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137-571: Okeechobee covers 730 square miles (1,900 km) and is exceptionally shallow for a lake of its size, with an average depth of only 9 feet (2.7 metres). Not only is it the largest lake in Florida and the largest lake in the southeast United States, it is also too large to see across. The Kissimmee River , located directly north of Lake Okeechobee, is the lake's primary source. The lake is divided between Glades , Okeechobee , Martin , Palm Beach and Hendry counties. All five counties meet at one point near

274-652: A Cayo Guillermo resort were evacuated by helicopter. The NHC issued several watches and warnings for the Southeastern United States . The first watches and warnings were issued at 15:00 UTC on September 7, which was a hurricane watch from the Jupiter Inlet to Bonita Beach , including the Florida Keys and Lake Okeechobee . The watches and warnings were extended into Georgia and South Carolina on September 9. At 21:00 UTC on that day,

411-494: A storm surge when strong winds drove water over the 6.6-foot (2-meter) mud dike that circled the lake at the time. After the two hurricanes, the Florida State Legislature created the "Okeechobee Flood Control District". The organization was authorized to cooperate with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in actions to prevent similar disasters. U.S. President Herbert Hoover visited the area personally, and afterward

548-529: A tropical wave near the Cape Verde Islands on August 30. Favorable conditions allowed Irma to rapidly intensify into a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson wind scale by late on August 31. The storm's intensity fluctuated between Categories 2 and 3 for the next several days, due to a series of eyewall replacement cycles . On September 4, Irma resumed intensifying, becoming

685-761: A Category 4 hurricane at 06:00 UTC on September 10, as deep convection improved and the eye became better defined. The cyclone made landfall in Cudjoe Key, Florida , at 13:00 UTC on September 10, at Category 4 intensity, with winds of 130 mph (210 km/h). Increasing wind shear and land interaction caused the satellite appearance of the storm to become ragged later that day, and Irma weakened to Category 3 intensity before making its seventh and final landfall at 19:30 UTC, in Marco Island, Florida , with sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Once Irma had moved inland, it began to accelerate to

822-609: A Category 4 hurricane, but the storm re-attained Category 5 status before making landfall in Cuba . Although Irma briefly weakened to a Category 2 storm while making landfall on Cuba, the system re-intensified to Category 4 status as it crossed the warm waters of the Straits of Florida , before making landfall on Cudjoe Key on September 10. Irma then weakened to Category 3 status, prior to another landfall in Florida on Marco Island later that day. The system degraded into

959-433: A Category 5 hurricane by early on the next day. Early on September 6, Irma peaked with 1-minute sustained winds of 180 mph (290 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 914 hPa (27.0 inHg). Irma was the second-most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2017 in terms of barometric pressure, and the strongest worldwide in 2017 in terms of wind speed. Another eyewall replacement cycle caused Irma to weaken back to

1096-608: A combined €1.2 billion (US$ 1.43 billion) in insured losses across the French territories of Saint-Martin and Saint Barts. This total covered private property such as homes, vehicles and businesses (including lost revenue); the extent of the damage to infrastructural and public facilities remains undetermined. Nonetheless, this made Irma one of the costliest natural disasters to hit the French Republic in 50 years. On January 30, 2018, roughly five months after Irma, an analysis

1233-516: A direct hit, more than half of the residents on Barbuda took shelter, and relief supplies were preemptively mobilized. The National Emergency Management Organization on Saint Lucia urged small craft operators and swimmers to be mindful of forecasts for high surf. Small Craft Warnings and High Surf Advisories were hoisted for Dominica , where residents were urged to remain vigilant of the potential for high waves, landslides, and flooding. In Guadeloupe, low-lying and cliff-edge homes were evacuated at

1370-409: A few hours on September 9. It was the first time that the shoulder-use plan, which was introduced at the start of the 2017 hurricane season, was implemented by the state for hurricane evacuations. The shoulder-use plan was implemented in place of labor- and resource-intensive contraflow lane reversal , in which both sides of an interstate highway are used for one direction of traffic. Officials from

1507-522: A flood of polluted fresh water resulting in ecological damage . Since 2013, the CoE has been forced to pump billions of gallons of water out of the lake to avoid jeopardizing the integrity of the Hoover dike holding back the water from inundating the surrounding populated area. Some claim that sugar plantations have been pumping polluted water from their flooded fields into the lake, but U.S. Sugar claims back pumping

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1644-446: A gas station. Satellite images revealed many of the island's residential zones had been left in ruins. The hurricane passed over Necker Island , also causing severe damage and destroying the mansion of Richard Branson . Most homes and businesses were destroyed on the island of Jost Van Dyke , the smallest of the B.V.I.'s four main islands. The Governor , Gus Jaspert , who had only been sworn into office 13 days previously, declared

1781-584: A large freshwater lake in southern Florida called Serrope . By the 18th century the largely mythical lake was known to British mapmakers and chroniclers by the Spanish name Laguna de Espiritu Santo . In the early 19th century it was known as Mayacco Lake or Lake Mayaca after the Mayaca people , originally from the upper reaches of the St. Johns River , who moved near the lake in the early 18th century. The modern Port Mayaca on

1918-424: A marker pole, which resembled from a distance a monkey's head inside a box. This shallow lake has been previously studied for its algal blooms. Lake Okeechobee is known for its algal blooms in consequence of increased eutrophication . Algal blooms like this can be harmful to the environment, including the lake's flora and fauna, because of released toxins. The vegetation at Lake Okeechobee is important in maintaining

2055-402: A number of houses. In The Valley , the island's capital, the hurricane blew out the windows of government buildings. Rough seas inflicted heavy damage upon several bays and harbors, and a seaside restaurant was completely eradicated. About 90% of roads were left impassable. The island's air traffic control tower was damaged, exacerbating the already poor communication with the island. One death

2192-485: A peak sustained wind speed of 55 mph (89 km/h) at a weather station along San Juan Bay , while the same site observed a peak wind gust of 74 mph (119 km/h). However, on the island of Culebra , a wind gust of 111 mph (179 km/h) was reported. Mainly due to strong winds, approximately 1.1 million out of 1.5 million of Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority 's customers lost electricity. Portions of Puerto Rico received heavy rainfall, with

2329-498: A peak total of 13.04 in (331 mm) in Bayamón , causing seven rivers to reach flood stage, widespread flash flooding, and at least six landslides. The most severely affected areas included the offshore islands of Culebra and Vieques , as well as the northeastern, northern, and mountainous portions of the main island. On Culebra, the island suffered an almost complete loss of electrical and water services. At least 30 homes on

2466-677: A remnant low over Alabama and ultimately dissipated on September 13 over Missouri . The storm caused catastrophic damage in Barbuda , Saint Barthélemy , Saint Martin , Anguilla , and the Virgin Islands as a Category 5 hurricane. The hurricane caused at least 134 deaths: one in Anguilla ; one in Barbados ; three in Barbuda ; four in the British Virgin Islands ; 10 in Cuba ; 11 in

2603-582: A shallow geological trough that also underlies the Kissimmee River Valley and the Everglades . The trough is underlain by clay deposits that compacted more than the limestone and sand deposits did along both coasts of peninsular Florida. Until about 6,000 years ago, the trough was dry land. As the sea level rose, the water table in Florida also rose and rainfall increased. From 6,000 to 4,000 years ago, wetlands formed building up peat deposits. Eventually

2740-536: A state of emergency - the first time this has ever happened in the Territory. After the storm, restoration of electricity took approximately 5 months. Irma's effects in the U.S. Virgin Islands were most profound on Saint Thomas , where at least 12 inches (300 mm) of rain fell, and on Saint John . Saint Thomas island suffered widespread structural damage, including to its police station and airport. Patients from

2877-404: A state of emergency initially for all six coastal counties on September 6, but eventually expanded the declaration to 94 counties south of Atlanta metropolitan area , and then the entire state on September 10. Atlanta was placed under its first-ever tropical storm warning. Governor Deal ordered mandatory evacuations for all areas east of Interstate 95 on September 7, before extending

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3014-462: A state of emergency on September 6, with South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster following suit the same day. Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency on September 8 in order to protect Virginia residents and to mobilize resources in support of neighboring states. Officials in New Orleans stated that there would not be much time for preparations if Irma failed to make

3151-405: A water supply network on that island lost power during the storm, leaving several communes in the dark without running water. Overall damage was limited to external parts of houses and trees that were blown onto roads and three unmanned ships wrecked by rough seas. Saint Kitts and Nevis endured similar conditions to other islands. Blustery rainstorms triggered scattered power outages and disabled

3288-472: Is a river in south-central Florida , United States that forms the north part of the Everglades wetlands area. The river begins at East Lake Tohopekaliga south of Orlando , flowing south through Lake Kissimmee into the large, shallow Lake Okeechobee . Hurricane-related floods in 1947 prompted channelization of the meandering lower stretch, completed by 1970. The straightened course reduced wetland habitat and worsened pollution. In response, efforts since

3425-531: Is afflicted with the invasive terrestrial plant torpedograss ( Panicum repens ). The concerning levels of total phosphorus (TP) began to be noticed in 1970s, and since then inputs of TP have averaged 516 tons per year. These yearly inputs can vary based on the volume of runoff entering the lake. The years 2005 and 2018 had particularly large volumes of water and TP inputs in relation to hurricanes increasing runoff. Despite limiting TP inputs by decreasing phosphorus use in agriculture, Lake Okeechobee has yet to reach

3562-474: Is found to be inversely correlated with the amount of suspended solids in the lake. Suspended solids varied with season with higher amounts of suspended solids in the winter, and thus less transparency on average, and lower amounts of suspended solids in the summer, leading to more transparency on average. Secchi depths not only varied across seasons, but also by location in the lake. Secchi depths ranges average from about 0.2 to 0.5 metres (0.66 to 1.64 ft) in

3699-566: Is only to avoid flooding of communities, never to protect farmland. In March 2015, the rate was 1 billion US gallons (3,800,000 m) daily. This results in pollution problems for the Treasure Coast , St. Lucie estuary, and the Indian River Lagoon . In May 2016, 33 square miles (85 km) of the southern portion of the lake were affected by an algal bloom . The outbreak was possibly due in part to nutrient-laden waters reaching

3836-529: Is the second largest source for the lake, with about 9% of the total inflow. Prior to the 20th century, Lake Istokpoga was connected to the Kissimmee River by Istokpoga Creek, but during the rainy season Lake Istokpoga overflowed, with the water flowing in a 40 km wide sheet across the Indian Prairie into Lake Okeechobee. Today Lake Istokpoga drains into Lake Okeechobee through several canals that drain

3973-644: The Alcorn State Braves was moved up a day and relocated to Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama . The Georgia Southern Eagles game against the New Hampshire Wildcats on September 9 was also moved to Legion Field for that day. As of September 5, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding was running dangerously low, due to its response to Hurricane Harvey in Texas the previous week, prompting

4110-511: The British Virgin Islands . Irma maintained Category 5 strength for several days as it passed north of the Greater Antilles . After beginning an eyewall replacement cycle , Irma weakened to a Category 4 hurricane as it passed south of the Turks and Caicos Islands early on September 8, subsequently ending the 60-hour contiguous period of Irma maintaining Category 5 intensity,

4247-669: The Dajabón River connecting the two countries was broken. In the Dominican Republic, the fishing community of Nagua sustained damage from waves that destroyed homes. 55,000 soldiers were deployed to affected areas to help with the cleanup efforts. By the evening of September 7, the government had counted 2,721 damaged homes. In Haiti, flooding one meter deep sat in residential neighborhoods in places like Cap-Haïtien , Ouanaminthe , and Gonaives . Mudslides, destroyed homes, flooded crops, and infrastructure damage were reported in

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4384-512: The Environmental Protection Agency , which had been criticized for its response to Hurricane Harvey , took special measures to inspect and secure hazardous materials, especially at Superfund sites. Direct Relief , a disaster relief organization, coordinated with local health centers and provided resources to help facilities on the front lines of Floridian and Puerto Rican communities. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal declared

4521-482: The Florida Keys are located, was placed under a mandatory evacuation. Residents in communities near the southern half of Lake Okeechobee were also ordered to leave. Additionally, voluntary evacuation notices were issued for all or parts of Alachua , Baker , Bay , Bradford , Charlotte , Columbia , Desoto , Hardee , Highlands , Hillsborough , Lake , Manatee , Okeechobee , Osceola , and Polk counties. A record 6.5 million Floridians evacuated, making it

4658-483: The Florida Keys . It was also the most intense hurricane to strike the continental United States since Katrina in 2005 , the first major hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Wilma in the same year, and the first Category 4 hurricane to strike the state since Charley in 2004 . The word Irmageddon was coined soon after the hurricane to describe the damage caused by the hurricane. Irma developed from

4795-638: The French West Indies ; one in Haiti ; three in Puerto Rico ; four on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten ; 92 in the contiguous United States , and four in the U.S. Virgin Islands . Hurricane Irma was the top Google searched term in the U.S. and globally in 2017. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring a tropical wave over western Africa on August 26. Developing into a tropical depression just west of

4932-652: The Great Miami Hurricane hit the Lake Okeechobee area, killing approximately 300 people. Two years later in 1928, the Okeechobee Hurricane crossed over the lake, killing thousands. The Red Cross reported 1,836 deaths, a figure which the National Weather Service initially accepted, but in 2003, the number was revised to "at least 2,500". In both cases the catastrophe was caused by flooding from

5069-527: The Trump administration to request an immediate $ 8 billion in additional funding as Irma approached Florida. Given the rate that current funds are being consumed and the catastrophic damage, the United States Senate almost doubled the requested amount to $ 15.3 billion, with the understanding that this would only be about 10% of what will be required for responding to Harvey. Hurricane Irma's path

5206-532: The Turks and Caicos , evacuation orders were issued for low-lying areas starting September 5. Schools were closed, government buildings were boarded up, and shelters were opened. Officials spread warnings to residents in English, Creole, and Spanish via social media, radio, SMS text, and WhatsApp . In The Bahamas , the government began preparations the week prior to the hurricane's arrival, including securing national sports facilities to use as shelters. By September 7,

5343-651: The UCF Knights - Memphis Tigers game scheduled for September 9 was moved to September 30, replacing UCF's game against Maine and Memphis game against Georgia State . UCF also canceled their game against Georgia Tech on September 16, as UCF's stadium hosted the National Guard. The USF Bulls - Connecticut Huskies football game was also canceled. The Miami Hurricanes – Arkansas State Redwolves game scheduled for September 9 at Centennial Bank Stadium in Arkansas

5480-620: The United States Army Corps of Engineers stated it hoped to complete the project in 2015. Restoration was eventually completed in July 2021. In all, about 44 miles (71 km) of the Kissimmee River was restored, plus 20,000 acres of wetlands. In 2006, the South Florida Water Management District had acquired enough land along the river and in the upper chain of lakes to complete restoration. A 2009 report from

5617-614: The United States Congress authorized the canalization of the Kissimmee River. From 1962 to 1970 the United States Army Corps of Engineers dredged the C-38 Canal down the Kissimmee valley, shortening the 103-mile (166 km) distance from Lake Kissimmee to Lake Okeechobee to just 56 miles (90 km). It has since been realized that this project damaged the river, with the faster water flow leading to major environmental problems in

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5754-687: The 1990s have partially restored the river's original state and revitalized the ecosystem, as part of the broader restoration of the Everglades . The Kissimmee River arises in Osceola County as the outflow from East Lake Tohopekaliga , passing through Lake Tohopekaliga , Lake Cypress, Lake Hatchineha and Lake Kissimmee . Below Lake Kissimmee, the river forms the boundary between Osceola County and Polk County , between Highlands County and Okeechobee County , and between Glades County and Okeechobee County before it flows into Lake Okeechobee . The river

5891-639: The Cape Verde Islands early on August 31, becoming Tropical Storm Irma shortly afterwards. Under favorable conditions, Irma underwent rapid intensification , becoming a major hurricane on September 1. Within a 48-hour period, the hurricane's intensity had increased by 65 mph (105 km/h). Fluctuations occurred over the next few days due to internal processes, as The first aircraft reconnaissance mission discovered an eye 29 mi (47 km) in diameter and surface winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) on September 3. As Irma continued approaching

6028-515: The Center for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction Technology (CEDIM), a Germany-based risk management agency, estimate that economic losses for Antigua and Barbuda will exceed $ 120 million. On the morning of September 6, Irma's center crossed the island of Saint Martin while the storm was at peak intensity, sweeping away entire structures, submerging roads and cars, and triggering an island-wide blackout. Irma's extreme winds ripped trees out of

6165-473: The Corps designed a plan incorporating the construction of channels, gates, and nearly 140 miles of levees to protect areas surrounding Lake Okeechobee from overflow. The Okeechobee Waterway was officially opened on March 23, 1937, by a procession of boats which left Fort Myers, Florida , on March 22 and arrived at Stuart, Florida , the following day. The dike was then named the " Herbert Hoover Dike " in honor of

6302-402: The Corps of Engineers went into detail with the issues and plans for the Kissimmee River restoration. The restoration project was completed on July 29, 2021. It restored 40 miles (64.3 km) of river and almost 25,000 acres of wetlands. Lake Kissimmee is expected to rise one and a half feet, restoring water sequestration functions and easing seasonal droughts. Already, wildlife is returning to

6439-536: The French island of Saint Barthélemy , southeast of Saint Martin. Describing the extent of the destruction, one local compared it to "a bomb that burned all vegetation," while another said that it were as if the hurricane had effectively "erased the island from the map". Violent seas swept away entire coastal establishments, with one hotel being stripped of all but its foundation. Streets in the capital of Gustavia were turned into rushing rivers, which carried away vehicles and pieces of furniture. The island's fire station

6576-707: The Indian Prairie, and into the Kissimmee River through a canal that has replaced Istokpoga Creek. Historically, outflow from the lake was by sheet flow over the Everglades, but most of the outflow has been diverted to dredged canals connecting to coastal rivers, such as the Miami Canal to the Miami River , the New River on the east, and the Caloosahatchee River (via the Caloosahatchee Canal and Lake Hicpochee) on

6713-511: The Kissimmee Valley and Lake Okeechobee. Efforts are currently underway to reverse the process and re-introduce the many oxbows in the river that slowed the water. After the river channel was straightened , 40,000 acres (160 km ) of floodplain below Lake Kissimmee dried out, reducing the quality of waterfowl habitat by ninety percent, and the number of herons , egrets and wood storks by two-thirds. Catches of largemouth bass in

6850-458: The Lake Okeechobee watershed (southwest). The floodplain of the river supports a diverse community of waterfowl , wading birds , fish , and other wildlife. The 1947 Atlantic hurricane season , which included the 1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane and the 1947 October Hurricane , produced very heavy rainfall and flooding over most of central and southern Florida . Florida requested federal assistance in controlling future floods, and in 1954

6987-559: The Leeward Islands, the hurricane underwent a second and more robust period of rapid intensification, becoming a Category 5 hurricane early on September 5. The extremely powerful hurricane continued to intensify, with maximum sustained winds peaking at 180 mph (290 km/h) shortly afterwards. Irma acquired annular characteristics around this time, with the storm exhibiting a large, symmetric CDO and an impressive satellite appearance. Irma continued to intensify while approaching

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7124-678: The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency had deployed response teams in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands . Supplies, including food rations, medical supplies, and blankets, were pre-staged in strategic locations on the islands for distribution. On September 5, the Dominican Republic activated the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters , thus providing for humanitarian satellite coverage;

7261-478: The United States and Haiti followed suit two days later. According to officials, 11,200 people were evacuated from vulnerable areas prior to the storm's arrival. Approximately 7,400 tourists were moved to Santo Domingo , away from beach resorts. In Haiti , government officials and aid organizations struggled with early preparation and evacuation efforts. While some officials blamed reluctance and indifference on

7398-575: The advisories reached their maximum extent, with a hurricane warning covering the entire east coast of the state, the west coast from Indian Pass southward, and the Florida Keys; a hurricane watch was in place from the Florida–;Georgia state line to Edisto Beach, South Carolina ; and there were two tropical storm warnings, one in Florida from Indian Pass to the Okaloosa – Walton county line and

7535-879: The aimed target set by the South Florida Water Management District's in the 1980s of reducing the lake's TP by 40 μg/L. Although proposed by the South Florida Water Management District, this initiative of limiting the lake's TP to 40 μg/L was adopted by The Lake Okeechobee Technical Advisory Committee (LOTAC), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), but phosphorus inputs have yet to be controlled enough to reach this goal. Concerning estimates of phosphorus assimilation capacity indicates that even if phosphorus inputs were to be stopped, or severely limited,

7672-445: The approximately 24,000 restoration personnel who had been activated. Governor Scott suspended tolls on all toll roads in Florida, including the turnpike . All state offices in Florida were closed from September 8 to September 11, while public schools, state colleges, and state universities in all 67  counties were closed during the same period. The Florida Department of Education coordinated with school districts as

7809-585: The building [strewn] across the runway and a jet bridge snapped in half." It demolished or severely damaged about 70% of Sint Maarten's houses, forcing thousands of residents into public shelters. There were 4 deaths and 23 injuries, 11 of which were serious, in the Dutch territory. Irma is considered the worst natural disaster to hit Sint Maarten; the extent of its damage far exceeded that of any previous hurricane. Total damages were estimated at €2.5 billion (US$ 2.98 billion). Irma left widespread destruction and disastrous flooding along its path over

7946-502: The center of the lake. The earliest recorded people to have lived around the lake were the Calusa . They called the lake Mayaimi , meaning "big water", as reported in the 16th century, by Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda . The name Okeechobee comes from the Hitchiti words oki (water) and chubi (big). Slightly later in the 16th century, René Goulaine de Laudonnière reported hearing about

8083-422: The core of the hurricane was expected to remain north of the island, a yellow alert was issued for Martinique due to the likelihood of rough seas. The island dispatched relief supplies and military reinforcements to its neighboring islands of Guadeloupe, Saint Martin. and Saint Barthélemy, which faced a greater risk of a direct impact. On September 4, Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency. By September 6,

8220-465: The east side of the lake preserves that name. The Battle of Lake Okeechobee was fought on the northern shore of the lake in 1837 during the Seminole Wars . On the southern rim of Lake Okeechobee, three islands— Kreamer , Ritta , and Torey—were once settled by early pioneers. These settlements had a general store, post office, school, and town elections. Farming was the main vocation. The fertile land

8357-410: The extensive saturation of the lake would result in it taking years before improved water quality can be observed. These inputs of phosphorus provide optimal conditions for harmful algal blooms (HABs). Cyanobacteria (CyanoHABs), which need nitrogen and phosphorus for growth, have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen. With this ability along with the high inputs of phosphorus, the shallow nature of

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8494-878: The fauna are so reliant on the macrophytes for habitat, food, and protection from predation, a decrease in macrophyte diversity and abundance has negative consequences on fauna richness. Macrophyte abundance is dependent on many abiotic factors such as water depth, water transparency and light availability, and nutrients, along with influence of biotic factors. Increasing phytoplankton and algal blooms from eutrophication and nutrient abundance can decrease water transparency and light availability to submerged macrophytes, providing one explanation how macrophytes are sensitive to eutrophication. Some submerged macrophytes that have been recorded at Lake Okeechobee include southern naiad ( Najas guadalupensis ), Illinois pondweed ( Potamogeton illlinoensis ), vallisneria ( Vallisneria americana ), and hydrilla ( Hydrilla verticillata ). Lake Okeechobee

8631-431: The fourth and third floors of Charlotte Amalie 's hospital had to be relocated to lower floors due to flooding from roof leaks. Three deaths were attributed to Irma on the island. On nearby Saint Croix , there were communication issues and some damage to the infrastructure. Saint John lost access to ferry and cargo services, along with access to the local airport. Due to its normal reliance on electricity from Saint Thomas,

8768-525: The government had evacuated 1,609 people by air from the southern islands, including 365 from Bimini . Controlled cutting of the power supply to southern and central Bahamian islands was conducted in advance of the storm. Shelters were made available, though usage was low due to most evacuees staying with family on other islands. Of the 2,679 foreign tourists still in The Bahamas on September 7, about 1,200 were being housed at Atlantis Paradise Island , one of

8905-521: The ground and sent vehicles and debris from damaged structures scattered across the territory. On the French side of Saint-Martin , entire marinas around Marigot were left in ruins, littered with the stranded remnants of boats that had smashed into each other. A hotel caught on fire, but dangerous conditions and impassable roads prevented firefighters from putting out the blaze. Another hotel lost nearly all of its ground floor. Media images depicted devastated room interiors with furniture hurled around after

9042-430: The hurricane also defoliated trees and injured a few people. CEDIM's analysts expect economic losses of $ 20–65 million for the two islands. Damage in the British Virgin Islands was extensive. Numerous buildings and roads were destroyed on the island of Tortola , which bore the brunt of the hurricane's core. Four people were confirmed dead. Along Cane Garden Bay, the storm surge submerged several seaside bars and

9179-474: The hurricane moved over Barbuda near its record peak intensity early on September 6; a weather station observed a wind gust of 160 mph (260 km/h). The same station also recorded a minimum barometric pressure of 916.1 mbar (27.05 inHg). The exact state of the island remained unclear for hours after Irma's passage, as downed phone lines ceased all communication with nearby islands. Later that afternoon, Prime Minister Gaston Browne surveyed

9316-461: The hurricane then made landfall in Cayo Romano, Cuba , at 03:00 UTC on September 9, with winds of 165 mph (266 km/h). This made Irma only the second Category 5 hurricane to strike Cuba in recorded history, after the 1924 Cuba hurricane . As the eye of Irma moved along the northern coast of Cuba, gradual weakening ensued due to land interaction, with the eye becoming cloud-filled and

9453-462: The intensity falling to a high-end Category 2 storm later on September 9. After slowing down late on September 9, the hurricane turned northwestward towards Florida around the southwestern edge of the subtropical high to its northeast and a low-pressure system that was located over the continental United States . Moving over the warm waters of the Straits of Florida, Irma quickly restrengthened to

9590-403: The island was left without power. Total damage from the three islands was at least $ 1.1 billion. The hurricane passed north of Puerto Rico , but still caused significant damage to the United States territory. Along the coast, a tide gauge observed waves up to 1.5 ft (0.46 m) mean higher high water . Much of the main island experienced sustained tropical storm force winds, with

9727-881: The island were destroyed, while about 30 other experienced substantial damage. High winds also toppled a number of trees. The only telecommunications tower on Culebra sustained damage, cutting off outside communications for several hours. In rural Loíza , 79 homes were destroyed. Throughout Puerto Rico, 781 out of 1,600 telecommunications towers went out of commission, primarily due to power outages. At least 362,000 customers lost water services. Debris, mostly fallen trees, blocked at least 72 roads. Approximately 25% to 30% of banana, coffee, papaya, and plantain crops were damaged by strong winds, with losses to farmers estimated at $ 30.6 million. Approximately 1,530 homes experienced at least moderate damage, with 1,448 homes moderately damaged, 32 extensively damaged, and 50 completely destroyed. Hurricane Irma

9864-543: The island's water system, but per the International Red Cross , the islands were spared the level of destruction seen elsewhere. Still, Prime Minister Timothy Harris stated that property and infrastructure had sustained "significant damage." The Dutch territories of Saba and Sint Eustatius were also struck by the hurricane's winds, resulting in infrastructural damage, water shortages and telecommunication outages. Several houses were left uninhabitable. On Saba,

10001-399: The island. In addition to the catastrophic impact on Barbuda's human residents, concern turned to the storm's effects on the island's wildlife. The island's only endemic bird, the near-threatened Barbuda warbler , numbered less than 2,000 individuals prior to the hurricane. For some time it was unknown if the warbler survived the hurricane or its aftermath; however within a few months it

10138-493: The lake and what their respective contributions are. They found that ammonium based fertilizers and soil nitrogen were the largest contributors to nitrate found in the lake. Manure and precipitation were two other sources of nitrate. These results can aid in monitoring and regulation of nitrogen uses around Okeechobee, and subsequently aid in restoring the lake. [REDACTED] Media related to Lake Okeechobee at Wikimedia Commons Kissimmee River The Kissimmee River

10275-519: The lake before 2000, to nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria dominating the lake after 2000 and up until 2004 as phosphorus inputs were high and nitrogen was limiting. This time was referred to as the "pre-hurricane" time period, and the period after the 2004–2005 hurricane season was referred to as the "post-hurricane" period. During the post-hurricane period, light became limiting and influenced phytoplankton composition. Kramer et al. (2018) studied Lake Okeechobee during and after its major 2016 algal bloom that

10412-689: The lake depending on seasonality, site depth, sediments, and turbidity. Yearly fish recruitment was found to be positively correlated with increased water levels, providing more substrate and protection. These fish populations support different wading birds, including various species of egrets , ibises , wood storks , and herons , along with alligator populations. Fish diets in Lake Okeechobee depend on macro-invertebrates and zooplankton , such as calanoids , cyclopoids , and cladocerans . Lake Okeechobee supports over 3,800 different arthropods , including insects and arachnids, along with around 400 species of nematodes . Vascular macrophytes are important in

10549-698: The lake from farms and other sources. Microcystin was found among the other species involved in the outbreak. In July 2016, the Federal Government denied Governor Rick Scott's request for Federal Disaster Aid to the Treasure Coast as a result of the toxic algal bloom in the St. Lucie Estuary which was responsible for millions of dollars of lost income for local businesses: this reaffirmed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) finding that

10686-421: The lake has a surface area of 1,730 square kilometres (670 sq mi). The lake is normally mixed, but on days with direct sunlight and limited wind, the lake can exhibit diurnal thermal stratification. Although daily thermal stratification is brief, a hypolimnion can form during this time resulting in decreased amounts of dissolved oxygen at the lake bottom. Lake transparency, measured as secchi depth ,

10823-429: The lake is a limestone basin, with a maximum depth of 13 feet (4 m). Its water is somewhat murky from runoff from surrounding farmlands. The Army Corps of Engineers targets keeping the surface of the lake between 12.5 and 15.5 feet (4 and 5 m) above sea level . The lake is enclosed by a 40 feet (12 m) high Herbert Hoover Dike built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after a hurricane in 1928 breached

10960-530: The lake may have had different limiting factors based on the light and nutrient availability in those locations. At Lake Okeechobee specifically, algal blooms were found to have strong effects during the winter on the western side of the lake. In the limnological study conducted by Beaver et al. (2013) at Lake Okeechobee, lake phytoplankton composition was examined in response to conditions of anthropogenic inputs, including nutrient inputs, along with natural events, like extreme weather conditions. Lake Okeechobee

11097-506: The lake providing plenty of sunlight, and cyanobacteria's preference for warm waters, Lake Okeechobee is an optimal environment for a cyanobacteria algal bloom. The presence of various species of cyanobacteria in Lake Okeechobee have been recorded since the 1980s. Cyanobacteria produce various toxins, including microcystin , which is not only harmful to the environment, but humans. In 2016, Lake Okeechobee experienced an extensive cyanobacteria algal bloom that lasted from May to mid-July. During

11234-406: The lake remained well below normal levels, with large portions of the lake bed exposed above the water line. During this time, portions of the lake bed, covered in organic matter, dried out and caught fire. In late August 2008, Tropical Storm Fay inundated Florida with record amounts of rain. Lake Okeechobee received almost a 4 feet (1.2 m) increase in water level, including local run-off from

11371-499: The lake's natural sandy base and create clearer water and better habitat for wildlife. The mud contained elevated levels of arsenic and other pesticides . According to tests from the South Florida Water Management District , arsenic levels on the northern part of the lake bed were as much as four times the limit for residential land. Independent tests found the mud too polluted for use on agricultural or commercial lands, and therefore difficult to dispose of on land. Through early 2008,

11508-603: The lake's water quality was a State issue. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Martin County had carried out toxicity testing on the algae, but had not funded any work to clean up the water, and a FEMA spokesman said that "The state has robust capability to respond to emergencies and disasters." On June 23, 2017, the South Florida Water Management District was granted emergency permission to back pump clean water into Lake Okeechobee to save animals and plants in bloated water conservation areas." Lake Okeechobee sits in

11645-475: The lake. During construction of the dike , earth was excavated along the inside perimeter, resulting in a deep channel which runs along the perimeter of the lake. This channel is known as the rim canal. In most places the canal is part of the lake, but in others it is separated from the open lake by low grassy islands such as Kreamer Island . During the drought of 2007–2008, this canal remained navigable while much of surrounding areas were too shallow or even above

11782-475: The lake. Research done by James et al. (2009) aimed to evaluate and compare shallow lakes, including Lake Okeechobee and Lake Taihu in P.R. China, including their light, temperature, and nutrient dynamics. This research provides important knowledge on conditions that influence algal blooms. They found that for both lakes, wind, nutrients, water depth, and water transparency varied seasonally, and this had implications on phytoplankton abundance. Different locations in

11919-449: The largest evacuation in the state's history. Evacuees caused significant traffic congestion on northbound Interstate 95 , Interstate 75 , and Florida's Turnpike, exacerbated by the fact that the entire Florida peninsula was within the cone of uncertainty in the NHC's forecast path in the days before the storm, so evacuees from both coasts headed north, as evacuees would not be safer by fleeing to

12056-502: The last time it exceeded 13 feet (4.0 m). However, the lake's level began dropping soon after and by July 2007, it had dropped more than 4 feet (1.2 m) to its all-time low of 8.82 feet (2.69 m). In August 2008, Tropical Storm Fay increased water levels to 2 feet (0.65 m) above sea level, the first time it exceeded 12 feet (3.66 m) since January 2007. Over a seven-day period (including some storms that preceded Fay), about 8 inches (20 cm) of rain fell directly onto

12193-400: The majority of the perimeter, although with significant breaks. It is used by hikers and bicyclists, and is wide enough to accommodate vehicles. The most common fish in this lake are largemouth bass , crappie , and bluegill . Pickerel have been less commonly caught. One area of the lake is called the "Monkey Box" area, after a strange now-eroded beacon located inside a wooden box on top of

12330-529: The most hurricane-ready structures in the country. In Cuba , meteorologists did not initially predict a direct hit. Fuel conservation was enacted in Camagüey Province to ensure that enough would be available during post-storm power outages. The Civil Defense evacuated nearly one million people from low-lying areas, including thousands of Canadian and European tourists in the Jardines del Rey . Dolphins at

12467-545: The need for transportation by school buses and opening shelters arose. By September 9, more than 150 state parks were closed. Throughout the state, almost 700 emergency shelters were opened. The shelters collectively housed about 191,764 people, with more than 40% of them staying in a shelter in South Florida. Additionally, more than 60 special needs shelters were opened, which housed more than 5,000 people by September 9. Many airports across

12604-492: The north-northwest, while rapid weakening began to occur due to the increasing wind shear, land interaction, and dry air, with the storm falling below Category 3 intensity hours after landfall. Irma finally weakened to a tropical storm on September 11 as it entered southern Georgia , while transitioning into an extratropical cyclone, degenerating into a remnant low early on September 12. The remnants dissipated over Missouri on September 13. Given that Irma's forecast track

12741-701: The northern Leeward Islands . At 05:45 UTC on September 6, Irma made landfall along the northern coast of Barbuda at peak intensity, with the storm's central minimum pressure having bottomed out at 914 mbar (27.0 inHg) – this was the lowest in the Atlantic since Dean in 2007; the storm also made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 180 mph (290 km/h). Irma continued to maintain its peak intensity until 12:00 UTC on September 6 and made additional successive landfalls on that same day, at 11:15 UTC on Sint Maarten , and at 16:30 UTC on Virgin Gorda , in

12878-411: The nutrient dynamics of lakes, along with creating micro-habitats for fish and invertebrates, and providing substrate for epiphytes . Macrophytes provide the lake with oxygen through photosynthesis, along with acting as a buffer for eutrophication by uptake of phosphorus. However, with increased eutrophication of lakes along with climate change, trends are showing decreased richness of macrophytes. Because

13015-519: The old dike, flooding surrounding communities and killing at least 2,500 people. Water flows into Lake Okeechobee from several sources, including the Kissimmee River , Fisheating Creek , Lake Istokpoga , Taylor Creek, and smaller sources such as Nubbin Slough and Nicodemus Slough. The Kissimmee River is the largest source, providing more than 60% of the water flowing into Lake Okeechobee. Fisheating Creek

13152-628: The opposite coast. Fuel was in short supply throughout peninsular Florida during the week before Irma's arrival, especially along evacuation routes, leading to hours-long lines at fuel stations and even escorts of fuel trucks by the Florida Highway Patrol . Use of the left shoulder as a lane for moving traffic was allowed on northbound Interstate 75 from Wildwood to the Georgia state line beginning September 8 and on eastbound Interstate 4 from Tampa to State Road 429 near Celebration for

13289-597: The order to the entirety of Chatham County and low-lying areas west of I-95 on the following day. In total, 540,000 people on the Georgia coast were ordered to leave. Contraflow lane reversal for Interstate 16 took effect on the morning of September 9 from Savannah to Dublin, Georgia . All Georgia state parks were open for free to evacuees, as was the 800-acre camping area at Atlanta Motor Speedway . Reversible HOT lanes on Interstate 75 in Georgia through south metro Atlanta were open 24 hours northbound with no tolls. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper declared

13426-907: The other from the Florida–Georgia state line to the South Santee River in South Carolina. Watches and warnings were gradually discontinued as Irma moved inland and weakened, with all of them canceled by early on September 12. On September 4, Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency. Governor Scott placed 100 members of the Florida National Guard on duty to assist in preparations. All 7,000 troops were ordered to be on duty by September 8. Officials advised residents to stock their hurricane kits. The state coordinated with electrical companies in order for power outages to be restored as quickly as possible, extending resources such as equipment, fuel, and lodging for

13563-430: The oxygen in the lake on which many aquatic biota rely. There are various species of biota in Lake Okeechobee that are interdependent on each other for food, habitat, and other resources. Multiple limnological studies and related research has been conducted at Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee is a shallow lake, with an average depth of only 3 metres (9.8 ft), and has a fetch of 54 kilometres (34 mi). In total,

13700-450: The part of the population, others "admitted they were not prepared for the onslaught and no mandatory evacuation orders were in place ahead of Irma's approach." Local officials contended that they had not received promised funds, supplies, or equipment from the national government. The United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti prepared its 1,000 peacekeepers and engineers to assist. In

13837-502: The plot of the tenth Xanth novel, Vale of the Vole , around the straightening of the "Kiss-Mee River," an obvious parody to "Kissimmee." The river was mentioned in a lyric of Josh Turner 's song "Alligator Stroll". Efforts to restore the Kissimmee River to its original flow were approved by Congress in 1992, and began with modification to the headwater lakes in 1997. The project was initially estimated to be completed by 2011, but in 2010

13974-452: The president. The 1947 Fort Lauderdale Hurricane sent an even larger storm surge to the crest of the new dike, which was expanded again in the 1960s. Four recent hurricanes – Frances , Jeanne , Wilma , and Irma – had no major adverse effects on communities surrounding Lake Okeechobee, even though the lake rose 18 inches (46 cm) after Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Hurricane Ernesto increased water levels by 1 foot (30 cm) in 2006,

14111-547: The previous 2015–16 winter, there were relatively high recorded temperatures, and higher than average rates of precipitation and storms in relation to the El Niño event. As mentioned, higher rates of precipitation can lead to greater influxes of runoff which unload more phosphorus into the lake, enabling harmful algal bloom. Along with this algal bloom in 2016, other algal blooms have been found to occur in relation to hurricanes and other climate events leading to increased water flow into

14248-456: The projected northward turn, but that South Texas or Florida would not be a good evacuation destination. On September 10, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam issued an executive order allowing medical professionals in other states to practice in Tennessee to aid Hurricane Irma evacuees. This order also allowed pharmacies to give out 14-day supplies of medicine, and gave women and children from outside

14385-410: The restored sections of river. When flooding began again, muck and smothering aquatic weeds were flushed out. Sandbars reemerged. Encroaching dry land trees began dying back. Once-dormant plants began to reestablish themselves. The species included pink-tipped smartweed, horsetail, sedges, rushes, arrowhead, duck potato and pickerel weed. Flooding and continuous flow increased levels of dissolved oxygen in

14522-413: The river were consistently worse after the channelization. While the Kissimmee was not a significant source of pollution for Lake Okeechobee before channelization, in the 1970s and later the river contributed about 25% of the nitrogen and 20% of the phosphorus flowing into the lake. In protest to the canalization of the river and its resultant damage to the habitat, Florida author Piers Anthony based

14659-512: The same lightning strike, but survived. Two other people died during the hurricane: a woman died while being evacuated from her house in a wheelchair and fell, hitting her head; another person died in a car accident in Canóvanas . Governor Ricardo Rosselló declared the islands of Culebra and Vieques to be disaster areas. Although spared a direct hit, both the Dominican Republic and Haiti were affected by high winds and heavy rains. A bridge over

14796-423: The second-longest any Atlantic storm had maintained winds above 156 mph (251 km/h) – behind only the 1932 Cuba hurricane . The hurricane then began tracking more to the west due to the intensification of a subtropical ridge to its north. Once the eyewall replacement cycle was complete, Irma began to re-intensify, and it re-attained Category 5 intensity at 18:00 UTC that day east of Cuba , before

14933-545: The southwest. According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the congressionally authorized uses for Lake Okeechobee include the following: The 30-metre (100 ft) wide dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee is the basis for the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST), a part of the Florida National Scenic Trail , a 1,300-mile-long (2,100 km) trail. There is a well-maintained paved pathway along

15070-571: The state the ability to participate in the Tennessee Department of Health programs. Bristol Motor Speedway , Talladega Superspeedway , and Charlotte Motor Speedway all opened their campgrounds to evacuees free of charge. In professional sports, the Miami Dolphins – Tampa Bay Buccaneers game scheduled for September 10 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami was postponed to November 19 due to

15207-763: The state, particularly in Central and South Florida , were closed. Nearly 9,000 flights intending to arrive in or depart from Florida were canceled. Along Florida's coasts, most seaports were closed or opened with restricted access. For the fifth time in its 45-year history, the Walt Disney World Resort was completely closed due to the storm. Its theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs were all closed by 9:00 p.m. on September 9 and remained closed until September 12. Other Orlando -area theme parks, including Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando , were also closed. The Kennedy Space Center

15344-632: The storm's threat. The Dolphins left early for their road game against the Los Angeles Chargers . The Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees moved their September 11–13 series from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg to Citi Field in Queens . Minor League Baseball 's Florida State League , Carolina League , and Southern League called off their championship finals and as a result, named their division series winners league co-champions. The Miami FC versus San Francisco Deltas match on September 10

15481-582: The territory by helicopter, revealing an effectively uninhabitable island. Irma damaged or destroyed 95% of the structures on Barbuda, including its hospital, schools, and both of its hotels; it completely flattened some residential blocks while submerging others. The destruction rendered the island's sole airport and much of its infrastructure inoperative—including water and telecommunication services—which further hampered relief efforts. Property damage on Barbuda ranged from $ 150 million to $ 300 million. A total of three storm-related deaths were reported on

15618-444: The threat of flooding and erosion. Schools and public businesses closed on September 5 and 6. Hospitals stocked up on three days' worth of supplies and checked the functionality of their generators. Of the island's 32 communes , 22 activated their emergency plans; 1,500 people were urged to take shelter. The island sustained relatively minor damage and became the base for relief efforts on Saint Martin and Saint Barthélemy . Though

15755-399: The tributaries. In 2013, heavy rains in central Florida resulted in high runoff into the lake; rising lake levels forced the CoE ( Army Corps of Engineers ) to release large volumes of polluted water from the lake through the St. Lucie River estuary to the east and the Caloosahatchee River estuary to the west. Thus the normal mix of fresh and salt water in those estuaries was replaced by

15892-425: The water flow into the area created a lake, drowning the wetlands. Along what is now the southern edge of the lake, the wetlands built up the layers of peat rapidly enough (reaching 13-to-14-foot or 4-to-4.3-metre thick) to form a dam, until the lake overflowed into the Everglades. At its capacity, the lake holds 1 trillion US gallons (3.8 × 10 m) of water and is the headwaters of the Everglades. The floor of

16029-427: The water line. Even when the waters are higher, navigating the open lake can be difficult, whereas the rim canal is easier, so to reach a specific location in the lake it is often easiest to use the rim canal to get close then take one of the many channels into the lake. In 2007, during a drought, state water and wildlife managers removed thousands of truckloads of toxic mud from the lake's floor, in an effort to restore

16166-531: The water, creating near perfect conditions for aquatic invertebrates such as insects, mollusks, works, crayfish and freshwater shrimp. This, in turn, boosted fish populations and it led to a rise in bird and alligator populations. The entire food chain benefitted. This is one reason that the Kissimmee River restoration is considered to be the largest true ecosystem restoration project in the world, attracting ecologists from other states and countries. Hurricane Irma Effects Other wikis Hurricane Irma

16303-741: The winds had shattered their windows. Irma killed four people on the French side of the island and injured 50 others, one of whom was in critical condition. As many as 95% of the buildings there were damaged to some degree; 60% of those were totally uninhabitable. Estimates from CEDIM indicate a minimum of $ 950 million worth of economic losses. Total losses exceeded €3.5 billion (US$ 4.17 billion). A similar situation unfolded in Sint Maarten , Saint Martin's Dutch half, as intense winds ripped through buildings and lifted vehicles aloft "as if they were matches". The hurricane wreaked havoc on Princess Juliana International Airport , with "huge chunks of

16440-488: The winter, depending on location in the lake, and 0.3 to 0.9 metres (0.98 to 2.95 ft) in the summer. Secchi depths of 1.7 metres (5.6 ft) have been recorded, indicating higher transparencies than average for the lake. Lake Okeechobee is home to more than 40 species of native fish, along with introduced species , such as the Mayan cichlid, Cichlasoma urophthalmus . Fish species displaying varying distributions throughout

16577-553: Was a great location for this study because of its long history of agricultural runoff causing algal blooms, along with its location in the Gulf of Mexico making it susceptible to weather events like tropical storms and hurricanes. From 2000–2008, phytoplankton samples were collected using an integrated tube sampler, and weather conditions, including temperature and wind conditions, were recorded. They found that phytoplankton composition transitioned from non-nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria dominating

16714-484: Was a limiting factor due to the extreme amounts of phosphorus in the freshwater ecosystem . The field experiments conducted with this study found that microcystin , the toxin produced by cyanobacteria, was produced in higher quantities when there was more nitrogen present. A study conducted by Pei, Zhang, and Mitsch (2020) examined nitrate concentrations, and their respective isotope compositions, in hopes of determining origins of major inflows and outflows of nitrogen into

16851-470: Was along much of the Caribbean island chain, hurricane warnings were issued for the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico, and parts of Hispaniola on September 5. In Antigua and Barbuda , residents safeguarded their homes and cleaned up their properties in anticipation of strong winds. Emergency crews were put on standby at public shelters and hospitals by September 5 to assist with any evacuations. Expecting

16988-424: Was also the third-strongest Atlantic hurricane at landfall ever recorded, just behind the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and Dorian. The ninth named storm , fourth hurricane , second major hurricane , and first Category 5 hurricane of the extremely active 2017 Atlantic hurricane season , Irma caused widespread and catastrophic damage throughout its long lifetime, particularly in the northeastern Caribbean and

17125-515: Was an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that was the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands on record, followed by Maria two weeks later. At the time, it was considered the most powerful hurricane on record in the open Atlantic region, outside of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico , until it was surpassed by Hurricane Dorian two years later. It

17262-523: Was attributed to around $ 1 billion in damage, and the NHC attributed three fatalities to Irma in Puerto Rico, though four deaths were related to the storm. Two people died due to rainstorms ahead of the hurricane: one man died in Orocovis after falling off his ladder while repairing his roof; another man on the coast in Capitanejo died after being struck by lightning. Three nearby fishermen were burned by

17399-726: Was canceled due to travel concerns for the University of Miami. The Florida Gators - Northern Colorado Bears match in Gainesville scheduled for September 9 was canceled. The Florida State Seminoles contest against the Louisiana–Monroe Warhawks was canceled on September 8. The Seminoles' rivalry game with the Hurricanes in Tallahassee, originally scheduled for September 16, was postponed tp October 7. The FIU Panthers game against

17536-559: Was canceled so the players and staff could prepare for the storm with their families. The Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League rescheduled their September 9 match to September 7. Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer did not have any scheduled home games in September, but was unable to return to training facilities in Orlando due to Hurricane Irma. In college football,

17673-416: Was challenging to farm because of the muddy muck. Over the first half of the twentieth century, farmers used agricultural tools—including tractors—to farm in the muck. By the 1960s, all of these settlements were abandoned. All of Lake Okeechobee was included in the boundaries of Palm Beach County when it was created in 1909. In 1963, the lake was divided among the five counties surrounding the lake. In 1926,

17810-604: Was closed from September 8 to September 15. An estimated 6.5 million Floridians were ordered to evacuate, mostly those living on barrier islands or in coastal areas; in mobile or sub-standard homes; and in low-lying or flood prone areas. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for portions of Brevard , Broward , Citrus , Collier , Dixie , Duval , Flagler , Glades , Hendry , Hernando , Indian River , Lee , Martin , Miami-Dade , Orange , Palm Beach , Pasco , Pinellas , Sarasota , Seminole , St. Lucie , Sumter , and Volusia counties. All of Monroe County , where

17947-625: Was confirmed that not only did the species survive, but most of the birds survived the storm. Barbuda's Codrington Lagoon , home to the largest colony of magnificent frigatebirds in the Caribbean, with an estimated 2,500 nesting pairs, was also inundated by the storm surge. Remaining just outside of Irma's strongest windfield, Antigua sustained less severe damage, in the form of leveled roofs and fences, downed power poles and lines, and uprooted trees. Some street flooding also took place in low-lying areas. Three people were treated for minor storm-related injuries. Forensic disaster analysts from

18084-422: Was inundated with up to 6.4 ft (2.0 m) of flood waters. With scores of homes and much of the infrastructure destroyed, the majority of the island's population was left stranded and without water, electricity or phone service. The associated economic losses could exceed $ 480 million according to CEDIM's analysts. Preliminary assessments from the French government indicate that Hurricane Irma caused

18221-670: Was originally 134 miles (216 km) in length, 103 miles (166 km) of which was between Lake Kissimmee and Lake Okeechobee. It forms the headwaters of the Kissimmee River-Lake Okeechobee- Everglades ecosystem . The Kissimmee River watershed of 3,000 square miles (7,800 km ) is adjacent to the Eastern Continental Divide , with triple watershed points at the Miami (north) , Withlacoochee (northwest) , and Peace (west) rivers' watersheds and

18358-506: Was published indicating that an anemometer on the island recorded an unofficial gust to 199 mph (320 km/h) before failing. The British Overseas Territory of Anguilla saw the eyewall of the storm pass over it on September 6. Many homes and schools were destroyed, and the island's only hospital was badly damaged. The devastation was particularly severe in East End , where the winds uprooted scores of trees and power poles and demolished

18495-533: Was related to the El Niño event. They collected information on nutrient availability, phytoplankton communities, and the presence of toxins, along with the genetic makeup of the phytoplankton communities and their genetic abilities to produce toxins. Additionally, they conducted nutrient experiments to couple with their findings. They found that cyanobacteria with the ability to do nitrogen fixation were in high abundance during this 2016 algal bloom. During this time, nitrogen

18632-668: Was reported on the island. Estimates of losses on the island total at least $ 190 million. Large swells ahead of Irma washed ashore debris and sea life in Castries , Saint Lucia, blocking some roads. Seaside roads were inundated with water. One surfer was killed amid rough surf in Barbados after hitting a reef and breaking his neck. Trees were also destroyed. The hurricane's effects, such as violent seas and rattling trees, were intense enough to be detected by seismographs in Guadeloupe . Several houses were damaged. Around 8,000 households and

18769-529: Was such that its impact was both far-reaching and devastating, with landfalls in Antigua and Barbuda , Saint Martin , the Bahamas , Cuba , and the United States, all at major hurricane intensity. Furthermore, the size of the storm system meant that destruction was prevalent even in territories well removed from landfall occurrences. Irma is the second-costliest Caribbean hurricane on record, after Maria. The eyewall of

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