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Hurricane Irma
Oral
Tori Tomiczek, PhD
Assistant Professor
United States Naval Academy
Steven Scyphers, PhD
Assistant Professor
Northeastern University
Kelsi Furman
PhD Student
Northeastern University
Kiera O'Donnell
PhD Student
Northeastern University
Brittany Webbmartin
Ensign
United States Navy
Hurricane Irma caused significant damage in the Florida Keys. In mid-October, 2017, a field reconnaissance team collected damage data for over 250 shorelines and waterfront structures in Key West and Big Pine Key, FL. Hindcast hydrodynamic parameters were related to damage evaluations, and interconnectivities between shoreline damage and structural damage were investigated at the parcel, neighborhood, and island scales. Results indicated that natural shorelines (mangroves) were resilient to the extreme environmental conditions associated with the storm and provided protective benefits for nearby waterfront structures similar to traditional engineering strategies.