaced up to 7,534 people throughout the country, of which 1,549 sought refuge in storm shelters. Consecutive hours of rainfall resulted in the overflow of some rivers, although no significant damage was reported to adjacent areas. Offshore, squalls generated rough waves that briefly affected boating operations and oceanside homes. To the east of Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo, known officially as Santo Domingo de Guzmán, is the capital and largest city in the Dominican Republic. Its metropolitan population was 2,084,852 in 2003, and estimated at 3,294,385 in 2010. The city is located on the Caribbean Sea, at the mouth of the Ozama River...
, two men drowned after they were caught in a swollen river. A third drown fatality occurred elsewhere in the capital, reportedly due to flooding.
Owing to its promptly dissipation, Emily spared neighboring Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
from the devastation initially anticipated. At least 235 people required evacuation in Jacmel
Jacmel
Jacmel, also known by its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel, is a town in southern Haiti founded in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est and has an estimated population of 40,000, while the municipality of Jacmel had a population of 137,966 at the 2003 Census.The buildings are...
and Tabarre
Tabarre
Tabarre is a municipality in the Port-au-Prince Arrondissement, in the Ouest Department of Haiti....
at the height of the storm, as well as 65 prisoners from Gonaïves
Gonaïves
Gonaïves is a city in northern Haiti, the capital of the Artibonite Department. It has a population of about 104,825 people . The city's name derives from the original Amerindian name of Gonaibo. It is also known as Haïti's "independence city"...
and Miragoâne
Miragoane
Miragoâne is a coastal town in western Haïti and the capital of the Nippes Department. It is regarded as one of the major ports in the trade in used goods. Bales of used clothing, shoes, appliances and used cars arrive at the port from Miami and other U.S. cities. Local merchants in the informal...
. In the Artibonite Department
Artibonite Department
Artibonite is one of the ten departments of Haiti. With an area of 4,984 km² it is Haiti's largest department. Artibonite has a population of 1,168,800 . The region is the country's main rice-growing area. The main cities are Gonaïves and Saint-Marc...
, civil protection teams evacuated roughly 300 residents. Rainfall triggered floods that damaged over 300 homes throughout the country, while several cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
treatment centers were destroyed. At the risk of new outbreaks, special sterilizers were distributed to sanitize possibly contaminated waters. A body was recovered from a ravine near Les Cayes
Les Cayes
Les Cayes , is a town and seaport in southwestern Haiti, with a population of approximately 45,904 people . Estimates from 2008 place the population at close to 70,000 people...
, but the exact cause of death remains disputed; another person in the area sustained injuries after being hit by a fallen tree. Additionally, high winds caused some property damage in Léogâne
Léogane
Léogâne is a seaside town in Ouest Department, Haïti. It is located in the eponymous arrondissement, the Léogâne Arrondissement. The port town is located about West of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. The town was at the epicenter of the 12 January 2010 earthquake, and was catastrophically...
and Jacmel.
Elsewhere
The successor trough to Emily produced torrential rains over eastern CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, causing some rivers to overflow. Damaging flood waters spread across roads in Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba
Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city of Cuba and capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province in the south-eastern area of the island, some south-east of the Cuban capital of Havana....
, and at least 37 homes were affected by mud. While regenerating into a tropical depression, Emily dropped prolonged rainfall in the Bahamas; a severe thunderstorm warning was accordingly issued for Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama is one of the northernmost of the islands of the Bahamas, and the closest major island to the United States, lying off the state of Florida. Grand Bahama is the fifth largest island in the Bahamas island chain of approximately 700 islands and 2,400 cays...
and adjacent waters. Precipitation totals of up to 7.9 in (200 mm) were recorded during the time.
See also
- Other tropical cyclones named EmilyTropical Storm EmilyThe name Emily has been used for six tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean, and five tropical cyclones in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. It was used in the Eastern Pacific before the formal naming system was instituted, and then it was used on the old four-year lists.Atlantic:*1981's Hurricane Emily...
External links
- The NHCNational Hurricane CenterThe National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
's storm archive on Tropical Storm Emily