As another potentially busy hurricane season approaches, U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) scientists are sharing data and photos
with the public to stress the importance of evacuation and storm
preparedness. By displaying a series of before-and-after photos
that punctuate the damage unleashed on coastal communities
recently hit by hurricanes, USGS scientists hope to inform
citizens living in coastal regions about the need to heed
evacuation orders when a severe storm threatens their community.
"In the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons, compliance with
evacuation orders was less than 50% in some communities," said
Abby Sallenger, an oceanographer at USGS. "By understanding the
level of destructiveness of recent hurricanes, I hope more
people will follow instructions of their local authorities."
According to Bob Morton, a geologist at USGS, evacuation has
become an even more crucial response to hurricane threats due to
shoreline damage caused by previous storms. For some coastal
communities, hurricanes and other sto