Project

Extending Historical Hurricane Records for East Florida

Full Title: A multistep method for extending the hurricane record back in time to obtain more representative return period calculations for East Florida coastal communities
The project extends the historical hurricane record for East Florida to improve risk assessment and planning by compiling and cross-validating documentary and sediment-based datasets. It aims to provide a comprehensive dataset for analyzing hurricane impacts and variability, supporting emergency management and reinsurance industries.
Lead Investigator: Dr. Joanne Muller, Florida Gulf Coast University, jmuller@fgcu.edu
Project Team: • Dr. Jennifer Collins, University of South Florida • Dr. Yujie Hu, University of South Florida
Collaborator: National Hurricane Center (NHC), National Weather Service (NWS), Risk Prediction Initiative (RPI), Risk Management Services (RMS)
Award Amount: $193,061
Year Funded: 2018
Award Period: 02/01/2018 to 05/30/2022
Project Abstract:

This project addresses the need for a more comprehensive historical hurricane record for East Florida, which is crucial for accurate risk assessment and planning. The project aims to extend the historical hurricane record back to 1750 for East Florida by compiling documentary and sediment-based paleotempestology datasets. This effort will provide a robust dataset for analyzing hurricane impacts, improve the accuracy of hurricane return period calculations, and enhance understanding of hurricane variability. The methodology involves cross-validating historical records with geological data, creating GIS maps of hurricane impacts, estimating return periods of major hurricanes, and analyzing the influence of climate variability on hurricane activity. The project is expected to significantly impact emergency management and reinsurance industries by providing data for improved risk modeling and planning. The outcomes will enhance the resilience of coastal communities to extreme weather events and aid in coastal resilience planning.

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