Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms

Hurricane Ike

Pre- and Post-Storm Photo Comparisons - Cameron Parish, LA

Location index for photo pairs, Cameron Parish, LA. Hurricane Ike made landfall 130 kilometers to the west of Holly Beach, LA (at approximately longitude 94°45').

Location 1: Oblique aerial photography from Cameron Parish, LA on September 9, 2008 (top) and September 15, 2008, two days after landfall of Hurricane Ike (bottom). Yellow arrows mark features that appear in each image. Widespread inundation and persistent flooding are obvious here. Coastal change includes both beach erosion and erosion of channels where water continues to flow seaward to the Gulf of Mexico. [larger version]

Location 2: Oblique aerial photography from Peveto Beach, LA, on September 9, 2008 (top) and September 15, 2008, two days after landfall of Hurricane Ike (bottom). Yellow arrows mark features that appear in each image. Evidence of widespread inundation includes erosion of the berm and channels that drained the flooded area. [larger version]

Location 3: Oblique aerial photography from Holly Beach, LA from 2001-2008. Yellow arrows mark features that appear in each image. The first photo shows this area prior to landfall of Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005. Immediately after Rita's landfall, the September 28, 2005 photo shows destruction of houses and erosion of the beach and berm back to the road. Prior to Ike's landfall, on September 9, 2008 the remnant berm is seen to be stabilized by vegetation. On September 15, 2008, two days after landfall of Hurricane Ike, the berm is eroded and there is evidence of overwash. Flooding is extensive behind the beach. [larger version]

Location 4: Oblique aerial photography from Holly Beach, LA from 2001-2008. Yellow arrows mark features that appear in each image. The first photo shows this area prior to landfall of Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005. Immediately after Rita's landfall, the September 28, 2005 photo shows destruction of houses. Prior to Ike's landfall, on September 9, 2008 there is little evidence of a dune or berm on this beach. Several houses and smaller structures have been rebuilt. On September 15, 2008, two days after landfall of Hurricane Ike, the beach is eroded and there is evidence of overwash and persistent flooding. [larger version]

Location 5: Oblique aerial photography from Holly Beach, LA from 2001-2008. Yellow arrows mark features that appear in each image. The first photo shows this area prior to landfall of Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005. Immediately after Rita's landfall, the September 28, 2005 photo shows destruction of houses. Prior to Ike's landfall, on September 9, 2008 there is little evidence of a dune or berm on this beach. Several houses and smaller structures have been rebuilt. On September 15, 2008, two days after landfall of Hurricane Ike, the beach is eroded and there is evidence of overwash and persistent flooding. [larger version]

Science that Weathers the Storm: USGS Responds to Ike
USGS