Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms

Hurricane Gustav

Pre- and Post-Storm Photo Comparisons - Trinity Island to Grand Isle, LA

The barrier island coast of central Louisiana has been subject, in places, to very rapid long-term erosion. For example, between 1887 and 1988, the shore shown in the photos from East Timbalier Island (location 2, below) retreated landward about 18 m/yr. The central coast has also been subjected to severe hurricane impacts. Between the top two photographs of each set below, Hurricanes Lili (October 3, 2002) and Rita (September 24, 2005) impacted the coast, and contributed to its changes, at least to some degree. Hurricane Gustav made landfall, just east of the Isle Dernieres. In general, the coastal changes during Gustav do not appear extensive along this coast, even though it was swept by the right front quadrant, and the strongest winds, of the storm.

Location Map. Green line represents storm track.

Location 1: Oblique aerial photography of Trinity Island, Isles Dernieres, LA, from July 18, 2001 (top); September 30, 2005, six days after the landfall of Hurricane Rita (middle); and September 4, 2008, three days after the landfall of Hurricane Gustav (bottom). [larger version]

Location 2: Oblique aerial photography of East Timbalier Island, LA, from July 18, 2001 (top); September 30, 2005, six days after the landfall of Hurricane Rita (middle); and September 4, 2008, three days after the landfall of Hurricane Gustav (bottom). Yellow cross-hairs indicate a common reference location within the images. [larger version]

Location 3: Oblique aerial photography of Grand Isle, LA, from July 18, 2001 (top); September 30, 2005, six days after the landfall of Hurricane Rita (middle); and September 4, 2008, three days after the landfall of Hurricane Gustav (bottom). Yellow cross-hairs indicate a common reference location within the images. [larger version]

Science that Weathers the Storm: USGS Responds to Gustav
USGS