Fork Ridge Fire - September 12, 2024

 The Fork Ridge Fire started on September 12, 2024 in the Cherokee National Forest near Cleveland, Tennessee.

 

 WVLT. "This Fire Was Lightning-Caused: Fork Ridge Fire Continues to Burn in Cherokee National Forest." WVLT News, 18 Sept. 2024, www.wvlt.tv/2024/09/18/this-fire-was-lightning-caused-fork-ridge-fire-continues-burn-cherokee-national-forest/. Description: This photo shows the ground and some trees on fire. I chose this image because it is relevant to this post.

    The Fork Ridge Fire began on September 12, 2024, in the Big Frog Wilderness of Tennessee’s Cherokee National Forest, consuming around 65 acres of land. Dry weather and rugged terrain made containment challenging for firefighters, prompting authorities to close sections of the Benton MacKaye Trail to protect public safety. Hikers were rerouted, and local access to popular outdoor spaces was temporarily disrupted (U.S. Forest Service, "2024 Fork Ridge Fire").

    The fire’s impact on the physical environment was significant. Vegetation loss increased the likelihood of soil erosion and disrupted ecosystems, forcing wildlife to relocate and reducing habitat availability. Long-term effects on the forest’s ecological balance, including changes in plant and animal populations, are expected. Smoke from the fire reduced air quality, affecting both the environment and the health of nearby residents (WVLT).

    For the human environment, the fire caused several challenges. Local communities and visitors faced health risks from reduced air quality, especially those with respiratory conditions. Outdoor recreation, an important part of the region’s culture and economy, was temporarily halted, inconveniencing hikers and nature enthusiasts. The closures also emphasized the risks of wildfires in areas with high recreational use (U.S. Forest Service, "2024 Fork Ridge Fire").

    While the Fork Ridge Fire was contained to a relatively small area, it highlighted the broader challenges of managing wildfires in remote, protected regions. It also underscored the importance of fire preparedness and mitigation strategies to protect both people and the environment in fire-prone areas. Efforts to recover and restore the forest, including ensuring safe trails for future visitors, will likely continue for years (InciWeb).

   U.S. Forest Service. "2024 Fork Ridge Fire - Cherokee National Forest." InciWeb, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2024, inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/tncnf-2024-fork-ridge-fire-cnf. Description: This map shows the trails that were closed in response to the fire. I chose this image because it is relevant to this post.

 The Fork Ridge Fire serves as a reminder of the significant risks posed by wildfires in vulnerable areas, especially within national forests and wilderness regions. While such fires are a natural part of many ecosystems, the growing intensity and frequency of these events have raised concerns about their long-term consequences for both the physical and human environment. In this case, the fire caused vegetation loss, potentially leading to soil erosion and disrupting wildlife habitats. Additionally, smoke pollution affected local air quality, posing health risks to nearby communities (Gainesville).

    One of the key implications of this fire is the impact on local ecosystems. Fires can have long term effects on plant and animal populations, particularly in sensitive wilderness areas where recovery can take decades. The loss of vegetation not only affects the food chain but also disrupts the carbon and water cycles that are crucial for maintaining forest health. Furthermore, the fire highlighted the vulnerability of popular recreational areas. When trails are closed and access is limited, the economic and social benefits tied to outdoor activities are temporarily lost, affecting tourism and local economies (WVLT).

    To mitigate such impacts, several strategies could have been employed. First, controlled burns or prescribed fires could have been used in the area prior to the fire season to reduce the amount of fuel available, potentially preventing a fire from growing as large and destructive. Forest management techniques, such as thinning dense tree stands and clearing dead wood, could also have helped lower fire intensity. Additionally, public awareness campaigns could educate hikers and visitors about fire risks and the importance of following fire safety guidelines, reducing human-caused ignition sources (U.S. Forest Service, "Cherokee National Forest Trail").

    Another critical aspect of fire mitigation is early detection and rapid response. Improved monitoring technology, such as drones or satellite systems, could assist in detecting small fires before they spread uncontrollably. Collaboration between fire management teams, local authorities, and residents can also enhance preparedness and ensure effective evacuation plans if necessary. Finally, addressing climate change by promoting policies to reduce carbon emissions may help decrease the extreme weather patterns that exacerbate wildfire conditions (Gainesville).

    While the Fork Ridge Fire is a natural occurrence in some aspects, the growing frequency of such fires and their widespread consequences call for enhanced preventive measures, community involvement, and a shift toward proactive fire management to protect both the environment and human populations (InciWeb).

 

 Gainesville. "Fork Ridge Fire." Gainesville Fire Data, 2024, data.gainesville.com/fires/fork-ridge/7146ca8b-76b0-4ce5-886a-96aedd83d823/.  Description: This photo shows a hillside on fire during the Fork Ride Fire. I chose it because it is a photo of the fire this post is about.

Video: https://www.wvlt.tv/video/2024/09/18/fork-ridge-fire-continues-burn-cherokee-national-forest/

 Description: This video is of a news report of the fire. Several people are shown discussing the fire.

Sources

U.S. Forest Service. "Cherokee National Forest Trail to Close Due to Wildfire." U.S. Department of Agriculture, 14 Sept. 2024, www.fs.usda.gov/detail/cherokee/news-events/?cid=FSEPRD1205450

Gainesville. "Fork Ridge Fire." Gainesville Fire Data, 2024, data.gainesville.com/fires/fork-ridge/7146ca8b-76b0-4ce5-886a-96aedd83d823/

U.S. Forest Service. "2024 Fork Ridge Fire - Cherokee National Forest." InciWeb, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2024, inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/tncnf-2024-fork-ridge-fire-cnf 

WVLT. "This Fire Was Lightning-Caused: Fork Ridge Fire Continues to Burn in Cherokee National Forest." WVLT News, 18 Sept. 2024, www.wvlt.tv/2024/09/18/this-fire-was-lightning-caused-fork-ridge-fire-continues-burn-cherokee-national-forest/ 

Colorado’s Marshall Wildfire - 2021

 On December 30, 2021 a grass fire started from a firestorm that evolved in the span of one hour and caused destruction to many homes. Forecasters predicted high winds and a high-wind warning was issued for Boulder County on December 29th. There was a burn ban in Boulder County because of the high wind warning. Two accidental ignitions took place in the morning of December 30, 2021 and these ignitions sparked grass fires close to Highway 93 and Marshall Road. Since the winds had the strength of a hurricane that were 100 mph, the winds spread the fire and created a roaring wall of flames in less than an hour (NOAA, 2024). Since the county had been in six months of drought, the fire spread even quicker than normal. It is believed that the first fire started on a residential property in Eldorado Springs, and the second fire started in Marshall Mesa Trailhead near Highway 93. There is video evidence that the fires merged, and also burn patterns that were analyzed to help determine where the fire took place. The fire in Eldorado was intentionally started to burn old materials and since it was rainy and there were calm winds during the burn, firefighters were not concerned. Since the fire grew due to strong winds and spread so quickly, the fire department required that residents notify them the next time they create a controlled burn. The fire in Eldorado was originally burned out, but it started again due to the high wind gusts and the other fire was likely started by Xcel Energy Power lines. This was one of the most devastating wildfires in Colorado history, and it has taken years for people to rebuild their lives and homes. One of the reasons the fire was so extreme was because the landscape was already changing due to climate change.       

The fire destroyed 1,084 homes and also 7 commercial properties. Many people knew to evacuate because of social media posts in the area. Because of this, 50,000 residents evacuated successfully. The county was covered in thick smoke and only two people died from the fire, which officials thought was very surprising given the extreme circumstances. The fire covered many subdivisions (Figure 1) and as people were trying to evacuate, it was hard to see some of the buildings such as hotels and restaurants because of how thick the smoke was. To help mitigate these dangerous fires in the future, meteorologists have made an early warning system called the Hourly Wildlife Potential Index, which helps make predictions of winds and temperatures to help indicate the risk of fires across the US (NOAA, 2024). A Navigating Disaster called Boulder County Program was also developed to help minimize the severity of wildfires in the future and to also help minimize the risk of wildfires occurring altogether. Since the Marshall Fire, recovery navigators have held 1,200 appointments to help survivors after the damaging wildfire (Boulder County, 2024). The fire created about $2 billion in damage, which was hard to recover from (Drugan, 2023).      

    

(NOAA, 2024)

Figure 1. Marshall Fire burn assessment map. The yellow icons show damage and the red shows destroyed structures. 

(NOAA, 2024)

Figure 2. Forecast generated at 5 pm on December 29 that shows wind speeds from the surface to jetstream.  

(Colorado Sun, 2023)

Figure 3. Firefighters putting out Marshall Fire on December 30, 2021. 

Marshall Fire investigation: most destructive fire in Colorado history composed of 2 fires

This video explains how each fire started and how the fires got more intense over time. The video shows damage that took place during the wildfire and the thick clouds of smoke that were described in many news articles that covered the wildfire. 

References

 

Dougherty et al. Marshall Fire Investigative Summary and review. (2023, June 8). https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/marshall-fire-investigative-summary.pdf

 

Drugan, T. (2023, August 16). Humans started the devastating Marshall fire, 18-month investigation concludes. Drought, high heat and finds fueled its spread. The Boulder Reporting Lab. https://boulderreportinglab.org/2023/06/08/humans-started-the-devastating-marshall-fire-an-18-month-investigation-concludes-drought-high-heat-and-winds-fueled-its-spread/

Looking back at Colorado’s Marshall Fire. NOAA Research. (2024, January 8). https://research.noaa.gov/looking-back-at-colorados-marshall-fire

Marshall Fire and wind event recovery. Boulder County. (2024, November 7). https://bouldercounty.gov/disasters/wildfires/marshall/

Prentzel, O. (2023, June 12). Marshall fire was caused by reignited burn on residential property, Xcel Energy Power Line, Boulder County Authorities say . The Colorado Sun. https://coloradosun.com/2023/06/08/marshall-fire-investigation-results-colorado/

The Great Fire of 1919

 

The Great Fire of 1919 – Lanc La Biche, Canada

Lanc La Biche was an attractive place to place settlements, as it had great soil on the forest-prairie edge that those who would like to farm would value highly that far up north. Though another industry became commonplace there, as logging began to take hold of the area due to its large forests. Though these two industries are likely what started the wildfire that scarred Lanc La Biche for years to come. It is unclear what exactly caused the fire, but the main suspects are some combination of the logging practices of the area not storing lumber properly, farmers burning brush for farmland, and the drought brought on that spring. Whatever the cause may be, the result was a fire of dangerous proportions. Many saw the fire first as what was thought to be an eclipse, though it was later realized to be the fire’s glow and smoke. The fire was quick, too fast to outrun, and constantly changed direction which made it very dangerous as it passed through the boreal forest as it covered the community in an all-consuming soke (Murphy, Peter, 2015). News of the fire did not spread quickly as telephone lines were already consumed by the fire, meaning that many people had to fend for themselves for a long time. Some attempted to choke out the fire using backfires, though this ended up feeding into the fire. The fire reached approximately 200km and caused $200,000 in property damage and at least 11 dead (Murphy, Peter, 2015), as well as destroying the forest that a very large portion of the population lived off of, annihilating the economy.

Lanc La Biche was a prime target for a wildfire on a deadly scale as it has many aspects that sets up for a disastrous fire. First being the boreal forest due to its high level of timber, debris, peat, moss, shrubs, and grass. Then there is the main industries in the area giving more fuel to the fire in a very literal sense. This can be coupled with the occasionally hot and dry springs, especially for Canada’s standard. Then the fact that the very buildings are made of wood makes it clear that a fire is very likely to happen, and when it did, it would be disastrous. This makes it all the worse that people were aware of the dangers that fires could cause, as older settlers had experienced other smaller fires in the past, but their only real defense was fire rangers and their personal attempts and fire preventions rather than something issued by the government. Though, the most frightening aspect of this story isn’t the lack of preparedness or the damage it caused, but instead the fact that it is known by some as “the forgotten fire” as those outside of Lanc La Biche rarely remember it’s occurrence (Lewis, James, 2016). This is concerning as this fire is one that caused great damage to people, places and the economy but could have had better ways to deal with it before this level of tragedy hit. But instead of learning from this experience and using it as a cautionary tale and a reason to improved answers to wildfires, they instead forget about its existence, which may mean that they will be unprepared for when it happens again.

Ranker, Eric Luis, 2021 https://www.ranker.com/list/worst-wildfires-in-history/eric-vega [ID  an ongoing wildfire with billowing smoke clouds] This image was chosen to show the fire traveling through the boreal forest.

World Press, Merle Masse, 2016 https://merlemassie.wordpress.com/2015/05/19/the-great-fire-of-1919/ [ID a giant smoke cloud covering the horizon] This image is to show the scale of the fire.

Cottage Life, Stacy McLeod, 2014 https://cottagelife.com/outdoors/the-most-devastating-forest-fires-in-canadian-history/ [ID people rendered homeless due to the wildfire] This image is to show the damage caused by the fire (and also because so few images relating to this fire exist).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrDi0AXASMc

This video discusses how wildfires in Canada start. It then relates this knowledge to how people can prepare for wildfires in the future. This video was chosen because I could not find a single video about the fire I chose and this video still relates to the concept.

 

Forest History, (spring/fall 2015), The Great Fire of 1919: People and a Shared Firestorm in Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, by Peter J. Murphy, Cordy Tymstra, and Myrle Masse, retrieved November 27^th, 2024 from https://foresthistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2015_GreatFireof1919.pdf

Forest History, (May 6^th, 2016), The Fort McMurray Fire and the Great Fire of 1919, by James Lewis, retrieved November 27^th, 2024 from https://foresthistory.org/the-fort-mcmurray-fire-and-the-great-fire-of-1919/

Cottage Life, (July 17^th, 2014), The Most Devastating Forest Fires in Canadian History, by Stacy Mcleod, retrieved November 27^th, 2024 from https://cottagelife.com/outdoors/the-most-devastating-forest-fires-in-canadian-history/

World Press, (May 19^th, 2015), The Great Fire of 1919, by Merle Masse, retrieved November 28^th, 2024 from https://merlemassie.wordpress.com/2015/05/19/the-great-fire-of-1919/

Calgary Herald, (May 9^th, 2023), The Most Tragic Wildfires to Scorch The Prairies, by Monica Zurowski, retrieved November 28^th, 2024 from https://calgaryherald.com/feature/tragic-wildfires-history-canadian-prairies

Hurricane Andrew

Map of Hurricane Andrew's Path. This map was chosen to show the specific areas impacted during different phases of the storm. (Duginski).

 Hurricane Andrew was one of the most destructive hurricanes in the United States’ history, and is one of the only Category 5 hurricanes that the United States has experienced. On August 14th, 1992, Andrew began as a tropical wave off the coast of Africa, moving west across the Atlantic Ocean (NOAA). As the wave moved through the Atlantic, it passed through a high pressure area which pushed it quickly towards the Cape Verde Islands. Convection and rotation began to occur on August 16th, denoting a change to a tropical depression (Rafferty). The following day, on August 17th, Andrew collided with an easterly vertical wind shear which then caused the tropical depression to become a tropical storm (Rappaport).

Image of Hurricane Andrew moving towards Florida. This image was chose to show the scope of the storm. (Rafferty).

Andrew began to creep closer to the coast over the following days from August 17th to August 20th, building up speed and energy. On August 21th, Andrew turned westward and sped up, becoming a hurricane on August 22th. At this point, Hurricane Andrew was a category 4 hurricane. As it developed into a hurricane, it traveled for the Bahamas, passing through them on August 23rd and August 24th. Later on August 24th, Hurricane Andrew hit Florida. While it was categorized as a category 4 hurricane at this time, it was later upgraded to be a category 5 hurricane due to the high wind speeds and damage. The hurricane continued over the southeastern coast, slowing down to a category 3 hurricane as it hit Louisiana. After landfall in Louisiana, the storm disappeared within 24 hours, on August 28th, but provided more than ten inches of rain in some locations (NOAA’s National Weather Service).

Images of the destruction caused by Hurricane Andrew. This image was chosen to show how destructive the storm was on local communities. (Rafferty).

Hurricane Andrew was a horrible disaster, which killed 65 people, destroyed more than 63,000 homes, and involved the evacuation of more than 1.1 million people. While it is difficult to contend with forces as destructive as a category 5 hurricane, FEMA took four days to get relief into certain regions (Rafferty). A quicker response very easily could have saved people's lives. However, the large evacuation efforts were largely successful and impressive, as 1.2 million people evacuated. In terms of infrastructure, many buildings were destroyed, but with a hurricane of this magnitude, that is not unexpected. It is shown that many of the masonry buildings and wood modular buildings performed relatively well in the face of this hurricane, but there was significant damage due to debris breaching buildings, as well as internal air pressure being built up within buildings (Federal Insurance Administration). Many structures were destroyed, and in the future, steps could be taken to make more structures from masonry or wooden modular structures due to their performance in the wake of the hurricane. At the time, Hurricane Andrew was the most expensive hurricane in United States history, but now ranks behind several more recent hurricanes. Overall, there is very little that can be done to mitigate the damage of the hurricane besides ensuring that they were buildings of the best quality. While there was little to be done to stop the hurricane, there could have been improvements in disaster management. The evacuation was exceptional, however a four day response time must be improved. There must be explicit plans in place in case of a disaster, even one of this magnitude, in order to save every life possible. 

This video illustrates the effects of the hurricane firsthand, showing the beginning stages of the storm. The high wind and debris shown is not yet the worst of the storm, but this does visually contextualize the force of a category 5 hurricane.

References

Duginski, P. (2019, August 30). Will hurricane dorian follow in Andrew’s devastating footsteps? Los Angeles Times. 

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2019-08-30/will-hurricane-dorian-follow-in-andrews-devastating-footsteps 

Federal Insurance Administration. Building Performance: Hurricane Andrew In Flordia. Federal Emergency Management Agency. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/fia22_complete.pdf

NOAA. (2022, August 22). Hurricane Andrew at 30: A look back from above. National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/hurricane-andrew-30-look-back-above 

NOAA’s National Weather Service. (2024, August 28). Hurricane Andrew 1992. National Weather Service. https://www.weather.gov/lch/andrew 

Rafferty, J. P. (2024, October 9). Hurricane Andrew. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/event/Hurricane-Andrew 

Rappaport, E. (1998, December 25). Preliminary report hurricane andrew 16 - 28 August, 1992. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admindistration. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1992andrew.html 

U.S. Department of the Interior. (n.d.). Hurricane Andrew (1992). National Parks Service. https://www.nps.gov/articles/hurricane-andrew-1992.htm 

Typhoon Rai

 

This is a natural-color image of Typhoon Rai on
 the afternoon of December 16, 2021 (NASA 2021).

Mt. Unzen, Japan, 1792 Volcanic Eruption

 Mt. Unzen, Japan, 1792 Volcanic Eruption

      In 1792, Mt. Unzen, a Composite volcano near Shimabara, Nagasaki, erupted on the island of Kyushu. This series of eruptions led to a destructive landslide and tsunami, with the death toll estimated at 15,000 people, making it the most deadly volcanic eruption in Japan's eruption (Britannica, 2023). Mount Unzen is part of the Nankai Volcanic Arc and has a summit of 1,483 meters (Smithsonian, 2024).

    The following information comes from the Unzen Restoration Office. The volcanic event is estimated to have begun in November of 1791 and comprised of 4 stages, preceding earthquake swarms reaching a seismic activity of about 5-6 magnitude.  The second stage comprised four eruptions starting in February 1792 and ending in the following March: the Fugenshi-Mae, Anasako-Tani, Hachinokubo, and Furuyake-Kashira. Followed by a lava flow at Shin'yake coming from the top of Anasako-Tani, the lava flow had an average velocity of 30-50m/day with a lava volume of about 20 million m³, which reached about 0.5km to houses. Various other phenomena accompanied these eruptions, such as a carbonated spring forming at Kureisibaru in Mie-village, new smoke from Oshiga-Tani, and new cracks forming from Hachino-Kubo to Furuyake-Kashira.  The third stage was followed by an earthquake of magnitude 5-6 on April 21, which deemed the Shimabara-Sangatsusaku earthquake as two or three large fissures that formed in the town of Shimabara castle. A landslide in the Kusunoki-Daira occurred between Mayu-Yama and Ariake Baye, which resulted in the groundwater level rising abnormally at Imamura.  The fourth stage was followed by the Shimabara-Shiatsusaku earthquake and the collapse of the Mayu-Yama sector. The earthquake was estimated to be a magnitude 6.4 and occurred on May 21. The sector (Figure 1) collapsed, and huge amounts of debris and rocks rushed down into Ariake Bay, generating a large tsunami that killed an estimated 15,000 people. (Unzen Restoration Office, 2002). 

    

Figure 1: Mayuyama landslide before and after (Higaki, 2023)

 

Image 2: Mt. Mauyama Landslide Scarp (https://www.usgs.gov)

Video 1: Simulates the tsunami that was created by the landslide caused by Mayuyama collapsing (Youtube)

Hurricane Gustav - September 1st, 2008

 Hurricane Gustav

Time: August 25 - September 3, 2008

Location: Gulf Coast of the United States; affecting Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas

Figure 1. This image shows the direct path that Hurricane Gustav took towards the United States.

https://www.weather.gov/lix/gustav2008.

Summary of the Event:

Hurricane Gustav, a category 4 storm, was a powerful hurricane that hit the Gulf Coast in 2008. Gustave formed in the Atlantic Ocean on August 25, 2008 and quickly intensified as it moved west, making landfall on August 31, 2024 near Cocodrie, Louisiana. The hurricane’s strength was eye opening, as it threatened areas that were previously hit from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 (National Hurricane Center). Gustav’s winds reached up to 150 mph, causing flooding, storm surges, and extensive damage to infrastructure (CNN). 

The physical environment experienced destruction from the storm’s winds and heavy rainfall. Coastal areas were underwater due to storm surges, particularly in Louisiana and Mississippi. The storm destroyed trees, damaged power lines, and caused significant flooding in both urban and rural areas. The most severely impacted areas from the hurricane included the bayous and coastal parishes of Louisiana, as well as parts of southern Mississippi and Texas (FEMA). 

The economic damage was estimated at $8 billion dollars, with damage to homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure (USA Today). Power outages affected millions, and recovery efforts were made towards both the scale of the destruction and the number of displaced people. The storm’s impact was somewhat mitigated due to good evacuation efforts and strengthened levee systems in New Orleans, as a direct result of lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina (New York Times).

Figure 2. This image shows the evacuation efforts from the AMC for humanitarian relief.

https://www.jbcharleston.jb.mil/News/Press-Releases/Article/122587/amc-supporting-hurricane-gustav-evacuation-efforts-in-louisiana-texas/

Discussion of the Importance, Implications, or Consequences: 

The importance of Hurricane Gustav was in both the demonstration of both the vulnerabilities and resilience of the Gulf Coast in the face of natural disasters. One of the key implications was the focus on evacuation procedures and public safety measures. Unlike Katrina, where the failure to evacuate and inadequate emergency response led to catastrophic loss of life, Gustav’s effects were less devastating partly due to better preparedness (FEMA). The storm prompted widespread evacuations, and many people left their homes ahead of the hurricane’s arrival. However, despite these precautions, the storm still inflicted significant economic damage (National Hurricane Center). One of the main consequences of Gustave was the strain it placed on the region's recovery efforts. Hurricane Gustav hit shortly before the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, reminding residents of the fragile nature of their infrastructure and community (New York Times). Recovery was made more difficult by the combined effects of the storm surge, flooding, and power outages, as well as the ongoing rebuilding efforts from previous hurricanes. 

Mitigation efforts could have been in many ways including such as enhancing flood protection systems further and more disaster response mechanisms. Although New Orleans’ levee systems had been strengthened after Katrina, many smaller communities along the Gulf Coast remained highly vulnerable. A better warning system, as well as improved emergency response infrastructure, would have helped to minimize property damage and casualties. Investing in more sustainable, hurricane-resistant building materials and strategies for rebuilding could also have reduced long-term impacts on homes and businesses (CNN).

Figure 3. This image shows the destruction and flooding caused from Hurricane Gustav.

https://www.ocregister.com/2008/09/01/hurricane-gustav-hits-gulf-coast/

Eyewitness Video:

The video contains footage of Hurricane Gustav. This video shows the damage that the hurricane caused to Louisiana and the times that the eye was over New Orleans.

Works Cited:

National Weather Service. "Hurricane Gustav Maximum Wind Gusts - September 1, 2008." National Weather Service Lake Charles, LA, NOAA, https://www.weather.gov/lch/gustavwinds. 

Isidore, Chris. "Hurricane Gustav Damage Estimated at $20 Billion." CNN Money, 2 Sept. 2008, https://money.cnn.com/2008/09/02/news/economy/gustav_estimates/index.htm. 

Cave, Damien. "Gustav Lashes Louisiana, But New Orleans Spared." The New York Times, 1 Sept. 2008, https://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/01/world/americas/01iht-storm.4.15806303.html. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency. Preliminary Damage Assessment Report: Hurricane Gustav, FEMA-1786-DR-LA. FEMA, 2008, https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/PDAReport_FEMA-1786-DR-LA.pdf.