Final report issued six months after Hurricane Irma’s impact

Jacksonville, FL — Six months after Hurricane Irma ravaged our area with flooding rain, storm surge, and tornadoes, a final report has been issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

One of the noteworthy findings was four direct deaths in Florida. Two occurred in Duval County, where a 59-year-old male and a 54-year-old female drowned due to fresh water flooding when their tent was submerged in water in the woods.

Of the 80 indirect deaths in Florida, a combination of falls during preparations for Irma’s approach, vehicle accidents, carbon monoxide  poisoning from generators, chainsaw accidents, and electrocutions were mainly to blame.

The event that brought the most attention was in Broward County, where 14 people died as a result of a power outage and overheating in a nursing home.

In north Florida, heavy rain and rivers that reached major or record flood stage caused significant flooding in the Jacksonville area. Flood waters rushed into the city’s streets and reached up to 5 ft deep in some locations. The flooding in Jacksonville was record-breaking in some locations, and overall Irma was responsible for one of the worst flooding events in the city’s 225+ year history.

Action News Jax Chief Meteorologist Mike Buresh recaps the 2017 Hurricane Season, including Irma's impacts.