What Happens when Hurricanes Move Inland

How Hurricane Ivan and Other Hurricanes Can Affect Inland Areas

When living in Western North Carolina you get used to hurricanes that have moved inland. Though many of these hurricanes turn to weak tropical storms, there are times when these tropical storms can affect the mountains of Western North Carolina just as bad as the coastline of Florida. A perfect example of this is when Hurricane Ivan hit in September of 2004. While Hurricane Ivan did massive damage to the coastline of Florida, it also wrecked havoc on the mountains of Western North Carolina.

Not only did Western North Carolina experience severe flooding along with massive power outages, but the area also experienced something much worse. When the remnants of Hurricane Ivan hit Western North Carolina, the area experienced mountain slides. For someone who's never experienced a mountain slide, this may not sound like a big deal. But, the mountain slides that affected Western North Carolina led to deaths as homes slid into other homes, killing the people who were tramped inside. This article is meant to explain how hurricanes that have moved inland can cause massive damage to areas that are hundreds of miles from the coast.

What Happens When a Hurricane Moves Inland: Flooding

During the heat of August, a tropical storm that results from a hurricane may be a welcome sight. After all, the rain will cool the area down. Unfortunately, when Hurricane Ivan moved inland and hit Western North Carolina, the area experienced flooding that it hadn't experienced in over 70 years. The rivers, streams, and creeks all flooded their banks. Many people who lived close to these areas lost their homes due to water damage and their homes being carried away by the flood.

What Happens When a Hurricane Moves Inland: Massive Power Outages

When a hurricane moves inland, you can also expect massive power outages. Thousands of people across Western North Carolina lost power when Hurricane Ivan moved through the area. As the flooding happened, many power poles fell because the land was too weak to hold them. Also trees fell because of the wind that came with Hurricane Ivan. Luckily, many homes had power back on within three days.