The Search for a Hurricane Damage Function: An Investigation into the Relationship between Wind Speed, Storm Surge, and Hurricane Damage

Abstract

Tropical cyclones, or hurricanes, primarily cause damage through two different means: strong winds and large storm surges. Due to the increase in frequency of the most intense hurricanes, the search for a hurricane damage function has been at the forefront of hurricane research in recent years. A hurricane damage function would allow for the prediction of hurricane caused damage before the arrival of a storm, and would most certainly aid vulnerable coastal communities with hurricane planning. This thesis makes an attempt at determining the form of such function based on the storm parameters of wind speed and storm surge. Each of the parameters is analyzed individually, and the relationship between hurricane damage and the two storm parameters is studied. The information gathered about the relationships between the variables is then used in order to make an attempt at determining the form of a hurricane damage function. The equation that results is a function that is dependent on maximum wind speed, maximum storm surge, and exposure level, or the monetary value of assets associated with each storm.