| Formed: | July 4, 2005 |
| Low: | July 13, 2005 |
| Dissipated: | July 18, 2005 |
| Winds: | 130 |
| Pressure: | 930 |
| Year: | 2005 |
| Fatalities: | 88 |
| Damage: | 3980000000 |
Hurricane Dennis was a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane that originated early in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico during the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm marked the fourth named storm, the second hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the season. Developing in July, it became the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever to form before August at that time. However, it held this title for only six days before being surpassed by Hurricane Emily. Additionally, Hurricane Dennis also became the second-wettest tropical cyclone in the state of Kentucky, second only to the 1960 Texas tropical storm.
Dennis originated from a tropical wave near Africa and intensified into a tropical depression by July 4 near the Windward Islands, crossing over Grenada. Strengthening further, it developed into a tropical storm before intensifying into a Category 1 hurricane by July 6, moving towards the Jamaica Channel. Rapidly intensifying into a Category 4 hurricane, Dennis made its first landfall in Granma Province, Cuba on July 8. After a period of weakening and subsequent re-intensification, Dennis reached its peak with winds of 150 mph before making its second landfall in Matanzas Province, Cuba on the same day. Weakening to a Category 1 hurricane, it intensified once more into a Category 4 hurricane, reaching a secondary peak with winds of 145 mph. On July 10, Dennis made landfall on Santa Rosa Island, Florida as a Category 3 hurricane before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone, which was later absorbed by another extratropical cyclone.
In the Caribbean, the outer bands of Hurricane Dennis brought tropical storm-force winds and heavy rain to parts of Haiti, resulting in floods and landslides. A total of 59 homes were damaged or destroyed, causing significant harm to Haiti's agricultural industry. The storm resulted in 56 fatalities and caused approximately in damages. Additionally, Dennis brought torrential rain to Jamaica, with the heaviest amounting to 24.54inches in Mavis Bank. This severely affected Jamaica's agriculture industry, resulting in the loss of nearly 160,000 livestock and leaving around 100,000 customers without electricity. However, the storm only killed one person in Jamaica but resulted in over in damages. In Cuba, the storm dumped up to 27.67inches of rain. Approximately 120,000 houses were damaged, and 70% of water sources in Granma Province were contaminated. The impact led to 16 fatalities and caused an estimated, leaving 21 counties without power.
The impact of Hurricane Dennis on the United States was significant, resulting in in damages and killing 15 people. In Florida, the hurricane brought hurricane-force winds to the Florida Panhandle, with wind gusts reaching up to and 8.7inches of rain fell near Bristol. Additionally, storm surges ranging between 6to were reported, and a total of nine tornadoes were spawned. The estimated damages in Florida amounted to, and the hurricane killed 14 people. Additionally, Dennis brought hurricane-force winds and heavy rain to Alabama, with a storm surge ranging from 3– and recorded rainfall of up to 12.8inches in Camden. The hurricane left 291,128 individuals without power in Alabama and caused damages totaling . Approximately 55,000 individuals experienced power outages in Georgia caused by Dennis. One fatality was reported and the damages amounted to .
See main article: Meteorological history of Hurricane Dennis. The tropical wave that became Dennis was identified by the National Hurricane Center on June 26, 2005, well inland over Africa.[1] [2] [3] It later emerged over the Atlantic Ocean on June 29 and moved quickly to the west.[1] Dry conditions over the Sahara initially inhibited development,[4] [5] though the wave found more favorable conditions and intensified into a tropical depression on July 4 while nearing the Windward Islands.[1] The depression soon crossed the island country of Grenada before entering the Caribbean, where increasingly favorable environmental factors, such as low wind shear and high sea surface temperatures, fueled intensification.[6] [7] [8] Turning west-northwest, the system achieved tropical storm status on July 5 and hurricane status the following day.[1] The formation of a well-defined eye and central dense overcast signaled Dennis's intensification into a major hurricane on July 7.[1] [9] The hurricane subsequently traversed the Jamaica Channel, bringing deadly floods to both Jamaica and Haiti.[1]
The powerful storm soon struck Granma Province, Cuba, as a Category 4 hurricane early on July 8; violent winds battered the province and caused extensive damage. Briefly weakening due to interaction with land, Dennis quickly regained its strength. Paralleling the southwestern coast of Cuba, Dennis reached its peak winds of 150mph. However, it soon weakened to winds of 140mph later that day as a result of an eyewall replacement cycle before making a second landfall in the country, this time in Matanzas Province.[1] Interaction with the mountains of Cuba caused significant weakening;[10] however, once Dennis emerged over the Gulf of Mexico on July 9, it quickly reorganized in favorable conditions. The hurricane reached Category 4 strength for the third time on July 10 as it approached Florida, attaining its lowest barometric pressure of 930 mbar (hPa; 930mbar).[1] This ranked Dennis as the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin to form before August; however, this record was broken just six days later by Hurricane Emily, which surpassed Dennis and attained Category 5 status.[11] [12] Weakening ensued as the hurricane approached the Florida Panhandle, the storm ultimately making landfall over Santa Rosa Island on July 10 as a Category 3. Weakening continued as the cyclone moved further inland, and the storm quickly lost tropical cyclone status. Dennis' remnant circulation remained, however, traversing the Mississippi River Valley and Ohio River Valley before finally dissipating over Ontario on July 18.[1]
Within hours of Dennis becoming a tropical storm on July 5, the Government of Haiti issued a tropical storm watch for areas between Port-au-Prince and the Haiti–Dominican Republic border. This was soon replaced by a hurricane watch and tropical storm warning spanning the entirety of the nation's Tiburon Peninsula. Owing to the cyclone's proximity, this was further increased to a hurricane warning on July 6.[1] That day, Haiti's National Meteorological Center (centre national de météorologie; CNM) advised residents in elevated, exposed locations to evacuate due to the threat of winds over 100abbr=onNaNabbr=on. At least 300 people were relocated from Jérémie. They also forecast rainfall accumulations between 75and, leading to the threat of flooding and mudslides. Furthermore, the small seagoing craft was urged to remain at port. Local media noted that the nation was particularly vulnerable to disasters with numerous homeless people inhabiting slums around Port-au-Prince in the wake of catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Jeanne in September 2004.[13] At the time of Dennis's arrival, approximately 550,000 people were receiving assistance from the World Food Programme.[14] The Haitian National Red Cross Society mobilized 300 personnel and identified ten potential shelters in the threatened region. At least 700 people utilized these shelters in Les Cayes, Port-Salut, and the Grand'Anse.[15] The Pan American Disaster Response Unit branch of the International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) was equipped with supplies for 10,000 people and prepared to deploy.[16]
Late on July 5, the Government of Jamaica issued a hurricane watch for the nation as Dennis intensified over the eastern Caribbean. This was upgraded to a hurricane warning early on July 6.[1] Following the issuance of the hurricane warning, Jamaica's National Emergency Operations Center and Parish Emergency Operations Center were activated. At the behest of Jamaica's Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency allocated resources to assist the nation following the passage of Dennis.[17] The Jamaican Red Cross also notified its branches of the storm,[18] placing personnel and volunteers on standby on July 7.[19] The Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard assisted with the evacuations of Pedro Bank and Morant Cays. Shelters prepped for opening by the evening of July 6 and Norman Manley International Airport ceased operations at 04:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. local time) and Sangster International Airport followed soon thereafter.[20] [21] By July 7, 30 shelters opened across five parishes,[22] with at least 793 people using their services. Some officials complained that residents refused to evacuate.[23] However, as the storm impacted the island this number dramatically increased to 6,000 people with shelters open in all parishes.[24] Approximately J$25 million (US$405,000) was made available for relief operations through the nation's Disaster Mitigation Programme. An additional J$20 million (US$324,000) was allocated for clearing drains in preparation for heavy rain.[25]
In preparation for the storm, over 1,500,000 Cubans were forced to leave their homes, 130,000 being students and 17,000 being foreign tourists.[26] Around 1,000 food preparation centers were stocked and 1,800 evacuation centers were activated. 140,000 people worked in life prevention and evacuation activities while 1,600 civil defense units were activated.[27] The United Nations sent officials to Cuba to be on standby before the storm arrived.[28]
On July 7, the NHC first started issuing watches and warnings for the southeastern United States, including a hurricane warning for the Florida Keys west of the Seven Mile Bridge. Over the next few days, the agency issued various watches and warnings for Florida and the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, with a hurricane warning between the Louisiana/Mississippi border to Steinhatchee, Florida. A tropical storm warning extended east of the area to Anclote Key, and westward to Grand Isle, Louisiana, including New Orleans. The NHC dropped all watches and warnings after Dennis moved inland.[1] Due to the threat of the hurricane, about 1.8 million people evacuated in the southeastern United States.[29] In the Gulf of Mexico, oil companies evacuated 81 platforms and 35 rigs, which cut daily production by 220,000 barrels. The governors of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana declared a state of emergency due to Dennis.
In Florida, officials issued evacuation orders for about 50,000 people in the Florida Keys, a highly exposed chain of islands connected to the mainland by a single road and a series of bridges.[30] People who stayed behind were advised to remain indoors.[31] Key West Mayor Jimmy Weekley ordered bars in the city to close during the storm.[30] After the succession of hurricanes affecting the state in 2004, state officials were better prepared for Dennis, positioning fuel and generators. Officials removed traffic signal heads and secured to prevent damage on roads near Pensacola.[32] As a result of the large evacuations, more than 200 truckloads provided about 1.8e6USgal of gasoline.[33] In Miami, high schools served as evacuation centers.[34] [35] The Red Cross put dozens of volunteers on standby to go into regions affected by the storm, and open shelters.[36] The Red Cross also moved 60 mobile canteens, each capable of serving 30,000 hot meals a day, to the staging points of Hattiesburg and Jackson.[37] National guardsmen were mobilized, and four emergency medical teams, each capable of setting up a small field hospital, were on standby.[38] At Cape Canaveral, the space shuttle Discovery was considered to be safe on its launching pad after concerns of unfavorable weather, and NASA rescheduled a liftoff the following week; however, shuttle managers eventually decided to begin moving Discovery from the launching pad to ride out the storm.[39] MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa evacuated its aircraft to McConnell Air Force Base near Wichita.[34] Also, at Eglin Air Force Base, about 20,000 military personnel were evacuated, and at Hurlburt Field, home to Air Force's 16th Special Operations Wing, a mandatory evacuation was ordered for all 15,000 airmen and their families.[40]
On July 9, 2005, all southbound lanes on Interstate 65 from Mobile to Montgomery, Alabama were closed so traffic could be redirected, making all four lanes northbound to allow evacuations. Military installations such as NAS Pensacola, Whiting Field, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field, and Tyndall AFB were all evacuated days before the storm.[41] Red Cross officials opened 87 shelters across the state which were able to hold about 14,000 evacuees.[41] In anticipation of Hurricane Dennis, 190,000 people were ordered to evacuate in Mississippi, though many opted not to.[42] Jackson County issued a mandatory evacuation for its residents, while Hancock County called for a voluntary evacuation. Governor Haley Barbour issued a state of emergency, and 600 National Guard soldiers were on standby. Harrison County issued a mandatory evacuation for residents living in low-lying areas and ordered the closing of its casinos. Also, the Red Cross provided 60 mobile canteens capable of serving 30,000 hot meals to staging areas in Hattiesburg and Jackson. 32 law officials were sent to Hattiesburg to assist with traffic control near the intersection with I-59 and U.S. Route 49. Additionally, a horse park in Starkville was caring for over 50 horses belonging to residents who were forced to evacuate and had no other location for them.[43]
In anticipation of the storm, the National Weather Service placed much of central, north, and western Georgia under a flood watch. A wind advisory was also in effect for Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties. As the hurricane's outer rainbands approached the state, a tornado watch was put into effect for central portions of the state.[44] The Red Cross provided 80 shelters in the state, in addition to hundreds of volunteers.[44] Due to large evacuations in the state, construction projects on Interstates 75, 85, and 185, were postponed.[45]
| Country | Deaths | Damage (USD) | Ref. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haiti | [46] [47] | |||
| Jamaica | > | [48] [49] [50] | ||
| Cuba | ||||
| United States | [51] | |||
| Total | ||||
| Because of differing sources, totals may not match. | ||||
The outer bands of Hurricane Dennis began impacting Haiti on July 6, flooding multiple roadways.[16] Although no official observations were relayed to the NHC,[1] sustained tropical storm-force winds are believed to have affected much of the Tiburon Peninsula on July 7.[52] Local media relayed reports of winds exceeding 80abbr=onNaNabbr=on in Jacmel, Jérémie, and Les Cayes on that day. Widespread damage was incurred across Sud department.[53] In Les Cayes, rivers over-topped their banks, high winds felled trees,[53] 34 homes were damaged or destroyed, and the local hospital sustained significant damage.[15] One person was killed and two others were injured when a tree destroyed a home. Flooding across the Ouest department submerged multiple districts, particularly around Petit-Goâve. Several search and rescue missions took place in the commune. In nearby Grand-Goâve, a bridge collapsed after numerous people gathered atop it to view flood waters.[54] At least nine people died as a result with six others reported missing.[55] At least 25 homes were destroyed in the commune.[56] Damage was reported on Gonâve Island,[53] with multiple homes collapsing.[54] Throughout Grand'Anse, roughly 1,500 families were rendered homeless, 675 of which required urgent aid.[46] During the storm, commune of Beaumont was isolated by landslides.[56] Approximately 15,000 people were directly affected by the hurricane. Widespread agricultural losses took place, with hundreds of livestock killed.[57] World Concern director Kelly Miller reported the agricultural effects as "staggering".[58] The storm wrecked 929 homes and damaged 3,058 others. All told, 56 people were killed, 36 sustained injury, and a further 24 were listed missing; damage across the nation reached $50 million.[46] [59]
After months of above-normal rainfall, Dennis brushed Jamaica and dropped torrential rainfall, peaking at 24.54inches in Mavis Bank. This included a peak hourly rainfall total of 65abbr=onNaNabbr=on, and a 24 hour peak of 497.6abbr=onNaNabbr=on, which was a 1-in-50 year event. The rains caused flooding and landslides across the island.[1] [48] One person drowned after being swept away in the Negro River.[60] Sustained winds in Montego Bay peaked at 69mph, equivalent to a strong tropical storm, while Kingston reported gusts to 45mph. These winds downed trees and power lines, leaving roughly 100,000 customers without electricity. Several homes and business lost their roofs.[1] [48] The agricultural industry sustained extensive losses, with 610ha damaged and nearly 160,000 livestock killed, primarily chickens. Associated losses reached J$100 million (US$1.62 million) from Dennis. Effects were compounded by the quick succession of Dennis and Emily a week apart. Approximately 6,000 households—an estimated 22,000 people—reported need for assistance; the combined effects of Dennis and later Hurricane Emily left 49 homes destroyed and 391 damaged. Dennis affected about 209,000 people across 121 communities in Jamaica.[48] The rapid succession of Dennis and Emily makes differentiating damage between them difficult. Collectively, the two storms wrought J$5.976 billion (US$96.87 million) in damage, primarily stemming from infrastructure,[48] of which at least J$2.128 billion (US$34.5 million) can be attributed to Dennis alone.[49] [61] Along the Rio Grande, the entire banana crop was lost.[62]
Infrastructure damage from Dennis included a bridge in Mahoneyvale that was destroyed, while bridges along the Yallahs River and Rio Grande were severely damaged.[63] [64] [65] River flooding forced people to evacuate across the island. Saint Thomas Parish suffered widespread flooding as multiple rivers burst their banks, with about 200 homes inundated, including several illegally built structures which were destroyed. Flood depth reached 10feet. The community of Eight Miles remained under 4feet a day after the hurricane's passage. The severity of flooding was blamed on poor building and maintenance of retaining walls along gullies.[21] [66] Landslides in Portland Parish rendered roads impassable and damaged many homes, leaving 500 people temporarily isolated.[65] In Bull Bay, sand and mud covered 67 homes, prompting a proposal to relocate residents elsewhere to avoid future damage.[67] Overflow from tributaries of the Cane River inundated multiple villages, leaving many isolated.[68] A landslide in Mill Bank destroyed eight homes.[69] In Saint Andrew Parish, the Mamee River swept away two homes, while residents were trapped in their homes in Gordon Town[70] [68] River flooding in Saint Mary Parish forced more than 500 people from their homes in Annotto Bay.[71] Eight people required rescue in Saint Catherine Parish.[24] [72] Eastern areas of Clarendon Parish experienced significant flooding, with several communities cut-off or inundated. A sink hole in Halse Hall engulfed 35 homes. An oil tank overflowed due to heavy rain at a Petrojam Refinery in Kingston Harbour resulting in a minor oil spill. Petrojam crews cleaned the spill within a day.[73] [74] Some streets in downtown Kingston were flooded.[75] Effects in Trelawny Parish were relatively limited, with J$16 million (US$259,000) in agricultural damage.[76]
Over 120,000 houses were damaged in some sort of way; 15,000 had collapsed, 25,000 had been partially destroyed, 24,000 had lost their roofs, and 60,000 had some sort of roof damage. Most of the damaged houses were in the southeastern provinces of Cuba, however, many houses that had been damaged did have some sort of a structural deficiency. Several health units in the country were damaged due to high winds and rain. Floods contaminated running water; 70% of water sources in Granma alone were contaminated. To prevent the damage of electric generation stations, most were forced to halt, causing a complete failure of the countries electrical system. More than 1,000 poles were downed across the country and more than 21 counties in Cuba were still without power on July 11. Communications were also cut; in Matanzas and Cienfuegos provinces alone, 14 communication towers were down. Many roads were also blocked by things such as trees, fallen power lines, and mudslides. In Cienfuegos and Granma, almost 27,000 hectares of agriculture land was reportedly destroyed by the storm. Of the deaths, 13 of them occurred in Granma.[77] The storm dumped up to 27.67inches of rain.[78]
Throughout the southeastern United States, Hurricane Dennis left 15 fatalities, as well as about US$2.5 billion in damage.[1] [51]
Hurricane Dennis affected much of Florida, from the Florida Keys to the panhandle. Although Dennis made landfall as a major hurricane, the strongest winds were confined to a small area near the eye. A station at Navarre recorded sustained winds of, with gusts to .[1] Rainfall in the state reached 8.7inches at a station near Bristol. The hurricane spawned nine tornadoes in the state, all but one rated an F0 on the Fujita scale. The other was an F1 tornado that struck Bradenton and destroyed a barn.[1] [79] Dennis also moved ashore with a 6to storm surge, which inundated coastal areas along the panhandle and eastward to Apalachee Bay. The hurricane caused 14 fatalities in the state. A boat sank in the Florida Keys, killing one of its occupants. In Dania Beach, a swimmer drowned amid high seas. The remaining fatalities were indirectly related to the hurricane. Four people died from automobile accidents - three were in Port Charlotte when their vehicle overturned, and the other occurred in Walton County while evacuating. Two people died from electrocution, and another two people died from carbon monoxide poisoning. There were two deaths related to accidents cleaning up after the storm and another two deaths exacerbated by storm stress.[80] Damage in the state totaled over US$1.5 billion.[81] The hurricane left 322,275 people without power along the Florida panhandle.
Dennis first affected the state when it passed about 75 mi (120 km) southwest of Key West, producing a storm surge of 3feetto5feetft (toft).[1] Parts of Duval Street were flooded 1.5feet deep. The city recorded wind gusts of 74mph, and there was an unofficial observation of 109mph gusts at Cudjoe Key. Damage in the Florida Keys totaled US$6.8 million, mostly related to roofing, electric, and landscaping. Key West International Airport sustained about US$100,000 in damage.[1] [82] During the height of the storm, 211,000 customers were without electric power in South Florida and the Keys, including the whole city of Key West.[83] In southern Florida, damage was mostly limited to downed trees and minor flooding. In Miami-Dade County, gusty winds knocked out several traffic lights along U.S. 1, the only route to and from the Florida Keys.[84] One beneficial effect of Hurricane Dennis was the rolling of the former USS Spiegel Grove.[85] Spiegel Grove was sunk in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in an attempt to create an artificial reef. However, the ship turned over and landed on the bottom upside down. Efforts to roll the ship were partially successful, bringing it onto its starboard side, but Hurricane Dennis completed the roll, bringing Spiegel Grove into its intended upright position.[85]
Along the Florida panhandle, Dennis severely damaged about 200 houses, with nearly every structure in Navarre Beach damaged, and the Navarre pier damaged by the high waves. Dennis damaged areas that were still recovering from Hurricane Ivan, which struck southern Alabama ten months earlier.[81] [86] Most of the cotton crop across the panhandle was damaged.[29] The Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field sustained more than US$500 million in damage.[29] Extensive beach erosion occurred along the panhandle from Pensacola to Destin, undoing the dune restoration efforts after Ivan.[81] [86] A portion of U.S. Route 98 was washed out between Fort Walton Beach and Destin, which took a month to be repaired.[81] [87] A portion of I-10 in Pensacola flooded during the storm due to poor drainage.[29] The most severe property damage occurred from Walton County to Wakulla County, where 1,000 homes were destroyed. Numerous boats were ripped from the dock and either floated out to sea or were washed ashore.[88] In Cinco Bayou, lightning struck a boat and set it ablaze.[29] In McDavid, the tin roof of the recreation center for Ray's Chapel was ripped off as about 12 people stood in the hallway.[89] Also, several historic sites were damaged or destroyed by Dennis; Angelo's on Ochlockonee Bay, a landmark restaurant, was completely washed away. Beachfront cottages on St. Teresa were either damaged or destroyed and several beach dunes on St. George Island were washed away by the pounding surf.[90] On Holiday Island, several houses and apartment buildings were severely damaged.[91]
The most significant coastal flooding occurred along Apalachee Bay, with a storm tide of 8.11feet recorded in Apalachicola, about 175 mi (280 km) east of Dennis' landfall. The water levels in the region were about 3.5feet higher than anticipated by the Sea, Lake, and Overland Surge from Hurricanes computer model; the NHC attributed that the high tides were "likely triggered by an oceanic trapped shelf wave that propagated northward along the Florida west coast."[1] The high tides significantly damaged St. George Island State Park, including 80% of the park's dunes and boardwalks. About 5miles of roads were damaged, including a portion of the St. George Island Bridge near the park's entrance. On the island, the hurricane destroyed 23 homes and damaged another 141, with damage estimated at US$9.1 million.[92] In neighboring Wakulla County, floodwaters reached waist-deep in St. Marks, with 487 buildings across the county damaged, and another 24 destroyed.[93] The high waters significantly damaged part of the Big Bend Wildlife Management Area, a wildlife refuge in Taylor County.[94] Along the rest of Florida's west coast, storm tides were 3to above normal.[1] The high waves destroyed sea turtle's nests, with 61 nests destroyed in Pinellas County. In St. Petersburg, a yacht sank while docking at a marina, and six other boats sustained damage during the hurricane. In Cedar Key, floodwaters closed the airport and several roads, causing damage to 20 businesses.[95]
When Hurricane Dennis moved into southeastern Alabama, it produced hurricane-force winds in inland areas of the state. The highest wind gust in the state was 77 mph (124 km/h), recorded on the USS Alabama in Mobile Bay.[96] [29] The heaviest rainfall from Dennis in the country was 12.8inches, recorded at a station near Camden.[97] The rains caused numerous rivers to overflow, resulting in flash flooding that entered homes and covered roads up to 5feet deep. The hurricane left about US$120 million in damage in the state, with the worst effects in Escambia and Monroe counties. High winds knocked down trees, some of which fell onto houses, vehicles, and businesses. The high winds also damaged the state's cotton industry.[98] Across the state, the storm left 291,128 people without power. A power worker died in Flomaton while making electrical repairs following the storm.[99] In Dallas and Montgomery counties, downed trees caused an injury after hitting a vehicle, while a driver was injured in Clay County after hitting a fallen tree.[100] [101] [102] Along the coast, storm tides reached 7.2feet at Fort Morgan, causing coastal flooding in southern Alabama.[29] In central Alabama, floodwaters washed away several bridges, and parts of I-20 in Calhoun County were inundated. A mudslide closed a portion of Alabama State Route 5 in Dallas County near Selma. Flooding also closed portions of U.S. routes 78, 80, and 82, as well as county and local roads. Several houses, vehicles, and businesses were damaged by the fallen trees.[103] Downed power lines sparked building fires in Greene, Randolph, and Russell counties.[104] [105] [106]
Farther west of the center, the effects were not as severe, although damaging winds and rainfall occurred in eastern Mississippi. Winds in the state reached 59mph in Meridian. The winds and rainfall knocked down hundreds of trees and power lines across the state, damaging 21 homes. Slick roads led to a traffic death in Jasper County.[107] Strong winds damaged a church in Calhoun County.[108] The storm tide reached 3.36feet in Biloxi.[1] Throughout the state, about 14,200 people lost power. Damage was estimated at US$2.6 million.[109] In Southaven, 40 homes were flooded and 200 were left homeless as a result of the heavy rainfall.[110] After the storm, several fires were sparked due to downed electrical wires.[111] Gale-force wind gusts occurred as far west as the lakefront of New Orleans, which recorded gusts of 47 mph (76 km/h).[1]
Across western Georgia, Dennis produced wind gusts as high as 43 mph (68 km/h) in Albany.[1] The winds were strong enough to knock down trees, one of which killed a man in Decatur.[112] About 55,000 people statewide lost power in the Atlanta area.[113] Damage across northern Georgia was estimated at over US$12 million, with hundreds of roads damaged or washed out. A rainband stalled over western Georgia, resulting in torrential rainfall, peaking at 10.88inches near Mableton.[114] The rains caused flash flooding, just days after the region was soaked by the remnants of Hurricane Cindy. In Milledgeville, rains from the storm caused a fitness center to collapse, injuring two people.[115] In Upson County, a motorist was injured while trying to cross a damaged roadway, and was later rescued.[116] In White County, an F0 tornado touched down and remained on the ground for about five minutes. The twister destroyed two barns and severely damaged the roof of a house, while also knocking down about 200 trees.[117]
The Sweetwater Creek swelled to a record crest of 21.8feet, breaking the previous record set in 1916. Flood damage in both Cobb and Douglas counties were estimated at US$6 million each, after several areas experienced 100-year flooding. Floodwaters reached 6feet in some areas, damaging 700 homes between the two counties, as well as 55 roads or bridges. In Austell, several people required rescue from a building. About 50feet of a bridge collapsed along the Malone Road bridge. The floodwaters damaged about 120 cars at a Ford dealership, 20 of which were new vehicles.[118] [119] In Atlanta, floodwaters closed a ramp to I-20, while portions of I-285 were restricted to one lane. In Forsyth County, a tractor trailer carrying fuel overturned, temporarily closing the road.[120] Throughout Fayette County, floodwaters inundated roads and basements, and breached a dam near Fayetteville.[121] In Woodstock in Cherokee County, the Noonday Creek swelled to a record crest of 16.3feet, surpassing the peak set during Hurricane Ivan. The floodwaters inundated an apartment complex, forcing residents to evacuate by boat, as well as flooding dozens of cars and homes. Damage in the county totaled US$1.6 million.[122] Floods forced 300 homes in Worth County to evacuate, as well as another 100 homes and businesses in Colquitt County.[123] [124] In Stockbridge, the rains caused a sewage treatment plant to spill 53000USgal of wastewater.[125] A pond dam burst in Tift County, flooding nearby roads.[126] In Clayton County, floods damaged 14 mobile homes beyond repair, with 52 residents in the community having to move to a shelter.[127]
Outside of Georgia, Dennis also produced heavy rainfall in western North Carolina, reaching 9.2inches in Rosman. Rainfall in South Carolina peaked at 8.9inches at a station near Lake Jocassee. In nearby Tennessee, rains from the storm reached 6.78inches at Oak Ridge. Across south-central Tennessee, gusty winds caused scattered power outages and tree damage.[128] Heavy rainfall extended into Kentucky, with a total of 9.56inches recorded near Bardwell. Precipitation from Dennis extended as far north as Michigan, with a total of 4.04inches recorded near Richmond.[129]
See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricane names. Because of the significant damage and death toll caused by the hurricane in the Caribbean and United States, the name Dennis was retired by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 2006, and will never again be used for an Atlantic hurricane. It was replaced with Don for the 2011 hurricane season.[130] [131]
With flash floods ensuing across much of southern Haiti on July 7, the Civil Protection Department released 2 million gourdes (US$48,800) in emergency funds.[54] This was later increased in 5 million gourdes (US$120,500).[46] Médecins Sans Frontières, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, the World Food Programme, and other international agencies mobilized for relief efforts on this day.[54] The IFRC provided immediate funds of 250,000 Swiss francs (US$192,000).[132] By July 15, the nation's government requested international assistance to handle the aftermath of Hurricane Dennis. Japan was the first nation to comply, providing emergency supplies—such as blankets, generators, and radios—worth ¥11 million (US$97,900).[133] This coincided with a disaster declaration by U.S. chargé d'affaires Douglas Griffiths, which also prompted release of US$50,000 in funds from the United States Agency for International Development.[134] World Concern provided aid to 18,000 people, distributing emergency kits with food and basic supplies.[58] On July 15, the Inter-American Development Bank announced a US$5 million program to establish an early-warning system for floods across Haiti.[135] In conjunction with funds to alleviate strain from a drought preceding Dennis, the European Commission provided Haiti with €400,000 (US$477,000).[136] Hurricane Emily brought further death and damage to the nation on July 17, though the effects were limited in comparison to Dennis. The IFRC's relief operation began on August 5, with a focus on distribution of hygiene and sanitation items. Approximately 4,000 people affected by Dennis and a further 1,000 by Emily were targeted in their program. Inclusive of funds allocated for Jamaica, the operation cost 758,000 Swiss francs (US$587,505).[46]
Distribution of relief supplies in Jamaica began on July 7.[70] Isolated communities across Saint Andrew, Saint Thomas, and Portland Parishes received airlifted aid the following day.[137] Residents in Cascade required evacuation by airlift and Mill Bank was declared a disaster area.[69] [138] A previously defunct railway bridge—the 500feet St. Margaret's Bay bridge—in Portland Parish, not in use since the 1980s, was repaired at a cost of J$26 million (US$421,000) and re-opened on July 30 to enable travel after the Rio Grande bridge was damaged.[139] [140] Residents in the parish were also advised to temporarily boil or bleach water to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases due to contaminated supplies.[141] The Salvation Army assisted with relief efforts.[142] Efforts to repair and restore damaged roadways reached J$405 million (US$6.56 million).[48] The Leader of the Opposition party requested the Jamaican government release J$500 million (US$8.1 million) for immediate relief; however, Prime Minister P. J. Patterson rejected the proposal.[143] Joseph Hibbert further criticized the government for inadequately maintaining roads, citing a lack of maintenance contracts which is how such work is carried out in the nation.[144] Although the Government of Jamaica indicated it would not request international assistance,[48] the Government of Cuba provided 11 tons of supplies and Venezuela offered support.[73] [145] WINDALCO reported a loss of 10,000 tons of aluminum due to flooding. Manufacturing companies reported J$18.3 million (US$296,000) in losses, primarily from suspended operations.[48] In November, the Jamaica Labour Party sought J$3.2 billion (US$51.8 million) in additional funding to repair roads damaged by Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis, Emily, and Wilma.[146] The following month, the Jamaica Agricultural Society received J$5.5 million (US$88,266) from the Japanese embassy to assist 500 farmers in Portland Parish.[147] The long-term effects of Dennis were limited, with nearly every economic sector returning to normal within a few months. The only exceptions were exports of banana and coffee crops, both of which were still recovering from Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Overall implications to the nation's gross domestic product were negligible, merely flat-lining growth rather than causing decline. However, in combination with the effects of a drought early in 2005, inflation values required adjustment upwards from 9% to 14.3%.[48]
In Cuba, many families who lost their homes were forced to stay in schools that had been closed for summer break. Medical teams and cleanup brigades were formed to help the injured and clean up fallen trees and debris. Two and a half million people were left without running water, instead relying on water tankers to bring them water. America sent $100,00 to the World Food Programme (WFP) to feed people in Granma. Japan later extended this to give enough money for 191 tons of rice.[148] The United States offered $50,000 in aid, but Fidel Castro rejected the aid, stating he would never accept aid from the United States until the economic sanctions and embargoes, in place since 1959, were dropped.[77] Shortly afterward, in a July 26 speech, Castro announced the beginning of the Energy Revolution.[149]
Due to storm damage across the southeastern United states, president George W. Bush declared a federal disaster area for 20 counties in Florida, 49 counties in Alabama, and 38 counties in Mississippi. The declaration allocated funds for emergency services and debris removal and to help rebuild essential public facilities.[150] [151] [152]
One day after the storm made landfall, four disaster recovery centers opened in the Florida panhandle, two in Escambia County, and two in Santa Rosa County.[153] Supplies of food, water and ice were supplied from staging areas to distribution centers throughout the Florida Panhandle. The American Red Cross and other voluntary agencies assisted with food and water distribution as well as emergency needs and housing.[154] Subsequently, an additional disaster relief center was opened in Santa Rosa County.[155] Just days after the storm, six additional counties became eligible for federal disaster aid.[156]
Voluntary agencies such as AmeriCorps, the Christian Contractors Association and the United Way provided assistance to residents who have temporary roofing and repair needs.[157] Shortly after, three additional disaster relief centers opened on July 16, with one being in Franklin County, one in Okaloosa County, and another in Wakulla County.[158] Within a week, over 2,100 individuals visited the Disaster Recovery Centers in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.[159] Another disaster recovery center opened in Franklin County on July 7,[160] and by July 18, over $3 million (2005 USD) in individual assistance applications for rental, housing and other needs assistance were approved.[161] On July 23, Dixie and Levy counties became eligiblefederal funds under its Public Assistance program for damages.[162] By July 28, all disaster recovery centers ceased operations on Sundays,[163] although on August 4, Gadsden County became eligible for Public Assistance funding.[164] Two more disaster recovery centers opened on August 4: one in Dixie County and one in Taylor County.[165] By August 18, over $24 million (2005 USD) in individual assistance funds were collected for victims of Hurricane Dennis.[166] On October 13, the last disaster recovery centers ceased operations, although individual assistance funds were still being collected.[167] In the decade after Dennis, many of the damaged coastal properties along the panhandle were reconstructed to have parking on the ground level instead of apartments to reduce potential damage.[86]
On July 13, two Disaster Recovery Centers opened in Alabama to provide information to those who have suffered damage.[168] The next day, state and federal community relations teams were deployed into Alabama's disaster-declared counties, to assist residents who suffered from Dennis. The Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had 20 federal community relations specialists and their state counterparts working in the disaster areas.[169] Subsequently, three more Disaster Recovery Centers became scheduled to open on July 16.[170] On July 25, four Disaster Recovery Centers in Alabama were scheduled to close.[171] By August 19, over $4 million (2005 USD) in individual assistance funds were received.[172] In the city of Meridian, over 300 people sought shelter. More than 885 people took shelter in Jackson County, and 1,000 people were in shelters in neighboring Harrison County.[111]
