Hurricane Charley and Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina: Difference between pages

Revision as of 08:43, 10 August 2005

Revision as of 10:12, 17 September 2005

Line 1:

{{CoDepartment infobox|

:''This article is about the hurricane of 2004. For other storms of the same name, see [[Hurricane Charley (disambiguation)]].''

|name=San Andrés y Providencia

|flag=San Andrés y Providencia, Colombia (bandera).png

{{Infobox hurricane | name=Hurricane Charley

|coa=blank.png

| image ___location=Charley2004track.gif

|map=blank.png

| image name=Track of Hurricane Charley

|motto=

| duration=[[August 9|Aug. 9]] - [[August 14|14]], [[2004]]

|capital=[[San Andrés, Colombia|San Andrés]]

| highest winds=150 [[miles per hour|mph]] (240 [[kilometre per hour|km/h]])

|governor=

| total damages (USD)=$14 billion

|area=52

| total fatalities=15 direct, 20 indirect

|population=83,491

| areas affected=[[Jamaica]], [[Cuba]], [[Florida]], [[South Carolina]]

|density=1,600

| hurricane season=[[2004 Atlantic hurricane season]]

|adjective=

}}

'''San Andrés and Providencia''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''San Andrés y Providencia)'' is one of the [[departments of Colombia|departments]] of [[Colombia]]. It consists of an [[archipelago]] of islands about 775 km (480 miles) north of Colombia and 80 km (50 miles) from the coast of [[Nicaragua]]. Its capital is [[San Andrés, Colombia|San Andrés]].

{{POV}}

== History ==

It has been supposed that the islands were first discovered by [[Christopher Columbus]] during his first voyage in [[1492]].

'''Hurricane Charley''' was the third named [[tropical cyclone|storm]], the second [[tropical cyclone|hurricane]], and the second major hurricane of the [[2004 Atlantic hurricane season]]. It caused major damage to parts of [[Cuba]] as it crossed the island as a Category 3 hurricane, and strengthened further before reaching the U.S. It made [[landfall]] at Charlotte Harbor in [[Charlotte County, Florida|Charlotte County]], [[Florida]], as a Category 4 hurricane on the [[Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale]]. It was the strongest hurricane to strike the area since [[Hurricane Donna]] in [[1960 Atlantic hurricane season|1960]] and the strongest hurricane to strike [[Florida]] since [[Hurricane Andrew]] in [[1992 Atlantic hurricane season|1992]]. After following the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast of the U.S.]], it eventually dissipated near [[Cape Cod]].

==Storm history==

[[Image:Hurr Charley radar 2004 08 13 20 47 UTC.gif|thumb|left|[[NEXRAD]] image of Hurricane Charley over [[Charlotte Harbor, Florida]] just after landfall. ([[Media:Hurricane Charley on Florida Weather Radar.mov|animated version]])]]

[[Image:Charley_2004_map.png|thumb|right|150px|Storm path]]

Charley was initially a well-developed tropical wave approaching the [[Windward Islands]]. On [[August 9]], while around 50 miles (80 km) southeast of [[Grenada]], this wave organized enough to become the third [[tropical depression]] of the year. After crossing the islands into the eastern [[Caribbean Sea]], the depression strengthened further, becoming [[Tropical Storm]] Charley on the morning of [[August 10]].

The storm moved rapidly across the Caribbean, and reached hurricane strength on [[August 11]], 90 miles (150 km) south of [[Kingston, Jamaica]]. Hurricane Charley then passed just south of [[Jamaica]], and the next morning passed between [[Grand Cayman]] and [[Little Cayman]]. On the night of [[August 12]], Charley passed just east of the [[Isle of Youth]], then over mainland Cuba, just west of downtown [[Havana]] as a category 3 hurricane with winds estimated at 120 miles per hour (190 km/h).

After passing over Cuba, Charley weakened slightly to 110 mph and crossed the [[Straits of Florida]]. Around 8 a.m. EDT, Charley passed over the [[Dry Tortugas]]. Tropical storm force winds of 41 miles per hour (65 km/h) were recorded at [[Key West International Airport]], 70 miles (115 km) east.

The course Charley took at this time caught many by surprise. Instead of following the predicted track through the [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]-[[Saint Petersburg|St. Petersburg]] area, Charley made an abrupt turn to the northeast, heading for [[Fort Myers]] and [[Sanibel Island]]. This track was well within the official forecast's margin of error, and [[National Hurricane Center|NHC]] forecaster intern Robbie Berg publicly blamed the media for misleading residents of areas further south [http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,64590,00.html].

[[Image:Charley Lanfall.gif|thumb|245px|left|Charley making landfall on [[August 13]], [[2004]].]]

At the same time as it turned, Charley rapidly strengthened, going from a Category 2 storm at 110 miles per hour (170 km/h) with a central pressure of 965 millibars to a Category 4 storm at 150 miles per hour (235 km/h) with a central pressure of 941 millibars in only three hours. This rapid intensification was outside the official forecast, which called for only a slight strengthening before landfall. The change in strength was so drastic that the NHC issued a special hurricane advisory outside of its normal schedule. It is possible that the winds were even stronger at landfall, possibly at or near Category 5 strength (155 miles per hour or 250 km/h), based on later images and assessments.

[[Image:HurricaneCharley1.JPG|270px|thumb|right|Hurricane Charley, just after its second US landfall in [[South Carolina]]. This angled image of Hurricane Charley was taken by a [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] satellite at 12:45 p.m. EDT on [[August 14]], [[2004]].]]

In 1670 the English [[corsair]] [[Henry Morgan]] took over the islands until 1689. In [[1803]], after [[Spain]]'s [[Viceroyalty]] of [[New Granada]] had been reestablished in [[1739]], the archipielago and the province of [[Veraguas]] – covering the western territory of [[Panama]] and the eastern coast of [[Nicaragua]] – were added to its area of jurisdiction. In the later colonial era the territory was administered from the province of [[Cartagena, Colombia|Cartagena]].

Charley became the second tropical storm to strike Florida in 24 hours when [[2004 Atlantic hurricane season|Tropical Storm Bonnie]] struck the Florida panhandle in [[Apalachicola, Florida|Apalachicola]] at 11 a.m. EDT on [[August 12]], 22 hours before Charley went over the Dry Tortugas. This made 2004 the first year two named storms have struck the same state in the same 24-hour period since [[1906]]. Mainland landfall occurred only 29 hours apart.

After gaining its independence, the Republic of [[Gran Colombia]] occupied the islands in 1822 and transferred control over them to the department of [[Magdalena]]. Subsequently, the [[United Provinces of Central America]] (UPCA) did not recognize the occupation of the islands and claimed ownership over them, while Colombia in turn protested the UPCA's occupation of the eastern coast of modern day Nicaragua. The UPCA federation dissolved in civil war between [[1838]]-[[1840]] and the resulting state of [[Nicaragua]] carried on with the dispute, as did the Republic of [[New Granada]] (made up of modern [[Colombia]] and [[Panama]]) that emerged from the dissolution of [[Gran Colombia]].

At 3:45 p.m. EDT, Charley made landfall at Cayo Costa, north of [[Fort Myers, Florida|Fort Myers]]. Charley moved inland near [[Charlotte Harbor, Florida|Charlotte Harbor]] shortly afterwards. Its track would take it directly over [[Port Charlotte, Florida|Port Charlotte]], [[Arcadia, Florida|Arcadia]], [[Wauchula, Florida|Wauchula]], [[Kissimmee, Florida|Kissimmee]] and [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]. Sustained winds over 100 miles per hour (160 km/h) were felt as far inland as Orlando.

Colombia later established a local administration ("intendencia") in the islands during [[1912]]. The signing of the Esguerra-Bárcenas treaty in [[1928]] between both governments temporarily resolved the dispute in favor of Colombia. However, since [[1980]], when the [[Sandinista]] government assumed power in Nicaragua, a [[constitutional reform]] was enacted and the treaty was renounced.

Near midnight local time, Charley began moving back over water, exiting Florida near [[Daytona Beach, Florida|Daytona Beach]]. It returned to land around 11 a.m. near [[North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]] still retaining hurricane strength. Charley continued to run off and on land up the [[East Coast of the United States]], and dissipated near [[Cape Cod]] around mid-day on [[August 15]].

Nicaraguans claim that the treaty was signed under [[United States]] pressure and military occupation and thus does not constitute a sovereign decision, while Colombia argues that the treaty's final ratification in [[1930]], when U.S. forces were already on their way out, confirms its validity.

Charley's strongest gusts were measured at 180 miles per hour (290 km/h) at [[Punta Gorda, Florida|Punta Gorda]]. This is an amazing speed for a hurricane.

In [[2001]] Nicaragua filed claims with the [[International Court of Justice]] (ICJ) over the disputed maritime boundary involving 50,000 km² in the Caribbean, which includes the islands of San Andrés and Providencia. Colombia has claimed that the ICJ has no jurisdiction over the matter and has increased its naval and police presence in the islands. It has also prepared the legal defense of its case that will be presented before the tribunal. In addition, Colombia and [[Honduras]] signed a maritime boundary treaty in [[1999]] which implicitly accepts Colombian sovereignity over the islands. It should be noted that [[Nicaragua]] and [[Honduras]] still maintain several other territorial and legal disputes.

==Impact==

== Municipalities ==

One death in Jamaica, four deaths in Cuba, and ten deaths in the United States were directly attributed to Charley. Numerous injuries were reported, as well as twenty indirect deaths in the U.S.

# [[Providencia y Santa Catalina]]

Property damage from Charley was estimated by the NHC at $14 [[1_E9|billion]]. This makes Charley the second most costly hurricane in American history, behind [[Hurricane Andrew]]'s $26 billion in [[1992 Atlantic hurricane season|1992]], and above [[Hurricane Hugo]]'s $7 billion ($9.4 billion in 2000 dollars) in [[1989 Atlantic hurricane season|1989]]. (However, [[Hurricane Ivan]] later in the 2004 season also surpassed Hugo, dropping Hugo to fourth. Later in the season, [[Hurricane Frances]] also surpassed Hugo.)

# [[San Andrés, Colombia|San Andrés]]

== Islands ==

Damage in Cuba has been estimated at over $1 billion USD. [http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5830669/]

Besides the main islands of San Andrés and Providencia, with their respective small satellite islands, there are eight [[atoll]]s that belong to the department (from North to South):

[[Image:Looters.JPG|200px|thumb|left|Terry Frey, a resident of [[Port Charlotte, Florida|Port Charlotte]], guarding his home with a [[shotgun]] and [[pistol]] on the morning of [[August 14]].]]

=== [[Alice Shoal]] (Banco Alicia) ===

As many as two million people were initially reported without power in Florida, and a week after landfall it was estimated that about 240,000 were still without power. The [[Tampa Electric Company]] cut power in downtown Tampa to avoid potential damage to the underground [[power grid]] from [[short circuit]]s, caused by the [[storm surge]] of [[Electrical conduction|conductive]] seawater. Havana's power was also knocked out by Charley when it passed by. Over a million Florida residents were evacuated.

This wholly submerged [[reef]], located at {{coor dm|16|05|N|79|22|W|}}, with no islands, and with a least depth of 6 meters over it, is the northernmost feature of Colombia, although it is also claimed by [[Jamaica]], which is closer.

=== [[Bajo Nuevo Bank]] ===

Mandatory evacuation of non-residents, recreational vehicles, mobile home residents, and special needs residents from the [[Florida Keys]] was ordered. An evacuation order for the coastal areas of [[Lee County, Florida|Lee County]] was also issued. [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas]], [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough]], [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee]], [[Pasco County, Florida|Pasco]] and [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota Counties]] all had mandatory evacuations for areas prone to the effects of storm surge.

Bajo Nuevo is an atoll 26 km long and 9 km wide, with a size of 240 km² (mostly water – [[lagoon]]), with some small islets, some covered with grass. Those islets are the northernmost land areas of Colombia. The most prominent islet is Low Cay, 300 m long and 40 m wide. Today the cays are frequently visited by lobster fishers. A lighthouse, in operation since 1980, 20 m high, stands on Low Cay, at {{coor dm|15|51|N|78|38|W|}}. Low Cay is about 2 m high and barren. The atoll was returned by the United States to Colombia in 1982.

=== [[Serranilla Bank]] ===

[[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] declared Florida a federal disaster area, and [[List of Governors of South Carolina|Governor]] [[Mark Sanford]] of [[South Carolina]] declared a state of emergency, ordering an evacuation of two coastal counties, including [[Myrtle Beach]].

The bank, a former atoll is about 40 km wide, 32 km long, with an area of 1200 km² (mostly water – [[lagoon]]). There are only a few islands: West Breaker, Middle Cay, East Cay and Beacon Cay, mostly with sparse vegetation of bushes and some trees. Most of the reef is drying and hundrets of wrecked ships are located into its vicinity. Beacon Cay is the biggest islet on the reef, completely overbuild with houses and some military facilities, used by the US Mariners during the Cuba Crisis. The station is abandoned today. The Serranilla Bank Lighthouse, inhabited today, and which has been in operation since 1977, stands on a corall ledge in the southwest approach to the bank, at {{coor dm|15|48|N|79|51|W|}}. The lighthouse is 20 m (65 ft) high. The atoll was returned by the United States to Colombia in 1982.

=== [[Quita Sueño Bank]] ===

[[Image:Hurr Charlie 2004 08 13 22 30 UTC.png|thumb|right|[[NEXRAD]] image of Hurricane Charley heading for [[Orlando%2C_Florida|Orlando, Florida]]]]

The bank has no islands, but in the northeastern part is a 37 km long [[reef]] which partly dries at low time. Originally claimed by the [[United States]] under the [[Guano Act]] of 1856, the atoll was returned by the United States to Colombia in 1982. There is a lighthouse on the reef, at {{coor dm|14|28|N|81|07|W|}}, in operation since 1977.

=== [[Serrana Bank]] ===

[[Image:Hurricane Charley damage.jpg|thumb|right|250px|President [[George W. Bush]], aboard [[Marine One]], surveys hurricane damage at a [[mobile home]] park in [[Fort Myers, Florida]].]]

The mostly submerged atoll is about 50 km long and 13 km wide, with a size of roughly 500 km² (mostly water – [[lagoon]]). Several cays and small islets are located on the reef. The most prominent cay is Southwest Cay, about 1200 m by 800 m in area, with several ruines of a former military base, used by the US Marines during the Cuba Crisis. The islets are all covered with sparse vegetation, bushes and some trees. On Southwest Cay and on Narrow Cay are lighthouses, at {{coor dm|14|17|N|80|24|W|}}, operating since 1977, and adminstered by Columbia. The Southwest Cay light is a 25 m high tower, constructed by a combination of a concree dwelling and a white iron framework tower with a light on its top. North Cay is permanent inhabited by turtle fishers, and several new wooden huts are standing on the islet. Originally claimed by the [[United States]] under the [[Guano Act]] of 1856, the atoll was returned by the United States to Colombia in 1982.

=== [[Roncador Bank]] ===

[[Theme park]]s in Orlando, including [[Universal Orlando]], [[Seaworld]] and [[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]]'s parks closed early; Disney Parks were open exclusively for those staying in Disney Resorts. [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]] never opened at all, making this only the second time Disney's parks have closed due to a hurricane (The first was during [[Hurricane Floyd]].[http://www.cnn.com/2004/WEATHER/08/13/storms/index.html]). Ironically, Hurricane Charley closed the [[Typhoon Lagoon]] park longer than the [[Magic Kingdom]] and [[EPCOT]]. The parks, except for Animal Kingdom and other areas, reopened on Saturday, [[August 14]] with limited staff.

The Roncador Bank, a mostly submerged atoll with several sandy cays, is 14 by 6 km in size, with an area of 65 km² (mostly water – [[lagoon]]). In the northern area lies Roncador Cay, about 600 m by 300 m in area, and rising to 4 m elevation. There are several houses on it, partly ruined, build up during the Cuba Crisis, by American troups. An old disused lighthouse is at its northern end. A new lighthouse has been operating since 1977, at {{coor dm|13|34|N|80|05|W|}}. Originally claimed by the [[United States]] under the [[Guano Act]] of 1856, the atoll was returned by the United States to Colombia in 1982.

=== [[Cayos del Este Sudeste]] (Courtown Cays, Cayos de E.S.E.) ===

Public schools in some counties in the path of the hurricane were scheduled to be closed for two weeks.[http://www.cnn.com/2004/WEATHER/08/16/storms/index.html] In some areas this was necessary because the school buildings were damaged or destroyed (especially in [[Charlotte County, Florida|Charlotte County]]). In other parts of Florida, no power or water was yet available.

This atoll is 35 km northeast of Cayos de Alburquerque. It is 14 km long and 4 km wide. There are a few [[cay]]s in the Southeast. The largest ones are called Cayo del Este, Cayo Bolivar, West Cay, and Cayo Arena. None of thoseis higher than 2 meters. All cays are overgrown with [[palm tree]]s and bushes, and surrounded by [[mangrove]]s. There is a lighthouse of the [[Colombia]]n Navy on Cayo Bolivar. The cays are regularly visited by fishermen from the Colombian mainland or from San Andres. There are two concrete buildings on Cayo Bolivar, and a few wooden huts on the other Cays.

=== [[Cayos de Albuquerque]] (Cayos de S.W., Southwest Cays) ===

Agricultural losses were heavy. Florida is the second-largest producer of [[orange (fruit)|orange]]s in the world and the storm damaged one-third of the state's orange groves. The loss to the citrus crop was estimated at $150 million. The loss could reach one-quarter of the total crop. Other crops and agricultural buildings and equipment also suffered.

This atoll is Southwest of San Andres at {{coor dm|12|10|N|81|51|W|}}, and therefore the westernmost point of Colombia. The diameter of the fringing reef is about 7 km. In the southern part are the [[cay]]s Cayo del Norte and Cayo del Sur. Cayo del Norte, the larger of the two, is up to 2 m high and overgrown with [[palm tree]]s and bushes. Cayo del Sur, a few hundred meters further South, reaches a height of a little more than 1 m and is vegetated with a few bushes, and in the South with mangroves. There is a [[lighthouse]] on Cayo del Norte, at {{coor dm|12|10|N|81|50|W|}}, operating since 1980, which is maintained by the Colombian Navy.

== External links ==

The name Charley was retired in the spring of [[2005]] by the [[World Meteorological Organization]] and will be replaced by '''Colin''' in the 2010 season.

*[http://www.sanandres.gov.co/ Toursim website with small map]

==External links==

*[http://mitglied.lycos.de/dc3mf/Albu.htm Information on some Atolls (German)]

*[http://www.luechthuus.de/lt7000/kolumbien.htm Information on Colombian lighthouses (German)]

{{ColombianDepartments}}

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004charley.shtml? NHC Tropical Cyclone Report on Hurricane Charley]

[[Category:Caribbean islands]]

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2004/refresh/CHARLEY+shtml/130552.shtml Hurricane Charley Advisory Archive]

* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2004/tws/MIATWSAT_aug.shtml? NHC August Monthly Tropical Weather Summary] - includes figures for damages and fatalities

* [http://www.sptimes.com/2004/08/24/State/Lack_of_a_standard_pl.shtml Lack of a standard places Charley's deaths in question]

[[de:San Andrés und Providencia]]

[[Category:Atlantic hurricanes|Charley (2004)]]

[[es:San Andrés y Providencia]]

[[Category:2004 Atlantic hurricane season|Charley]]

[[eo:Sankta Andreo kaj Providenco]]

[[nb:San Andrés y Providencia]]

[[pt:San Andrés e Providencia]]

[[sv:San Andrés och Providencia]]