Dwayne Dalton, left, and Megan Kessler wade through storm surge flooding in Gulfport, Florida, caused by Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26. (Thomas Simonetti for The Washington Post)
Have you ever experienced a storm surge? A new virtual reality simulation funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration brings the life-threatening hurricane phenomenon to life — and shows how quickly rising waters can threaten lives and structures.
The simulation, “Weather the Storm,” was created by the University of Georgia and Clemson University in conjunction with NOAA’s Weather Program Office, Georgia Sea Grant and South Carolina Sea Grant to improve storm surge preparedness.
Storm surges occur when tropical cyclones or hurricanes generate abnormally high rises in water levels. The result can be catastrophic: During 2022’s Hurricane Ian, the agency found that the storm surge along Florida’s southwest coast pushed water levels to 15 feet above ground level in some areas, claiming 41 lives. A 2023 analysis found that storm surges caused about 11 percent of direct tropical cyclone deaths since 2013. Before that, storm surge accounted for up to 50 percent of all direct tropical cyclone deaths.
The “Weather the Storm” visualization dramatizes what happens in a beach house during an intense hurricane. Viewers wearing virtual reality headsets watch as the storm intensifies, then “see” what happens to the house as the waters quickly rise. The hope is for the program to be used at trainings, community events, emergency preparedness programs and in schools; the scientists behind it also offer educational tools about hurricanes, hurricane preparation and resilience to accompany the simulation.
“With hurricanes and other natural disasters becoming increasingly destructive, we must use every tool available to protect our communities,” Matthew Browning, associate professor at Clemson University and co-director of the university’s Virtual Reality & Nature Lab, said in a news release. “‘Weather the Storm’ can be a powerful way for the general public to take preparations seriously, allowing people to truly experience the dangers of storm surge before it’s too late.”
Though the preparations needed for storm surges vary depending on storm and location, the agency urges the public to stay aware of storm surge threats during tropical storms and to get to high ground away from rising waters and flood-prone zones.
Want to see a storm surge for yourself without getting your feet wet? Head to the project’s website, ugavr.com/weatherthestorm, to look at educational materials and download files for use with a virtual reality headset.