Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2001
Publication Title
Proceedings of the 10th Symposium on the Geology of the Bahamas and Other Carbonate Regions
Abstract
Hurricane Floyd, a Category 4 storm with winds up to I 55 mph, made a close encounter with San Salvador Island on September 13-14, 1999. In addition to inflicting severe damage to homes, tourist facilities, businesses, and infrastructure on the island, the storm also caused considerable beach erosion and coastal modification, mostly on the western and northern coasts. This paper reports and documents with photos the findings of a survey of coastal erosion effects on four areas of the San Salvador coastline: Coast Guard Beach, Rocky Point south to Cockburn Town and Fernandez Bay, South of Sugarloaf toward Grotto Bay, and Grotto Bay to Sandy Point. The western coast of San Salvador was most strongly affected by Hurricane Floyd. The storm resulted in extensive erosion of beach sand, severe scarping of the seaward-facing dune line, frequent overwashing, generation of much rock rubble, and widespread damage to vegetation. Many, if not most, of the developed areas of the San Salvador coastline are vulnerable to storm damage. The example of a threatened beach house at Sandy Point is documented and discussed in some detail.
First Page
1
Last Page
12
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Curran, H. Allen; Delano, Priscilla; White, Brian; and Barrett, Meredith, "Coastal Effects of Hurricane Floyd on San Salvador Island, Bahamas" (2001). Geosciences: Faculty Publications, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/geo_facpubs/103
Comments
Benjamin J. Greenstein and Cindy K. Camey {eds.), 2001, Proceedings of the 10th Symposium on the Geology of the Bahamas and Other Carbonate Regions: San Salvador, Gerace Research Center