Hurricane of the previous decade

[Derek Ortt]

Since we just finished a decade, would like to have an informal vote on the hurricane of the last decade. I cannot find the poll option; therefore, we will just have to write in votes

my vote is Jeanne. Long damage trail, multiple destructive landfalls, and by far the highest death toll of the decade

[Macrocane]

It was a very hard choice but my vote goes for Hurricane Wilma because of the several records it broke, the impressive satellite appearance, and the trail of destruction in Cuba, Mexico and US.

[cycloneye]

I also go with Wilma.Derek,you could have made the poll as its below where you type the post.

[CrazyC83]

In the Atlantic, I would say Wilma as well, because of its incredible strength it suddenly gained overnight.

Globally, without a doubt, Cyclone Nargis - 150,000 deaths was more than every other storm in the decade combined, by an extremely wide margin!

[Ptarmigan]

Atlantic-Tough one to call. Either Jeanne, Katrina, Wilma, or Ike.
Worldwide-Have to go with Nargis.

[Derek Ortt]

I also go with Wilma.Derek,you could have made the poll as its below where you type the post.

I am not seeing that option, Luis

if this could be remade into a poll... the list I was going to go with was as follows:

1. Isidore
2. Isabel
3. Charley
4. Ivan
5. Jeanne
6. Katrina
7. Wilma
8. Dean
9. Felix
10. Gustav
11. Ike
12. Other

[cycloneye]

I also go with Wilma.Derek,you could have made the poll as its below where you type the post.

I am not seeing that option, Luis

if this could be remade into a poll... the list I was going to go with was as follows:

1. Isidore
2. Isabel
3. Charley
4. Ivan
5. Jeanne
6. Katrina
7. Wilma
8. Dean
9. Felix
10. Gustav
11. Ike
12. Other

Derek,I made the poll so the members now can vote.Voted.

[Macrocane]

Ok, voted on the new poll.

[StormClouds63]

Katrina.

[HurricaneBill]

Overall, I'd say Ivan.

[wobblehead]

I voted Katrina.
Height of storm surge and amount of coastal area impacted by it.

[Jinkers]

I voted Katrina, even tho Wilma impacted me more, Katrina's surge was really damaging

[wayne56]

Katrina

Reasons:

Cost to America in lives and property damage
Social upheaval and changed lives
Large migrations in America (Katrina people)
Change views about Tropical Cyclones: (no more wish-castling systems)
Political fallout

[Andrew92]

Katrina, not even close. No other storm in history has devastated the US as bad as she did for one. But look at what else she did:

- Deadliest US storm since I think 1928 and top five overall
- Highest storm surge ever recorded in the US
- Forced many people from New Orleans and the Mississippi coast to leave, in some cases permanently
- Food and water, or lack thereof, after the storm was over
- Never before have I seen so much coverage post-storm months after it happened as well

I'm not overlooking other storms with long and deadly trails of destruction such as Ivan, Jeanne (yes I know, even deadlier than Katrina), Wilma, and Ike. And I also have been one to say we need to look out for other countries in the past couple years. However, what Katrina lacked in a trail, she more than made up for in total destruction, lives affected, and a major humanitarian crisis - even if only in the US.

Now if Mitch were to happen this decade also, my choice would be significantly tougher - but it didn't. However, it will take one heck of a big storm to top what Katrina did.

-Andrew92

[southerngale]

Uh, where's Rita? I wouldn't expect it to be chosen over Katrina, but easily over many of the others. I can't believe you didn't even include it on the poll.

[HurricaneBill]

Now if Mitch were to happen this decade also, my choice would be significantly tougher - but it didn't. However, it will take one heck of a big storm to top what Katrina did.

-Andrew92

If Mitch happened in this decade, I would have chosen him over Katrina.

Mitch was one of the worst hurricanes of the 20th Century.

[HurricaneBill]

Now if Mitch were to happen this decade also, my choice would be significantly tougher - but it didn't. However, it will take one heck of a big storm to top what Katrina did.

-Andrew92

If a hurricane hits Haiti this year, it could happen.

[jinftl]

I would vote Katrina....this storm was a terror that truly traumatized and transformed an entire area of the Central Gulf...both before, during, and after she struck.

No other storm got such a response on a national and even international level from both the media and everyday folks who were no where near the eye of the storm. No other storm found its way into every level of politics from the local to the federal level. No other storm brought about dialogue and debate on race, class, & poverty like Katrina did.

No other storm left so many asking 'how could this happen?' and realizing that maybe it was just a case of luck finally running out....this is the storm that didn't 'miss' when others before her have...this is the storm that exposed large lapses in infrastructure and infrastructure management. No other storm showed the American public that we are not immune from what we might have thought was the type of event and the level of devastation for a 'lesser-developed' nation to have to confront. Katrina showed us that even in America, we may not be able to rely on emergency services and the 'calvary' for some time after a storm. Katrina showed what is possible when a vulnerable area of coast with millions living along it gets hit hard....and this has left many along the atlantic and gulf feeling vulnerable and wondering when there luck will run out too.

[Derek Ortt]

Uh, where's Rita? I wouldn't expect it to be chosen over Katrina, but easily over many of the others. I can't believe you didn't even include it on the poll.

Single landfall of a marginal 3. I did not include all retired hurricanes of the decade. Allison, Iris, Michelle, Frances, Rita, Stan were all left off. Some of those (Iris and Michelle) made landfall as a category 4 hurricane and would have more of a claim than Rita.

Stan was left off due to the controversy as to the direct vs indirect deaths.

Rita was also left off because Ike was as if not more destructive to the same area

[Evil Jeremy]

It was a tough choice between Wilma and Katrina for me, but I have to give it to Wilma. It did not cause as much damage as Katrina (thankfully), but as a storm it takes the crown.