Tropical Storm — Pearl River, Mississippi

2002-09-25 to 2002-09-27 · Pearl River, Mississippi

Wider weather episode

Tropical Storm Isidore moved steadily northward across the central Gulf of Mexico on September 24th and September 25th before making landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana during the early morning of September 26th. The tropical storm moved north across southeast Louisiana and by the evening of the 26th was located in central Mississippi where it was downgraded to a tropical depression. Tropical Storm Isidore had a large circulation with tropical storm force winds extending several hundred miles from its center. Prior to moving onto the Yucatan Peninsula earlier in the week and weakening, Isidore was classified as a major hurricane.The large circulation caused a significant storm surge over a large area for a tropical storm. Tide levels were generally 4 to 7 feet above normal, with locally higher levels, across much of coastal Mississippi. Significant beach erosion occurred along the coast and on the barrier islands. The maximum storm surge readings on the Mississippi Coast was 7.61 ft NGVD at the Corps of Engineers tide gage at Gulfport Harbor, and 6.86 ft NGVD in Biloxi Bay at Point Cadet.There were two fatalities on the Mississippi Coast related to the tropical storm; one direct and another indirect. A 40 year old man in a van auto parked in parking lot drowned when storm surge flood waters flooded the parking lot during the early morning hours of Thursday, Sep 26, 2002. A 66 year old man suffered a heart attack and died in the Point Cadet area, and emergency medical units were unable to reach him due to flood waters. Rainfall amounts associated with Isidore were generally 5 to 8 inches and resulted in some river flooding and flash flooding. Approximately 2,500 homes in Hancock County, 1,400 homes in Harrison County and 50 homes and business in Jackson County were flooded, primarily as the result of storm surge, with river flooding and flash flooding causing some of the flood damage. In addition, around 300 businesses in Harrison county received flood damage. Evacuation of approximately 600 people in Harrison County, primarily from the Point Cadet area, and around 40 people in Hancock County occurred early on September 26, 2002 to rescue people in areas flooded by storm surge.As the tropical storm moved inland, heavy rain resulted in flash flooding in Pearl River, Amite and Pike Counties, with several roads and some homes and businesses flooded.Most areas recorded sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph with some gusts to 40 to 50 mph in squalls. The highest recorded winds on land areas were at Gulfport Airport with a maximum sustained wind of 37 mph and a gust of 50 mph. Approximately 800 people sought refuge in shelters across coastal Mississippi.Damage estimate was based on information from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency on approved state and federal assistance as of late November 2002, and on general information concerning damages related to Tropical Storm Isidore released by the Insurance Services Office in late October 2002.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5320811. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.