Tropical Storm Hermine (2010)

In August 2010, a tropical wave in the eastern Atlantic contributed to the formation of Hurricane Danielle; Danielle eventually tracked west and then northward before dissipating south of Newfoundland after ten days. However, the southern portion of the disturbance became disassociated with Danielle's development and tracked west into Northern South America, reaching the East Pacific on August 29. Thunderstorm activity was confined over Central America until September 2, when showers developed over and around the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Throughout September 3, the disturbance quickly developed in the gulf before a wind circulation at the surface beneath the system was detected; thus, the NHC designated the developing system as a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC that day when the storm was 115 mi (185 km) southeast of Salina Cruz, Mexico. At 06:00 UTC the next day, the depression peaked with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) before making landfall an hour later east of Salina Cruz. A ship documented tropical storm-force winds during this period, but as they were well removed from the storm, it is believed that these stronger winds were associated with a nearby monsoonal wind flow. After moving inland, the depression quickly deteriorated and became a remnant low-pressure area by 18:00 UTC on September 4 over the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. coalesced into a tropical depression once again in the southern Bay of Campeche at 18:00 UTC on September 5. Twelve hours after formation, the NHC upgraded the system to tropical storm status following conclusive reports from a nearby buoy. As a result, the tropical cyclone was named Hermine. Steady intensification continued as Hermine gravitated towards the Texas-Mexico border. Thunderstorm activity increased during the morning of September 6 as they continued to wrap around the center of the storm. Later that day, an eye was detected using radar imagery based in Brownsville, Texas, though the storms surrounding it remained rather meager. At 00:00 UTC on September 8, the weakening tropical cyclone degenerated to tropical depression strength near Mason, Texas. By that time, the weakening storm had lost most of its tropical cyclone characteristics, with a long line of thunderstorms extending southwards and paralleling Interstate 35. Hermine was determined to have weakened to a remnant low-pressure area over Oklahoma at 18:00 UTC on September 9, before dissipating over Kansas on the next day. ==Preparations==

Prior to Hermine's landfall, officials in Mexico issued evacuations orders for parts of northern Tamaulipas. An estimated 3,500 people heeded these warnings. In Texas, the State Operations Center held a conference in relation to Tropical Storm Hermine to discuss emergency plans. Six flood rescue teams were placed on standby; Mass Care and American Red Cross were prepared to set up shelters; ten Texas Military high-profile vehicles along with UH60 and CH47 helicopters were on standby for potential flood relief efforts. By the afternoon of September 6, much of southern Texas was under a flash flood watch due to the threat of torrential downpours. Tornado watches extended from the coastline to northern Texas along the right side of the storm. As Hermine produced heavy rains from Texas to Missouri, the National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for many areas. At one point, the entire state of Oklahoma was placed under a flash flood watch and most of the southeastern counties were under warnings. ==Impact==

Central America Across Guatemala, heavy rains associated with a monsoonal flow and Tropical Depression Eleven-E triggered numerous landslides across the country. Along the Inter-American Highway, 41 people were killed after consecutive landslides buried a bus and rescue workers trying to pull survivors out of the trapped vehicle. Heavy rains in Costa Rica associated with the system triggered a landslide that killed three people and displaced hundreds. Mexico Heavy impact was reported in southern Mexico, and several rivers overflowed their banks in the coast Oaxaca and thus a red (high) alert was issued. A total of 50,000 people were affected from the depression in Mexico. At least 46 people are known to have been killed throughout Oaxaca. The system produced locally heavy rains in Veracruz, with a peak measurement of in Alvarado. In northern Mexico, rainfall over was confined to coastal areas. Throughout northern Tamaulipas tropical-storm-force winds downed trees, power lines and damaged several structures. Sustained winds of and gusts of were recorded in Matamoros. Scattered areas of moderate to heavy rain also felled in Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois and Mississippi. In all, the storm resulted in eight fatalities, seven in Texas and one in Oklahoma, as well as an estimated $240 million in damage. Texas loop of Tropical Storm Hermine moving through southern Texas on September 7 In Texas, strong winds were recorded in Harlingen where sustained winds reached and gusted to . Elsewhere in Texas, large portions of the state east of where Hermine's center tracked recorded gale-force-winds. In central Texas, an estimated 100,000 residences were left without power, mainly in Bexar County, due to downed trees. According to surveys of the region, roughly 300 trees were downed by the storm. In Georgetown, where the heaviest rain fell, RV parks and nearby I-35 were flooded, prompting a few evacuations. Throughout the state, hundreds high water rescues had to be made by rescue teams. Some areas recorded flood waters up to deep. In the town, one person was killed after he drove his car into a flooded street and was swept away. Several tornadoes were spawned throughout Texas as a result of Hermine. The strongest tornado struck Dallas just west of North Westmoreland Road near La Reunion Parkway, damaging several structures. This tornado was later rated EF2 with estimated winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). This was the strongest tornado to strike Dallas since an F4 in 1974. Throughout northern Texas, six tornadoes were confirmed and several more likely touched down elsewhere in the state. According to the Red Cross, a total of 843 homes were affected by the storm throughout Texas; 68 were destroyed, 231 sustained major damage and 283 received minor damage. Another flood-related fatality took place in Johnson County. In Jamaica Beach, Texas, one woman drowned in a rip current related to the oncoming Hermine and others needed to be rescued. Oklahoma After moving through Texas, the remnants of Hermine produced widespread rainfall, locally heavy, in Oklahoma which triggered significant flooding. Scattered power outages took place in the state, mainly attributed to tornadoes, with the Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company reporting roughly 5,000 outages. The National Weather Service confirmed three tornadoes in relation to Hermine, including an EF0 tornado that struck Lone Grove, a town devastated by an EF4 tornado in February 2009. In Colbert, an EF1 tornado destroyed one home and injured a truck driver after knocking his vehicle on its side. During the morning of September 9, a second round of rain fell across eastern portions of the state, resulting in additional flooding. Along US 69, a portion of the roadway was covered with several feet of water. Other state highways were flooded as well; however, most of the water receded that afternoon. ==Aftermath==

Guatemala In response to the substantial loss of life along Inter-American Highway, Guatemalan President Álvaro Colom declared a state of emergency for the country. On September 6, President Colom declared a national day of mourning for victims of the storm. United States As reports of widespread flooding came out of Texas, evacuation orders were issued for some of the hardest hit areas and seven shelters were opened in four counties. The Salvation Army set up mobile feeding units along the Interstate 35 corridor to support flood response operations. In the wake of the severe flooding caused by Tropical Storm Hermine, Texas governor Rick Perry declared 40 affected counties as disaster areas and requested that 13 of these be federal disaster areas. Just two days after the storm's passage, insurance claims had reached $75 million and were expected to exceed $100 million. In early October, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied governor Perry's requests for the 13 counties, stating that damage was not substantial enough to warrant federal aid. However, it was argued that since most of the hardest hit communities were rural areas with limited resources, they would need assistance recovering. Following this appeal, FEMA again denied federal assistance. On November 10, The U.S. Small Business Administration passed a disaster declaration for 18 counties in Texas, allowing residents to apply for low-interest loans. On September 10, Oklahoma governor Brad Henry declared a state of emergency for 13 counties and later requested federal assistance for Sequoyah County. However, the request for federal aid was later denied by FEMA. ==See also==