When Hurricanes Strike: Interagency Requirements for Agricultural Assessments

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When Hurricanes StrikeInteragency Requirements
for Agricultural Assessments

• Brad Rippey
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Office of the Chief Economist
• World Agricultural Outlook Board
• Washington, DC, U.S.A.

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Before a Storm StrikesCrop Areas and
Track/Intensity Forecasts
Track to date is mapped, along with NHC forecasts
of track (polygon) and intensity. NHC data sets
are layered with pertinent crop areas.
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During a Storms StrikeRegular Updates for Top
USDA Staff
The Secretary of Agriculture and top agency
officials receive updates at least every six
hours based on NHC forecasts of track and
intensity.
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After a Storm StrikesAgricultural Assessment
Observed track is mapped, along with NHCs
tropical storm- and hurricane-force wind
swaths. NHC data sets are layered with key
agricultural production areas.
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When Hurricanes StrikeKeys to Meeting
Interagency Goals
We (and other organizations) would like to see
the same for NHCs publicly issued products, such
as the track and intensity forecasts (lower left)
and wind swaths (right).
USDAs crop production maps are available as
GIS-based products.
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When Hurricanes StrikeKeys to Meeting
Interagency Goals
We would also like to see other hurricane-related
products from NOAA provided in GIS-ready format
(shapefiles for graphics comma-delimited format
for text).
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When Hurricanes StrikeDetermination of Disaster
Areas
Source USDAs Farm Service Agency, May 2006
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When Hurricanes StrikeDetermination of Disaster
Areas
Source USDAs Farm Service Agency, Jan. 2006
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When Hurricanes StrikeImpacts Vary from Storm
to Storm
Examples of impact differences Ophelia (NC,
2005) produced heavy rain in cotton areas.
Wilma (s. FL, 2005) caused extensive wind damage.
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A Quiet Year for the U.S. in 2006Ernesto
Headlined a Hurricane-Free Season
First year without a landfalling U.S. hurricane
since 2001 but 2001 had Allison. Only Alberto
and Ernesto struck the U.S. mainland at
tropical-storm intensity.
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Long After Storms StrikeHurricanes and Citrus
Production
In 2004, multiple hurricanes sharply reduced
Floridas citrus production for the 2004/05 crop
cycle. Serious effects on production continued
through 2005/06 and 2006/07.
ALL ORANGE
DROUGHT, SPRING 1998
FREEZE, DECEMBER 1989
HURRICANES, SUMMER 2004
GRAPEFRUIT
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When Hurricanes StrikeGoals for the Future
NHC products in shapefile (GIS-based) format
- observed and forecast storm tracks and
intensities - tropical storm- and
hurricane-force wind swaths Other NOAA
products in GIS-ingestible format -
storm-total rainfall (shapefile and/or text
file) - maximum sustained winds and peak
gusts (text file)
THANK YOU!