Hurricane and Tropical Storm in Florida, October 6 to 7, 2016

As Hurricane Matthew passed offshore, the beaches experienced minor to moderate erosion and a significant wave run-up to dunes and berms due to an estimated 2-3 foot storm surge.

Rainbands associated with Hurricane Matthew produced rainfall totals between 2.5 and 4 inches, resulting in areas of mostly minor urban and poor drainage flooding. Several roadways were impacted by significant ponding.

As Hurricane Matthew passed offshore, the beaches experienced minor to moderate erosion and a significant wave run-up to dunes and berms due to an estimated 2-3 foot storm surge.

Rainbands associated with Hurricane Matthew produced rainfall totals between 3 and 4 inches, resulting in areas of mostly minor urban and poor drainage flooding. Several roadways were impacted by significant ponding.

As Hurricane Matthew passed offshore, the beaches experienced moderate to major erosion and wave run-up to dunes and berms due to an estimated 3-4 foot storm surge. Crosswalks within county-owned beach parks experienced significant damage, with an estimated economic loss of $13 million to the beaches.

Rainbands associated with Hurricane Matthew produced rainfall totals between 3.5 and 4.5 inches, resulting in areas of mostly minor urban and poor drainage flooding. Several roadways were impacted by significant ponding.

Major Hurricane Matthew passed nearly 55 miles offshore Martin County during the late evening and early morning hours of October 6-7, producing several hours of sustained tropical storm winds and a 12-hour period of frequent wind gusts to tropical storm force, especially across the eastern third of the county. The highest sustained wind recorded at Witham Field in Stuart was 41 mph from the west at 0100LST on October 7 and the peak gust was 61 mph from the west at 0135LST. At Jensen Beach, the peak sustained wind was 52 mph at 2300LST on October 6 and the peak gust was 73 mph at 2215LST. Minor wind damage occurred to homes, mainly a result of falling trees. Isolated damage to fences, awnings and screen rooms occurred. One mobile home sustained major damage, four homes experienced minor damage and an additional 76 homes were affected in some way. During the height of the hurricane, approximately 45,000 customers were without power, or about 50% of the county. Preliminary property damage was estimated at $175,000. A total of 1,300 residents evacuated to shelters within the county. There was one indirect injury. A 47-year-old male was electrocuted when his tools hit a live power line while trimming trees in Stuart after the storm on Monday, October 10 around 0715LST. He was transported to a local hospital with severe burns.

Major Hurricane Matthew passed nearly 40 miles offshore St. Lucie County during the early morning hours of October 7, producing several hours of sustained tropical storm winds and a 12-hour period of frequent wind gusts to tropical storm force, especially across the eastern half of the county. The highest sustained wind recorded at the Treasure Coast International Airport in Ft. Pierce was 45 mph from the west at 0315LST on October 7 and the peak gust was 63 mph from the west at 0254LST. Minor wind damage occurred to homes, mainly a result of trees falling onto roofs. Isolated damage to garage doors and overhangs also occurred. A mobile home was destroyed due to a falling tree. Property damage estimates were not released. A total of 1,930 residents evacuated to shelters within the county. There were four indirect deaths. During the early morning hours of Friday, October 7, fire officials suspended emergency services due to dangerous winds. During this period when fire officials were unable to respond to incoming emergency calls, a 58-year-old Indian River Estates woman died of a heart attack around 0030LST and an 82-year old Port St. Lucie man died around 0230LST after suffering breathing problems and symptoms of a stroke. A couple in their 90’s was found unconscious in their Port St. Lucie home after officials discovered they were running a gas generator in their garage throughout the hurricane. They were transported to a local hospital where they later died due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Major Hurricane Matthew passed nearly 35 miles offshore Indian River County during the early morning hours of October 7, producing a long duration of sustained tropical storm winds and a short period of frequent gusts to hurricane force along the coast from around Vero Beach northward. The highest sustained wind recorded at the Vero Beach Municipal Airport was 55 mph from the northwest at 0150LST on October 7 and the peak gust was 74 mph from the west at 0251LST. Wind damage occurred to more than two dozen homes, mainly a result of trees falling onto roofs. Three homes were destroyed, 15 sustained major damage, seven experienced minor damage and an additional seven homes were affected in some way. Other minor damage occurred to garage doors, car ports, fences and pool screen enclosures. Preliminary property damage was estimated at $15.8 million. A total of 1,297 residents evacuated to shelters within the county. No injuries or fatalities were reported.

As Hurricane Matthew passed offshore, high water levels, wave run-up, and large breaking waves led to moderate to major beach erosion, extensive escarpment of dunes, and damage to numerous pedestrian crossovers along the coastline. The storm surge was estimated at between 3 and 4 feet above ground level along the immediate shoreline based on a NWS survey. The foundations of several beachfront properties between Satellite Beach and Melbourne Beach were compromised due to extensive damage to dunes and berms. Water level rises along the Indian River Lagoon and Banana River were estimated between 1 and 2 feet due to wind-driven water and wave piling. Preliminary damage estimates indicate an economic loss to the beaches of $25 million due to coastal erosion.

Rainbands associated with Hurricane Matthew produced rainfall totals between 3 and 7 inches, resulting in areas of mostly minor urban and poor drainage flooding. Several roadways were impacted by significant ponding.

The center of major Hurricane Matthew passed only 25 miles offshore Brevard County during the morning hours of October 7, producing a long duration of sustained tropical storm winds through much of the county and a shorter period of frequent gusts to hurricane force closer to the coast. A NWS damage survey confirmed that sustained category 1-2 hurricane winds likely occurred along the coastline from Cape Canaveral northward. The highest sustained wind recorded at the Melbourne International Airport was 53 mph from the north at 0146LST on October 7 and the peak gust was 70 mph from the northwest at 0257LST. A USAF wind sensor at 54 feet above ground level near the beach north of Cape Canaveral recorded a sustained wind of 79 mph and a gust of 107 mph. Other recorded peak wind gusts included 87 mph at Satellite Beach, 81 mph on Merritt Island and 77 mph at Cocoa Beach. Wind damage occurred to several hundred homes, often a result of impacts due to falling trees. Eleven homes were destroyed, 140 sustained major damage, 549 experienced minor damage and an additional 1,500 homes were affected in some way. Structural damage to homes and businesses due to wind were confined mainly to the barrier islands as well as those properties exposed to larger bodies of water. Damage generally involved roof shingles, soffits, awnings, and pool enclosures. Further inland, property damage was mainly a result of fallen trees, especially to older buildings and mobile homes near wooded areas. Several homes experienced water intrusion due to damaged roofs. Two homes were lost to fire as officials suspended emergency services during the height of the storm. County-wide, there was sporadic damage to fences, awnings, and screen rooms. About 227,000 customers were without power at the height of the storm, or about 75 percent of the county. Preliminary property damage was estimated at $35 million to residential structures and $40 million to public structures. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents of the barrier islands, including Merritt Island, as well as low-lying areas, RV parks, and mobile homes across the remainder of the county. A total of 4,320 residents evacuated to shelters within the county. There was one direct injury. A male in his 40s was injured in Port Canaveral when a sign fell and struck him during the storm.

As Hurricane Matthew passed offshore, excessive water levels, wave run-up, and large breaking waves led to major beach erosion, extensive escarpment of dunes and destruction of pedestrian crossovers along the entire coastline. In Ormond-by-the-Sea, surging waters eroded much of the protective barrier along Highway A1A and led to the collapse of several sections of the highway. A NWS survey estimated a storm surge of between 4 and 6 feet above ground level along the immediate shoreline, with the greatest inundation across northern portions of the county. Water level rises along the Halifax River were estimated between 2 and 3 feet and between 1 and 2 feet along the Mosquito Lagoon due to wind-driven water and wave piling. Beach erosion damage estimates from the county were not provided.

Rainbands associated with Hurricane Matthew produced rainfall totals between 5 and 8 inches, resulting in areas of urban and poor drainage flooding. Several roadways were impacted by significant ponding.

The center of major Hurricane Matthew passed only 30 miles offshore Volusia County during the morning hours of October 7, producing a 12-hour period of sustained tropical storm force winds through much of the county and a shorter period of frequent gusts to hurricane force closer to the coast. A NWS damage survey confirmed that sustained category 1 hurricane winds likely occurred along portions of the coastline. The highest sustained wind recorded at the Daytona Beach International Airport was 52 mph from the north at 0545LST on October 7 and the peak gust was 71 mph from the north at 0711LST. Other recorded peak wind gusts included 84 mph at Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach and 83 mph at New Smyrna Beach. Wind damage occurred to several thousand homes, often a result of impacts due to falling trees. Sixty-nine homes were destroyed, 467 sustained major damage, 1,494 experienced minor damage and an additional 10,041 homes were affected in some way. Structural damage to homes and businesses due to wind were mainly confined to the barrier islands as well as those properties exposed to larger bodies of water. Damage to the roofs of older buildings was more notable than newer construction, where damage was generally confined to roof shingles, soffits, awnings, and pool enclosures. Further inland, property damage was mainly a result of fallen trees, especially to older buildings and mobile homes within densely wooded areas. At the peak of the storm, nearly 258,000 customers were without power, or 92% of the county. Preliminary property damage was estimated at $514.4 million. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for all of the barrier islands, as well as low-lying areas, RV parks, and mobile homes across the remainder of the county. A total of 4,000 residents evacuated to shelters within the county. One direct fatality and four indirect fatalities resulted from the hurricane. A 63-year-old woman died on October 7 during the hurricane when a tree fell on her as she was feeding animals outside her Deland home. On October 10, an 87-year-old man was electrocuted by a downed power line in Deleon Springs around 0700LST. Also on this date, a 9-year-old Daytona Beach boy was found unconscious in his home after officials discovered a generator running in another room. The boy later died from carbon monoxide poisoning at a local medical center. A 47-year-old Ohio man assisting with debris cleanup efforts in Ormond Beach was killed on October 10 when part of a downed tree rolled on top of him and pinned him underneath. On October 14 around 1000LST, a 52-year old tree trimmer died after he was electrocuted while cleaning up storm debris in a Deltona backyard.

As major Hurricane Matthew passed east of the Treasure Coast during the early morning hours of October 7, several hours of frequent wind gusts to minimal tropical storm force impacted Okeechobee County. Only minor roof damage was reported to one home. Up to 2,300 customers were without power at the height of the storm.

As major Hurricane Matthew passed east of the Treasure Coast during the early morning hours of October 7, several hours of frequent wind gusts to minimal tropical storm force impacted Osceola County. No structural damage was reported, with only minor damage to trees and vegetation. Up to 5,900 customers were without power at the height of the storm.

As major Hurricane Matthew passed east of the Space Coast during the morning of October 7, winds gusted to tropical storm force for over 12 hours across Orange County. One death was indirectly related to the hurricane. A 70-year old woman died after her medical device failed during a power outage.

Rainbands associated with Hurricane Matthew produced a swath of heavy rain of between 4.5 and 9 inches, resulting in areas of minor urban, roadway and lowland flooding. The highest totals occurred across northern and northwestern portions of the county.

Rainbands associated with Hurricane Matthew produced a swath of heavy rain of between 2 and 4.5 inches, resulting in areas of minor urban, roadway and lowland flooding. The highest totals occurred across northwest portion of the county.

As major Hurricane Matthew passed east of the Space Coast during the morning of October 7, winds gusted to tropical storm force for over 12 hours across Seminole County. One death was directly related to the hurricane. An 86-year old man in Casselberry was struck by a door that swung open during the storm. He later died at a nearby hospital. Initial damage assessments indicates 631 properties affected in some way and an additional 17 with major damage and 93 with minor damage. Damage to residences and businesses was mainly due to falling trees and branches. Initial property damage estimated at $15 million. Up to 70,000 customers were without power at the height of the storm.

As major Hurricane Matthew passed east of the Space Coast during the morning of October 7, winds gusted to tropical storm force for over 12 hours across Lake County. Major damage occurred to three homes with minor damage to four homes, caused mainly be falling trees and branches. Initial property damage assessment of approximately $389 thousand.

Rainbands associated with Hurricane Matthew produced a swath of heavy rain of between 3.5 and 4.5 inches from Clermont to Mount Plymouth, resulting in areas of minor urban, roadway and lowland flooding. The St. Johns River near Astor peaked just below moderate flood stage. A total of 10 residents evacuated to shelters within the county due to the potential for river flooding.